For the first time, the City of Alexandria received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Municipality Equality Index.
This index measures the inclusivity of laws, policies, and services for LGBTQ people who live in the city.
Major Justin Wilson shared the news in a Facebook post on Thursday. Three other localities, including Arlington county, received a score of 100. The other two places are Virginia Beach and Richmond.
“Thanks to our residents, staff and businesses who constantly work to ensure that Alexandria is a community that embraces our LGBTQ residents!” Wilson said in his post.
Last year Alexandria, received a rating of 90 out of 100. The increase by 10 points this year is in part due to a new state law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in equal housing, employment, and public accommodations. In addition, city laws prohibit this discrimination based on gender identity.
Another improvement from last year is that the city as an employer has an ordinance against discrimination based on gender identity.
Fairfax county received a score of 88, an improvement for their score of 53 last year. D.C. received HRC’s highest rating in the states category last year. The state of Virginia was listed as “high priority to achieve basic equality,” their lowest rating.
HRC did see promise in Virginia’s actions with the Virginia Values Act, which was signed into law in August.
