Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released Municipal Equality Index (MEI)—which “examines the laws, policies, and services of municipalities and rates them on the basis of their inclusivity of LGBT people who live and work there,” according to its website.
There are six categories in this index: non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, municipality as employer, municipal services, law enforcement and relationship with the LGBT community.
Eight Illinois municipalities were evaluated: Aurora, Champaign, Chicago, Evanston, Joliet, Naperville, Rockford and Springfield. Chicago received a perfect 100—in part because HRC awarded the city 14 bonus points. (Totals cannot exceed 100.) Two subcategories where the city failed involved transgender-inclusive health care benefits and a city contractor equal benefits ordinance.
Evanston also received a perfect score. In a statement, Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said, “The rating is indicative of just how great Evanston is for not only LGBT people, but for all people who live, work and play here.”
As for the others, Aurora scored 61, Champaign received 70 points, Joliet rated a 63, Naperville received a 59, Rockford scored 57 and Springfield got 76 points.
See www.hrc.org/resources/entry/mei-2014-see-your-citys-score.