The Human Rights Campaign released its sixth annual State Equality Index last week, and five out of six New England states scored top marks for 2019.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont and Maine were all rated in the highest category: “Working Toward Innovative Equality.” New Hampshire earned a spot in the second highest ranking, “Solidifying Equality.”
The scores placed New England on the whole above 30 other states in the US on the index, which is a comprehensive state-by-state report that provides a review of statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families.
“As LGBTQ people continue to face an onslaught of attacks from the federal administration in Washington, the Human Rights Campaign’s 2019 State Equality Index (SEI) documents how states were instrumental in advancing equality through pro-LGBTQ legislation, policies and proposals,” said HRC President Alphonso David.
“In the absence of federal non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community, states must put policies in place to ensure equality for their residents, workers and visitors. In 2020 and beyond, the Human Rights Campaign will continue to work with our partners to defeat anti-LGBTQ legislation in the states and secure new protections for our community, both at the state and federal level,” he said.
HRC’s full State Equality Index report, including detailed scorecards for every states, and a preview of the 2020 state legislative session is available online at www.hrc.org/sei.
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