Home » Kentucky scores low on LGBT Municipal Equality Index


Kentucky scores low on LGBT Municipal Equality Index


State average is well below national average

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 12, 2014) — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today released its third annual report assessing LGBT equality in 353 cities across the nation, including five in Kentucky.

HRC_Red-LogoThe 2014 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the only nationwide rating system of LGBT inclusion in municipal law and policy, rates cities based on 47 criteria falling under six broad categories:Non-discrimination laws; relationship recognition; municipality’s employment policies, including transgender-inclusive insurance coverage, contracting non-discrimination requirements, and other policies relating to equal treatment of LGBT city employees; inclusiveness of city services; law enforcement; and municipal leadership on matters of equality.

Kentucky scored a 41 out of 100, well below the national average of 59. Lexington and Louisville did score high, earning a 66 and 65, but Frankfort scored 42, Owensboro 19 and Bowling Green 14.

“Kentucky has come a long way towards LGBT rights in recent years, but we still have so much more work to do,” said Chris Hartman, Fairness Campaign Director. “While every city measured has improved their Municipal Equality Index score, some of our major urban centers are still lagging behind their regional peers.”

Overall, Kentucky has more than doubled the number of cities with LGBT anti-discrimination Fairness laws in the past two years, Hartman said.

The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city, as well as a searchable database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.