I have written more than once about Iowa City's Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index scores (90/100 in 2013, 100/100 in 2014, and 100/100 in 2015). This year, the HRC looked at 506 cities from across the nation (up from 408 cities last year) exploring a variety of factors -- including Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipality as an Employer, Municipal Services, Law Enforcement, and Relationship with the LGBT Community -- and established scores for each of these communities.
Turns out that Iowa City's 2016 rating was a perfect score of 100 for the third year in a row:
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Iowa City scored perfect scores when it came to Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipal Services, and Law Enforcement. Under Municipal Services. We earned additional points when it comes to the bonus headings of "Municipality is a Welcoming Place to Work,""Enforcement mechanism in Human Right Commission,""City provides services to LGBTQ youth,""City provides services to LGBTQ elderly,""City provides services to people living with HIV/AIDS," and "City provides services to the transgender community,"
Iowa City scored 18 out of 24 when it came to Municipality as Employer because we fall behind under the category of "Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits." But we earned additional points under the bonus heading when it comes to "Municipality is a Welcoming Place to Work."
Iowa City scored 4 out of 8 when it came to Relationship with the LGBT Community because we fall behind under the category of "Leadership's Pro-Equality Legislative or Policy Efforts." And we lost points this year under the bonus heading of "Openly LGBT elected or appointed municipal leaders" -- one of our bonus achievements last year. Which doesn't make sense since we have at least one lesbian legislator on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. But I guess they're only looking at the City Council.
In contrast, nearby Cedar Rapids earned a score of 100 (up from 99 last year), Ames earned a score of 68 (down from 70 last year), Davenport earned a score of 100, Des Moines earned a score of 97 (up from 82 last year), Dubuque earned a score of 82, Sioux City earned a score of 81 (down from 83 last year), Waterloo earned a score of 67 (down from 68 last year), and West Des Moines earned a score of 42.
Turns out that Iowa City's 2016 rating was a perfect score of 100 for the third year in a row:
Iowa City scored perfect scores when it came to Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipal Services, and Law Enforcement. Under Municipal Services. We earned additional points when it comes to the bonus headings of "Municipality is a Welcoming Place to Work,""Enforcement mechanism in Human Right Commission,""City provides services to LGBTQ youth,""City provides services to LGBTQ elderly,""City provides services to people living with HIV/AIDS," and "City provides services to the transgender community,"
Iowa City scored 18 out of 24 when it came to Municipality as Employer because we fall behind under the category of "Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare Benefits." But we earned additional points under the bonus heading when it comes to "Municipality is a Welcoming Place to Work."
Iowa City scored 4 out of 8 when it came to Relationship with the LGBT Community because we fall behind under the category of "Leadership's Pro-Equality Legislative or Policy Efforts." And we lost points this year under the bonus heading of "Openly LGBT elected or appointed municipal leaders" -- one of our bonus achievements last year. Which doesn't make sense since we have at least one lesbian legislator on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. But I guess they're only looking at the City Council.
In contrast, nearby Cedar Rapids earned a score of 100 (up from 99 last year), Ames earned a score of 68 (down from 70 last year), Davenport earned a score of 100, Des Moines earned a score of 97 (up from 82 last year), Dubuque earned a score of 82, Sioux City earned a score of 81 (down from 83 last year), Waterloo earned a score of 67 (down from 68 last year), and West Des Moines earned a score of 42.