Human Rights Campaign gives Jacksonville low score on equality

[Tacachale]

Human Rights Campaign gives Jacksonville low score on equality


Jacksonville is the 11th worst city when it comes to equality for gays and lesbians, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipality Equality Index.

The index rates 137 cities, drawing from the pool of state capitals, the country’s 50 largest cities, and 75 areas that have high proportions of same-sex couples.

Jacksonville's final score was 15, ranking it with North Druid Hills, Ga; Wichita, Kan.; and Helena, Mont. It was the lowest-ranking city in Florida, a list topped by Orlando.

The city's 15 points came from Jacksonville having a Human Rights Commission and its schools having anti-bullying policies in place as well as three points out of eight for the city's relationship with the LGBT community.

"Our research indicated a mixed record of support for LGBT equality and that there have been some recent attempts to pass pro-equality legislation," the report says.

From Timothy Gibbons at jacksonville.com

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/timothy-gibbons/2012-11-28/human-rights-campaign-gives-jacksonville-low-score

[funwithteeth]

Ranking with North Druid Hills, smh

[Tacachale]

The HRC's city scorecards can be read here:

http://www.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/2012_HRC_MEI_Scorecards.pdf

Jacksonville has received a rating of 15 points, including 2 points [out of 5] based on proequality leadership by the mayor or city council, and 1 point [out of 3] based on efforts to further pro-equality legislation or policy. Our research indicated a mixed record of support for LGBT equality and that there have been some recent attempts to pass pro-equality legislation.

So we got some points for the proequality leadership of our better council members (certainly not the Mayor) and for the efforts to pass the HRO. The other points came from the presence of the Human Rights Commission (7 of 7), the schools enumerating anti-bullying policies (3 of 3), and 2 "bonus points" for the city offering services to especially vulnerable members of the LGBT community