Mayor Rory Rowland | City of Independence
Mayor Rory Rowland | City of Independence
The City of Independence has experienced a significant improvement in its score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI). The city achieved a score of 62 out of a possible 100 points, marking an increase of 225% from its previous year's score of 17.
This improvement is attributed to enhanced protections for LGBTQ+ youth, increased representation through openly LGBTQ+ city leaders, and the establishment of LGBTQ+ liaisons and task forces. City Manager Zach Walker expressed pride in the progress, stating, “This is a testament to the policies and procedures that the City of Independence has put in place. We are proud of the huge increase in our score on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index Score within one year.”
Walker further emphasized the city's commitment to inclusivity: “This score reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safer and more welcoming place for our family, friends, and neighbors of the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. He acknowledged that while progress has been made, there remains work to be done to continue improving their standing.
The HRC’s annual scorecard evaluates how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are for LGBTQ+ individuals across 506 cities. The MEI rates municipalities based on non-discrimination laws, employment practices, municipal services, law enforcement involvement with the LGBTQ+ community, and leadership roles.
Independence supports its LGBTQ+ residents through various initiatives such as community events and issuing proclamations that highlight contributions from LGBTQ+ members. Additionally, it provides resources tailored for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The Human Rights Campaign stands as the largest civil rights organization dedicated to achieving equality for LGBTQ+ Americans. The MEI assessment includes state capitals, large U.S. cities by population size, cities home to major public universities, and others selected by HRC partners.
For more details on Independence's performance or other cities' scores on this index, visit hrc.org/mei.
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