HUNTINGTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – “For the fifth consecutive year, the City of Huntington has received a perfect score from the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization for creating an inclusive community for lesbian, gay, sexual and transgender people.
The Human Rights Campaign today released its 2023 Municipal Equality Index, which ranked 506 U.S. cities of varying sizes on several factors, including nondiscrimination laws, municipal employment policies, inclusiveness of city services and municipal leadership on matters of equality.
Huntington received a perfect score of 100 on a 100-point scale. Only 129 cities received a perfect score, up from 120 in 2022. For the second consecutive year, two West Virginia cities received a perfect score in the Municipal Equality Index. Morgantown achieved a perfect score along with Huntington. The nationwide average was 71.
Charleston (92), Wheeling (76), Charles Town (45), Lewisburg (45) and Parkersburg (13) also were included in the report.
Huntington also for the seventh consecutive year was designated as an “All-Star” city for scoring above 85 points despite hailing from a state without LGBTQ-inclusive statewide non-discrimination laws.
Across the country, 76 cities like these set a standard of LGBTQ inclusiveness with exemplary, best-practice policies such as local non-discrimination laws, providing transgender-inclusive health benefits for city employees and offering LGBTQ-inclusive city services.
‘Receiving a perfect score in the 2023 Municipal Equality Index validates what our community already knows — that Huntington is a city of honor, respect and compassion,’ Mayor Steve Williams said. ‘We believe that we should grant for everyone what we want for ourselves.
‘We take it seriously that we were the first city in West Virginia to achieve a perfect score five years ago. We endeavor to be an example for other communities. It’s also good for business.’
The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city and a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.”
