The City of Gaithersburg has announced it has received a 100 score on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index, which evaluates cities on LGBTQ+ inclusivity in laws, municipal services, and leadership, maintaining its score from 2023.
Per the City of Gaithersburg: “The City of Gaithersburg earned a score of 100 points in the 2024 Municipal Equality Index, an initiative of the Human Rights Campaign that examines the inclusivity of laws, policies, and services with respect to the LGBTQ+ community. The City’s score in 2023 was also 100. The Index used 49 different criteria to rate 506 cities across the country. The average score nationally was 72, up one point from 2023 and marking the seventh consecutive year of national average increases. More than 25% of MEI-rated cities achieved the highest score possible, and 50% scored more than 76.
Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. Read the City’s scorecard here. The City has also provided Transgender-Inclusive Healthcare benefits for more than ten years and continues to work with the HRC on providing its required documentation.
“We pride ourselves on being a welcoming community, and I think this rating demonstrates our continued commitment to being an inclusive city,” said Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman. “Regardless of where you come from, who you love, or how you identify, we want all people to feel that Gaithersburg is a great place to work, visit and call home.”
The full Municipality Equality Index can be found at https://www.hrc.org/mei.
For more information on City of Gaithersburg initiatives, contact Racial Equity Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager Hazel Monae.”