Lindsey and Megan Smith, from left to right, Ashley and Dawn Collins and Cody Layne listen at a rally in response to a federal court opinion that upheld state bans on gay marriage at the Walnut St. Bridge in Chattanooga on Nov. 7, 2014.STATEWIDE SCORESThe whole report can be viewed online at www.hrc.org/meiMunicipalities scored out of 100 points:Atlanta: 100Clarksville: 14Chattanooga: 23Huntsville: 4Knoxville: 36Memphis: 46Nashville: 75Source: www.hrc.org/meiChattanooga’s Scorecard:Non-discrimination laws: 0/18Relationship recognition: 0/12Municipality as employer: 0/29 (two bonus points were earned for “inclusive workplace”)Municipal services: 0/15Law enforcement: 10/18Relationship with the LGBT community: 8/8 (three bonus points were earned for “openly LGBT elected or appointedmunicipal leaders”)Source: www.hrc.org/mei
Chattanooga lags behind the nation in terms of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality, according to a report released Wednesday by the Human Rights Campaign.
This is the organization’s third annual report assessing LGBT equality in 353 cities nationwide, including five municipalities in Tennessee.
The report, referred to as the Municipal Equality Index, is the only nationwide rating system of LGBT inclusion that examines municipal law and policy.
Tennessee’s average score for 2014 is 39 out of 100 points, falling below the national average of 59. Chattanooga also trails the state average, scoring 23 points. In contrast, Nashville received the highest mark in the state with a score of 75. Alabama’s average score is 5.6, and Georgia’s is 38.75.