City of Alexandria Increases Score on 2024 Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index

The City of Alexandria recently received its score for the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI) and for the fifth year in a row, the City has received a perfect score, and an increase of 6 points from last year's ranking. The City joins 130 other cities in the US in earning a perfect score. Several areas factored in this increase, including:

• Inclusive workplace
  • The City of Alexandria's LGBTQ+ Task Force provides training on LGBTQ+ inclusion for public safety recruits and direct service providers.
  • The City provides a "Diversity in Practice: Working with the LGBTQ+ Community" training to all employees, available throughout the year.
  • During Pride Month, a message to employees was sent by the City Manager, along with a special Lunch & Learn opportunity with the City's Chief Race and Social Equity Officer, Dr. Emerald Christopher.
• Services to LGBTQ+ Youth
  • The City's Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), in partnership with Safe Space NOVA, is providing grant-funded services to LGBTQ+ youth, which includes healthy relationships curriculum and a support group.
• Services to LGBTQ+ Older Adults
  • The City's Commission on Aging works with City agencies to provide LGBTQ+ inclusive services for older adults, which includes workshops and training for internal and external partners.

To see the City's Full Scorecard, visit alexandriava.gov/HumanRights.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Municipality Equality Index provides a public snapshot of how committed a given city or town is to LGBTQ+ equality and a framework for mayors, councilors, and administrators around the country with impactful steps they can take to protect their LGBTQ+ residents and staff.

For more information on the HRC's Municipal Equality Index can be found at hrc.org/MEI

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