ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that Columbia has, once again, scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) scorecard. The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are in cities and towns across the country.
We are so proud Columbia has received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for the third consecutive year. In Howard County, we are now dedicated to creating an inclusive space for our LGBTQ+ residents so they feel supported, safe, seen and respected. This recognition lets us know we are on the right path and have been for the last few years. I am proud of the work we have done to building a more equitable society for all, and I am excited for all that we have planned for the future.
The index surveys 506 cities nationwide on how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people who live and work there. Cities are rated on a scale of 0 to 100 based on a city’s non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. This year, a record-breaking 130 cities, or over 25 percent, of all MEI-rated cities earned the highest score of 100.
Achieving a perfect score on the Municipal Equity Index is not just a milestone; it reflects Howard County’s unwavering commitment to LGBTQIA rights and equality. This score is more than just a number - it’s a reflection of the very essence of our community's values—embracing diversity, fostering inclusion, as well as championing equity, love and respect for all.
“Howard County’s perfect score on the HRC’s MEI is a testament to the County’s commitment to ensure that those in the LGBTQIA+ community in our county feel valued, respected and protected,” said Tsega Girma Kyere, Acting Administrator of Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity. “The Office of Human Rights and Equity looks forward to continuing to support and promote inclusive laws, policies, and services using its local partners such as the LGBTQIA+ Commission.”
The goal of the HRC is to ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, particularly those who are trans, people of color and HIV positive, are treated as full and equal citizens within HRC’s movement, across the United State and around the world. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality of all.
In 2024, Columbia was named Best City to Live in Maryland, Best City to Live and Raise a Family in Maryland and Happiest City in Maryland.
To learn more about the HRC and the MEI, visit www.hrc.org/mei.