For the fifth consecutive year, scores rose nationally on the Human Rights Campaign’s 10th annual Municipal Equality Index, and New England communities were at the forefront.
On a scale of 0–100, the index measures LGBTQ inclusivity in municipal laws, policies and services for LGBTQ people in cities and some other communities with a strong LGBTQ presence across the US. Last year’s national average was 64 (for 2020) compared to this year’s 67 (released near the end of 2021).
Scores are based on 49 different criteria from employment, housing, credit, education, public services, transgender health care and anti-conversion therapy laws.
Here’s how New England came in:
In Massachusetts: Boston, Arlington, Cambridge, Northampton, Provincetown, Salem and Worcester all scored perfect 100s. Amherst earned 78, Springfield 68 and Lowell 50.
In Connecticut: Norwalk and Stamford both received 100s. New Britain scored 85, New Haven 73, Hartford 72, Waterbury 67, Storrs 61, Fairfield 46 and Bridgeport 42.
In Rhode Island: Providence scored 100. Warwick earned 67, East Providence 66, Pawtucket 64, Newport 62, Cranston 59, South Cranston 58 and Narragansett 52.
In New Hampshire: Durham scored 96, Manchester 86, Keene 69, Concord and Dover 68, Portsmouth 67, Derry 60, Nashua 52, and Plymouth 44.
In Vermont: Burlington came in at 92, Montpelier 64, Winooski 60, Rutland and South Burlington 59, Brattleboro and Essex 58, Castleton 46, and Barre 44.
In Maine: Portland received 96, South Portland 71, Scarborough 61, Bangor 58, Lewiston 56, Augusta 52, Auburn 49, Brunswick 39 and Orono (home of the beloved Orono Ostrich) 32.
More: hrc.org.
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