Human Rights Campaign Rates Cities Based on LGBT 'Inclusivity'

The Human Rights Campaign has partnered with the Equality Federation Institute for the release of its annual Municipality Equality Index. Ranking 506 cities, the report “examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work there.” The group notes that “cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s public position on equality.” Giving cities a ranking on a scale from 0 to 100, the report has 44 different criteria which are used to determine the ratings.

Released every year since 2012, the report has seen the number of cities receiving the top score of 100 rise from 11 to 68. This year, 11 cities received the lowest possible score of 0.

In an ominous press release, the Human Rights Campaign issued this self-praise couched with a threat to communities that refuse to capitulate to their demands. “This year’s MEI (Municipality Equality Index) paints a vivid picture: cities big and small, in red and blue states alike, are continuing our progress toward full equality, regardless of the political drama unfolding in Washington, D.C., and in state legislatures across the country,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Today, the MEI serves as a vital tool for business leaders and municipal officials alike when it comes to economic development. CEOs know that in order to attract and retain the best employees, they must grow their companies in places that protect LGBTQ citizens from discrimination and actively open their doors to all communities. The MEI is the best tool to help these businesses make crucial evaluations about the welcoming — or unwelcoming — nature of towns and cities across the nation.”

In other words, the Human Rights Campaign has served notice: Cities that fail to score high enough will be targeted for economic terrorism. Businesses will be discouraged from providing jobs to cities with large conservative populations.

If their agenda wasn’t obvious enough, the actual report opens with this word from Griffin: “At this very moment, so much of our progress is under siege,” he said. “In our nation’s capitol and in state legislatures across the country, anti-equality politicians have been emboldened by a political climate where hate and discrimination have entered the mainstream. They are attempting to rip away decades of progress, and they are using the lives of LGBTQ people and our families for their own cynical political gain.” He added:

The MEI also serves as a vital tool for business leaders and municipal officials alike when it comes to economic development. As businesses look for expansion or relocation opportunities, it has become standard practice to prioritize inclusive communities that value diversity. CEOs know that in order to attract and retain the best employees, they must grow their companies in places that protect LGBTQ citizens from discrimination and actively open their doors to all communities. We’ve also seen, in places like North Carolina, that corporate America’s bottom line is hurt by antiequality measures and initiatives. And today, North Carolina shamefully has a statewide ban on commonsense non-discrimination protections, due to the patchwork of protections across the country. The MEI is the best tool to help these businesses make crucial evaluations about the welcoming (and unwelcoming) nature of towns and cities across the nation.

For more information about how the HRC decides which cities receive their blessing and which don’t, as well as where your city ranks, visit the report (linked to here).

No doubt, in the future, rankings like this one released by the Human Rights Campaign will be used to strong-arm cities into conforming to the LGBT agenda. Federal dollars, large sporting events, business relocations, chamber of commerce awards, etc. will all be used as the carrot-on-the-stick to force communities into line. By God’s grace, civic leaders will refuse to toe the line and, instead, continue to adhere to policies that honor God.