slides: See How Worcester Scored for Municipal Equality
Wednesday, December 04, 2013
GoLocalWorcester News Team
The Human Rights Campaign recently released its Municipal Equality Index; rating Worcester with a score of 55 out of 100.
The Human Rights Campaign is careful to note that the municipal equality ranking does not judge the atmosphere or quality of life of a particular city, rather, “it is an evaluation of the city's laws and policies and an examination of how inclusive city services are of LGBT people,” the report says. Paradoxically, “some high-scoring cities may not feel truly welcoming for all LGBT people, and some low-scoring cities may feel more welcoming than their policies might reflect.”
See the individual scores in the slides below:
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Worcester Non-Discrimination Laws
This category evaluates whether discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by the city, county, or state in areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Worcester is subject to Massachusetts state laws with regard to employment, housing, and public accomodations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender identity, excepting only public accomodations laws with regard to gender identity, so they fall closely within line of HRC's best practices.
Non-Discrimination Laws Employment points for sexual orientation 3 out of 3 points for gender identity 3 out of 3 Housing points for sexual orientation 3 out of 3 points for gender identity 3 out of 3 Public Accommodations points for sexual orientation 3 out of 3 points for gender identity 0 out of 3 Total Score 15 out of 18 -
Worcester Relationship Recognition
Because this is an evaluation of municipalities, not states, and marriage is a state-level policy, this section is weighted so that an equal number of points are awarded for marriage (or other state relationship recognition) and municipal domestic partner registries.
Since Massachusetts became the sixth jurisdiction in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004, Worcester residents are granted ample recognition of their relationships without regard to same or opposite sex.
Relationship Recognition 2013 Marriage Equality, Civil Unions, Domestic Partnerships 12 out of 12 -
Worcester Municipality as Employer
By offering equivalent benefits and protections to LGBT employees, and by awarding contracts to fair-minded businesses, municipalities commit themselves to treating LGBT employees equally.
By the HRC's account, Worcester falls short as an employer, lacking ample forthright laws forbidding discrimination in city employment, ensuring equivalent family leave, and affirmatively forbidding discrimination in awarding city contracts and benefits to contractors.
Municipality as Employer 2013 Non-Discrimination in City Employment points for sexual orientation 0 out of 5 points for gender identity 0 out of 5 Domestic Partner Health Benefits4 out of 4 Legal Dependent Benefits2 out of 2 Equivalent Family Leave0 out of 2 City Contractor
Non-Discrimination Ordinancepoints for sexual orientation 0 out of 2 points for gender identity 0 out of 2 City Contractor
Equal Benefits Ordinance0 out of 4 Total Score 6 out of 26 -
Worcester Municipal Services
This section assesses the efforts of the city to ensure LGBT constituents are included in city services and programs.
A lack of a direct liason to the LGBT community in the mayor's office as well as no formally enumerated anti-bullying policies in schools at the municipal level hurt Worcester in this category. Worcester does have a Human Rights Office tasked with, among other things, "advocat[ing] for the human and civil rights of ALL residents of the City."
Municipal Services 2013 Human Rights Commission7 out of 7 LGBT Liaison in
the Mayor’s Office0 out of 5 Enumerated Anti-Bullying
School Policiespoints for sexual orientation 0 out of 3 points for gender identity 0 out of 3 Total Score 7 out of 18 -
Worcester Law Enforcement
Fair enforcement of the law includes responsible reporting of hate crimes and engaging with the LGBT community in a thoughtful and respectful way.
Worcester reports hate crime statistics, but their lack of a specific LGBT police liason or task force caused an 8 point deduction from their final score.
Municipal Services 2013 LGBT Police Liaison
or Task Force0 out of 8 Reported 2011 Hate Crimes
Statistics to the FBI10 out of 10 Total Score 10 out of 18 -
Worcester Relationship with the LGBT Community
This category measures the city leadership’s commitment to fully include the LGBT community and to advocate for full equality.
Worcester was noted for it's leadership's public position on LGBT equality. However, it seems the Human Rights Commission sees room for improvement there. Furthermore, there have not been enough legislative efforts to pick up points in that department. Other direct efforts to engage with the LGBT community, however, landed Worcester 2 bonus points.
Municipal Services 2013 Leadership’s Public Position
on LGBT Equality3 out of 5 Leadership’s Pro-Equality
Legislative or Policy Efforts0 out of 3 Total Score 3 out of 8 BONUS: City engages with
the LGBT community2 Bonus Points -
Total Scores
81 out of 100
Categories 2013 I. Non-Discrimination Laws15 out of 18 II. Relationship Recognition 12 out of 12 III. Municipality as Employer 6 out of 26 IV. Municipal Services 7 out of 18 V. Law Enforcement 10 out of 18 VI. Relationship with the LGBT Community 3 out of 8 Bonus 2 points Total Score 55 out of 100
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