A recently released Human Rights Campaign report gave Hartford a score of 92 out of 100 in how its city laws and services are inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents and municipal employees.
The report by the civil rights nonprofit evaluated cities’ recognition of gay marriage, anti-bullying policies, local ordinances related to nondiscrimination, and city policies governing healthcare benefits for LGBT employees, among other factors.
Of the 353 U.S. cities evaluated, Hartford was tied for the 48th highest score. New Haven received a perfect score, Stamford received a 62, Mansfield got a 59, and Bridgeport got a 57. A total of 38 cities received perfect scores across the country, up from 25 in 2013 and 11 in 2012.
Hartford lost points because it doesn’t have transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, which are offered by just 12 percent of cities. HRC also docked Hartford for not having an equal benefits ordinance for city contractors nor an LGBT taskforce in its police department.
HRC said it evaluated cities because their LGBT laws and policies are further along, in many cases, than state or federal law.
