The following is a press release written by Desiree DeMolina for The City of Bloomington.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 27, 2024
Bloomington, Ind. – The Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission today announced that Bloomington has received a score of 100/100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI). This marks the tenth consecutive year that Bloomington has achieved this top score.
The MEI examines 506 American cities to rate how inclusive their laws, policies, and services are for the LGBTQ+ residents. Criteria include the presence of non-discrimination laws, the availability of municipal services to LGBTQ+ individuals, and the public stance of city leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. This year, a record-breaking 130 cities earned 100 points.
“Now, more than ever, our LGBTQ+ community needs our city to stand firm to its core values that have been in place for over 50 years,” says Ryne Shadday, Chair of the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission. “The new MEI score is an accomplishment, but we can always improve and show that we will not let our most vulnerable citizens down in one of the most important times in our country and state's history.”
Bloomington has been consistently recognized over the past decade for its commitment to LGBTQ+ equality, earning 100/100 again in 2024. It remains the only city in Indiana to achieve a perfect score in 2024, despite state policies that limit inclusivity.
The full 2024 MEI report is available on the Human Rights Campaign’s website.
The mission of the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission is to enforce the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Ordinance in a fair and timely manner, to educate community members about their rights and responsibilities under various civil rights laws, and to advocate for changes in policies and law.
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