Columbus rated as a top LGBTQ-friendly city
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A national advocacy group gives Columbus top marks for its inclusiveness toward LGBTQ+ residents within local laws, services and city leadership.
Why it matters: The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipal Equality Index gives an annual snapshot of the varying factors that can impact the quality of life for LGBTQ+ residents.
What they found: Columbus scored a perfect 100, alongside other big cities in Ohio such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron and Dayton.
The big picture: Most other top scores went to metropolises like Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco.
Zoom in: Columbus earned the top rating for having non-discrimination laws and inclusive hiring practices in place.
- Other components include providing city services for LGTBQ+ youth and deploying a "Diversity & Inclusion Liaison" within the Columbus Division of Police.
The other side: Dublin received the lowest rating (45) of the eight Ohio cities studied.
- The wealthy suburb's lack of LGBTQ+ legal protections and failure to report 2019 hate crime statistics to the FBI contributed to its score.
