The Human Rights Campaign’s annual Municipal Equality Index, published Nov. 19, is an introspective look at the comparative treatment of LGBT individuals in municipalities across America. The MEI ranks cities based on their actions to promote and facilitate equality for their LGBT citizens, specifically on topics such as nondiscrimination laws, relationship recognition, municipal services, law enforcement, relationship with the LGBT community and how they are as an employer. The MEI is graded on a scale of 0-100, with bonus points possible.
Philadelphia has been a repeat all-star for the MEI. The City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection scored a 109 in 2012, and this year we surpassed that figure with a 113. We crushed San Francisco and tied with Seattle for the top spot— for being a welcoming place to work, having LGBT municipal leaders, providing services to at-risk LGBT populations and overall city engagement with the LGBT community.
“I am proud that the city of Philadelphia is the leading big city for LGBT law and policy in the nation, earning a perfect score of 100 on the Municipal Equality Index,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Philadelphia values its residents, employees and visitors, and promotes fair, equitable treatment for all of them. It is my sincere hope that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will soon protect the rights of LGBT people at the same level, which includes overturning the current statewide ban on same-sex marriage.”
New Hope also did phenomenally this year in the MEI. In 2012, New Hope, with just over 2,000 residents, scored only a 48. After analyzing the disparity in scores between New Hope and Philadelphia, LGBT advocates in the New Hope community and I strategized on how to bring their score up to snuff with higher-ranked municipalities. As a result of this planning, New Hope Borough Council, led by Councilmember Geri Delevich, implemented a series of LGBT-friendly municipal actions and almost doubled their MEI score to an 89. New Hope fought hard to improve the lives of their LGBT citizens and I trust that a perfect score of 100 isn’t too far off.
A high score is all well and good, but what does a score of 100 translate into for people living in or visiting Philadelphia? The answer — an outstanding and welcoming community! Philadelphia’s Gayborhood is home to a multitude of LGBT businesses, restaurants and beautiful homes. Events like OutFest and Equality Forum draw large crowds to celebrate the LGBT community. Dining Out for Life Philadelphia, an event every spring benefiting ActionAIDS, is celebrating its 23rd year of raising money to help men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Philadelphia Black Gay Pride is also a great fixture of the LGBT community; each April, they host a weeklong celebration, which draws upwards of 15,000 people to Philadelphia. The Attic Youth Center offers a great support system for at-risk LGBT youth; programming helps teens with their identity in a safe and accepting environment. The William Way Community Center offers programming for all LGBT individuals, from mahjong and bridge clubs to adult-education classes and peer-counseling services. Most important are the laws and regulations that City Council continues to put on the books to protect its LGBT citizens: Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown fought hard for the Equal Benefits Bill that requires contractors seeking to do business with the city provide the same benefits to same-sex partners of employees as they do to heterosexual spouses; Councilman Jim Kenney introduced a landmark LGBT-Equality Bill that gave us gender-neutral bathrooms and so much more; and, most recently, City Council unanimously passed a Transgender Awareness Week resolution. This and so much more is what again propelled Philadelphia to the very top of the MEI list.
It’s important to remember that not everyone has the option to live in the “bluer” and historically more LGBT-friendly portions of our Keystone State — by virtue of their career, family or finances. Currently, Pennsylvania has no state law providing marriage equality, employment nondiscrimination, housing non-discrimination, a ban on conversion therapy or the criminalization of hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity. The absence of these state laws makes municipal protections all the more necessary. With that said, LGBT individuals deserve and should receive the same legal protections in Central Pennsylvania as those living in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Efforts by LGBT leaders across the state are paying off, as less-populated municipalities are ranking higher and higher on the Municipality Equality Index.
Angela Giampolo, principal of Giampolo Law Group, maintains offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and specializes in LGBT law, business law, real-estate law and civil rights. Her website is www.giampololaw.com and she maintains two blogs, www.phillygaylawyer.com and www.lifeinhouse.com. Send Angela your legal questions at [email protected].