Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Welcomes Human Rights Campaign to St. Louis for Annual Municipal Equality Index Scorecard Release
City of St. Louis Receives Perfect Score for 12th Year in a Row
Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones was thrilled to welcome the Human Rights Campaign to St. Louis for the release of its highly anticipated annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI) scorecard. This index evaluates 506 cities across the nation on their inclusivity towards the LGBTQIA+ community, taking into account their laws, policies, and services.
For the twelfth year in a row, the City of St. Louis has received a perfect score of 100, the highest ranking possible. Mayor Jones expressed her gratitude for this achievement, stating, “I have heard from our LGBTQIA+ community about the pain they felt when the Missouri legislature and Attorney General launched their attacks on trans kids, their families, and their doctors. However, in the City of St. Louis, we fight like hell for our families. We have not wavered in our dedication to supporting and protecting our community, and I am proud to once again score 100 on this year’s MEI.”
The 2023 score highlights the many vital aspects of being an LGBTQIA+ inclusive city, including established non-discrimination laws for sexuality and gender identity, inclusive health benefits for transgender employees, and benefits for same-sex domestic partners. The City also received bonus points for having elected and appointed LGBTQIA+ leaders, and for pushing back against restrictive state laws.
According to HRC, the average MEI score for cities went up an average of two points, and a record breaking 129 cities scored 100 this year – the highest possible score they can get. This is a testament to the progress being made towards inclusivity and equality for the LGBTQIA+ community. The full Municipal Equality Index report can be found at hrc.org/mei.
