HRC Municipal Equality Index

Fairbanks (AK) Daily News-Miner with additional
information by The Gayly staff

The Fairbanks, Alaska News-Miner noted this week that Alaska cities ranked low in a Human Rights Campaign survey of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents. Cities in The Gayly’s coverage area - Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and the Texas panhandle – rank better than Fairbanks’ score, but are still a long way from being shining examples of equal treatment of their LGBT citizens and visitors.

The Daily News-Miner reports the survey covers 291 U.S. cities, and is based on categories like non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, employment policies and city leader's public positions. Fairbanks ranked the lowest of Alaska cities surveyed, receiving two points out of a possible 100. Two other Alaska cities were surveyed. Anchorage finished with a score of 21 and Juneau was the highest in the state, at 23.

Here are scores in The Gayly’s area: Oklahoma City, 28 (thanks in part to non-discrimination in city employment, pushed through the City Council by Council Member Ed. Shadid); Tulsa, 46 (driven in part by the existence of a Human Rights Commission); Wichita, 22; Springfield (MO), 37; Fayetteville, 46; Ft. Smith, 16; Amarillo, 16. Most of these scores were helped by the fact that the city police departments reported Hate Crimes to the FBI; that was worth 10 points by itself.

Contrast those scores with other red state cities: Salt Lake City, 87; Dallas, 81; San Antonio, 86.

Several U.S. cities got all 100 points possible.

You can check the score for major cities www.hrc.org/mei.

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Information from: Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner

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The Gayly – November 23, 2013 @ 11:00am