St. Paul ranks below Mpls in GLBT Municipal Equality Index
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| The rainbow flag flies a little higher in the City of Lakes. |
SEE ALSO: Minneapolis 3rd most literate city; St. Paul slipping back into stone age
Human Rights Campaign's study ranks 137 cities according to categories including "non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, the municipality's employment practices, inclusiveness of city services, law enforcement, and municipal leadership."
Cities were graded with zero to 100 scores. Eleven received perfect 100 scores -- Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach, Boston, Cambridge, St. Louis, New York City, Portland, Philadelphia, and Seattle.
Minneapolis scored a 91 -- less than Madison's best-in-the-midwest 95, but better than St. Paul's 67.
WCCO explains the disparity between Minnesota's two largest cities:
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jefferson City, Missouri and Cheyenne, Wyoming somehow managed to receive scores of zero. In other words, if you're a GLBTer looking to relocate, you're probably best off crossing those two cities off your possible-destinations list.Minneapolis earned a score of 91, thanks to bonus points awarded for offering services to vulnerable LGBT populations (such as youth or those living with HIV), having openly gay city leaders, and offering transgender-inclusive health benefits...
The areas where St. Paul lost points compared to Minneapolis included not having either a non-discrimination or equal benefits ordinance for city contractors, and not having a mayoral LGBT liaison or an office of LGBT affairs.
Both Minneapolis and St. Paul missed points for not including domestic partner health benefits for municipality employees, and for not having an LGBT liaison or task force in their police departments.
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