The City of Fort Lauderdale received a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2021 Municipal Equality Index (MEI). The MEI assesses lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) inclusion in municipal laws, policies, services, law enforcement, and leadership. With flex points, Fort Lauderdale qualified for 110 total points.
The City of Fort Lauderdale joins 109 other cities across the U.S. that earned perfect scores, including five others in Florida: Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors.
“The City of Fort Lauderdale is proud once again to achieve top marks from the Human Rights Campaign in its Municipal Equality Index,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis. “The leadership of our city has long recognized the importance of diversity and LGBT equality in our community and has stood firm as some in our state and nation have tried to roll back hard-fought gains. Of particular note this past year, I am proud that the City went on record as opposing the discrimination of transgender athletes in scholastic sports in our state. Fort Lauderdale is truly a community that embraces its diversity.”
The HRC scored the City on LGBTQ-focused activities in five categories: non-discrimination laws, municipality as employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ equality. Examples of City initiatives that contributed to the perfect MEI score include:
Adopting Ordinance C-19-30, creating Chapter 29, “ Human Relations,” of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
Adopting Ordinance C-18-33, amending Section 2-187, “Non-discrimination by City contractors,” of the City’s Code of Ordinances.
Offering domestic partner benefits including coverage for gender transition and gender reassignment surgery.
Implementing an anti-bullying policy and reporting procedure to protect the dignity of youth served by the City’s Parks & Recreation Department.
Continued Appoint of City LGBTQ+ community and police liaisons.
Reporting hate crime statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation annually.
The 2021 MEI rated 506 cities including 50 state capitals, the 200 largest U.S. cities, the five largest cities or municipalities in each state, and the cities that are home to each state’s two largest public universities. The inaugural edition of the MEI rated 137 cities and the overall average score was 59 points. MEI is celebrating its 10th anniversary by shattering records, including the number of perfect scores (110) and the highest average city score (67 points). The City of Fort Lauderdale is proud to be supporting and amplifying these actions.
