The City of Champaign is honored to once again be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the City’s inclusive LGBTQ+ laws, policies, and services. Today the Foundation released its 10th Annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), which rated Champaign as the second highest-scoring municipality in the State of Illinois. In the 2021 MEI report, Champaign’s MEI score rose to 94, a ten-point jump over Champaign’s score in 2020. The scoring increase is largely due to the addition of a LGBTQ + Police Liaison.
Released annually, the Municipal Equality Index is used to measure how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are for the LGBTQ+ community. The MEI rates cities on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
“I’m so very proud of the ongoing commitment and work that the City Council and City staff are engaged in every day to make Champaign such a welcoming community to everyone, including our LGBTQ+ residents and visitors,” said Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen. “I thank the Human Rights Campaign Foundation because their annual review always helps us to improve and revise our policies. I also thank them for recognizing that the City of Champaign is a leader in advancing policies that are inclusive and protective of our valued LGBTQ+ community members.”
The 10th Annual Municipal Equality Index analyzed 506 American cities using 49 different criteria. This year’s MEI included ratings for nine Illinois municipalities, including top-ranked Chicago. The MEI report shows the average MEI score for all American cities evaluated this year was 67. The full MEI report is available to review at hrc.org/mei.