Connecticut cities scored above average in a national assessment of LGBTQ-friendly policies and laws. That’s according to the Municipal Equality Index.
The Index, released by the Human Rights Campaign, looked at 506 communities nationwide, nine of them in Connecticut.
Elliot Kozuch with the Human Rights Campaign says Connecticut is a leader on LGBTQ issues.
“At the state level there are non-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ people in employment, housing, public accommodation, education and other key areas of life. The state has hate crime laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity, and require local jurisdictions to report hate crimes to the FBI.”
Robin McHaelen, who heads up True Colors, an LGBTQ youth and family service center in Hartford, agrees that the state is a leader on these issues, but says there is still work to be done.
“You know, we’ve been above the curve especially in terms of child welfare and out-of-home care, things for LGBTQ+ youth, but I also think that, as with anything, there are always places where things are not where you hope they would be.”
Stamford topped the list in the state with a perfect 100 score. Hartford was next with 99, and Norwalk with 97. The lowest scoring in Connecticut were Fairfield with 46, and Bridgeport with 42.
The national average was 60.