No, it’s not San Francisco. Or New York. Or Los Angeles.
Not Miami. Not Portland. Not Seattle.
It’s – get ready for this – Iowa City, Iowa! Iowa City, you ask? Well, for one thing, it’s the home of a major university…the University of Iowa. But there’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye.
Iowa City not only won the Human Rights Campaign’s 2015 Municipal Equality Index for its support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights…but it won with a perfect rating. The Human Rights Campaign – America’s largest organization focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights – recently compiled its fourth annual Municipal Equality Index. And Iowa City was one of 47 cities nationwide – and two in Iowa – awarded a perfect score.
The index measures LGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy, with 41 criteria including categories such as non-discrimination laws, municipal non-discrimination employment policies, and inclusiveness of city services and law enforcement. In compiling the Index, the Human Rights Campaign rated 408 cities.
The rating provides an opportunity for municipalities to take a good look at themselves. And to make changes where necessary.
Iowa City earned 91 of a possible 100 points, for anti-discrimination policies relating to employment, housing and public accommodations. The city also participates in the annual Iowa City Pride event, supports the Gay-Straight Alliance Movie Theater, and contributes to the LGBTQ Summit for Youth. In addition, there’s actually a city liaison with the LGBT community. Iowa City also received bonus points, for city funding for LGBT youth, elderly and homeless people, and people with HIV or AIDS.
So the next time you think of forward-looking communities in America… think of Iowa City!
