Hoboken Gets Thumbs Up For Its LGBTQ Laws, Policies, Services

HOBOKEN, NJ — The City of Hoboken has received a score of “100” from the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Municipal Equality Index for 2018, officials announced Monday.

The annual designation examines more than 500 municipalities, rating them on how inclusive local laws, policies and services are of LGBTQ residents and employees. This year marks the first time Hoboken has received a perfect score. In 2017, Hoboken received a 92, officials said.

“I’m proud see Hoboken recognized as a welcoming and inclusive city for the LGBTQ+ community,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said.

The HRC index rates cities based on local factors such as:

• Non-Discrimination Laws – Hoboken scored bonus points for its single-occupancy, all gender bathroom ordinance, as well as “protection for youth from conversion therapy.”
• Municipal Employment - Hoboken scored bonus points for its “city employee domestic partner benefits.”
• Municipal Services - Hoboken scored bonus points for its youth bullying prevention police, as well as services provided to several LGBTQ demographics.
• Law Enforcement - Hoboken scored bonus points for its LGBTQ police liaison/task force and its reporting of 2016 hate crime statistics to the FBI.
• Leadership On LGBTQ Equality - Hoboken scored bonus points for its “openly LGBTQ elected or appointed municipal leaders” and “testing the limits of a restrictive state law.”

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