PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – For the eleventh consecutive year, the City of Long Beach has been named one of the best cities in the nation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) inclusion in municipal law and policy, earning both a perfect score and 11 bonus points in the 2022 Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI). Long Beach was one of 506 cities nationwide to be scored and one of 120 to achieve a perfect score.

“This recognition is a testament to our commitment to our LGBTQ+ community – a community that brings rich diversity and culture to our city,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We will continue to ensure our LGBTQ+ community is represented in the policies we pass and initiatives we support as a city government.”

Long Beach has long recognized LGBTQ+ rights in its municipal laws and policies. The MEI is an annual evaluation that examines laws, policies and services of municipalities and rates them based on their inclusivity of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there.

Long Beach received perfect scores in all MEI categories, including:

• Non-Discrimination Laws: 30 out of 30 points, plus 4 bonus points (2 for single-occupancy all-gender facilities; 2 for youth protection from conversion therapy).
• Municipality as Employer: 28 out of 28 points, plus 1 bonus point for City employee domestic partner benefits.
• Municipal Services: 12 out of 12 points, plus 4 bonus points (2 for City provides services to people living with HIV or AIDS; 2 for City provides services to the transgender community).
• Law Enforcement: 22 out of 22 points.
• Leadership on LGBTQ Equality: 8 out of 8 points, plus 2 bonus points for openly LGBTQ+ elected or appointed leaders.

The 2022 MEI boasted more perfect scores than ever in its history, the highest overall average and sustained success in every region of the country. Cities are rated on a scale of 0 to 100, with bonus points additionally awarded for essential programs, protections or benefits that are either not attainable or are very difficult to attain for some cities. Read the full 2022 report here.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. By inspiring and engaging individuals and communities, the Human Rights Campaign strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.