Worcester earns ideal Municipal Equality Index score for second consecutive year

That’s an increase of nine cities over the 38 that earned flawless scores in 2014.

Forty-seven out of 408 cities graded earned flawless scores, according to the Human Rights Campaign, which conducts the rankings using what it calls a municipal equality index.

Last year, Louisville received 66 out of 100 points. Other cities and towns evaluated included Provincetown, which scored a 97, Amherst, Northampton, Springfield and Lowell, which set a low point for the state with a score of 45. Buffalo received a score of 94, while Syracuse earned 92 points.

“Detroit is a welcoming city, where opportunity is available for everyone”, Mayor Mike Duggan said in a news release. The number of perfect-scoring cities has more than quadrupled since the first MEI in 2012.

“I think what we really see from this is that cities are moving forward on matters of LGBT equality, even if the state isn’t quite keeping up”, Oakley said.

When it comes to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights, Rochester is among the best cities nationwide.

“At least 32 million people live in cities with fully inclusive local protections that are not guaranteed by the states in which they live”, the report said.

Toledo bounced backed to score higher this year in the Municipal Equality Index compiled annually by the Human Rights Campaign in assessing communities on LGBT equality, laws, and policies.

The city has “designated LGBT liaison officer for our police department, passed new ordinances that require the equal treatment of all residents and commenced our annual Cathedral City LGBT Days that celebrates our diversity”, Henry added.