Fort Lauderdale has once again clinched a flawless score on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index (MEI), securing a perfect 100 for its inclusive practices towards the LGBTQ+ community for the sixth consecutive year. The MEI, an annual report card from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, assesses cities nationwide on the inclusiveness of their laws, policies, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals.
According to a statement from the City of Fort Lauderdale, the high score reflects achievements across various categories, including municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. However, the city's efforts extend well beyond these areas. Mayor Dean J. Trantalis expressed pride in Fort Lauderdale's commitment, asserting, “Our consistent score of 100 tells our story of progress as a community, particularly the impact of numerous City initiatives and efforts. We are committed to continuing on that path.”
A historic initiative in June 2021 cemented the city's commitment to the LGBTQ+ community by declaring the month as the City's LGBTQ+ Pride Month. In addition, Fort Lauderdale has been proactive with measures like assigning a dedicated LGBTQ+ Liaison Officer within the Police Department and crafting a Human Rights Commission. These initiatives, along with outreach efforts to include LGBTQ+ residents in City services and programs and a protocol for reporting hate crime statistics to the FBI.
Fort Lauderdale's consistent performance on the MEI demonstrates a sustained pledge to equality and serves as a benchmark for other municipalities striving to achieve similar recognition. The full MEI report, alongside detailed scorecards for every rated city, is available through the Human Rights Campaign's website. The progress of Fort Lauderdale can be explored further via their published scorecard, as detailed by the City of Fort Lauderdale's official website.
