Community Corner
Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage: Perfect Scores on LGBT City Survey
The only other Coachella Valley city to be rated was Palm Desert, which received a score of 68.
PALM SPRINGS, CA - Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage received perfect scores in a study of local governments' attentiveness to LGBT issues, organizers of the survey announced Monday.
The Coachella Valley cities were among 11 in California to receive scores of 100 in the Municipal Equality Index released by the Human Right Campaign.
Other cities receiving perfect scores included San Diego, Guerneville, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose and West Hollywood.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The only other Coachella Valley city to be rated was Palm Desert, which received a score of 68.
The index measures 506 American cities, including 57 in California. The average of California cities surveyed was 73, and the national average was 55.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"This year, dozens of cities across the nation showed they are willing to stand up for LGBTQ people in their communities even when some state governments are not," said HRC President Chad Griffin.
"This builds on a trend we have long observed -- that local governments are at the forefront of our fight for equality," Griffin said. "Unfortunately, our opponents have witnessed this progress too, and in recent years, anti-LGBTQ lawmakers have pushed spiteful legislation aimed at pre- empting local protections."
The survey rates cities on 41 criteria, including passage of non- discrimination laws, employment and contracting policies, transgender benefits, inclusiveness of city services, law enforcement and representation by LGBT leaders.
The number of U.S. cities that scored 100 in this year's survey was 60, up from 47 last year and 38 the year before.
For the first time this year, the index deducted points from the scores of cities that have non-discrimination protections that prohibit people from using public facilities consistent with their gender identity.
Also, a new category of points was created to recognize cities that are offering transgender-specific city services.
– By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock
