Mayor Barrett, city leaders celebrate perfect score on Human Rights Campaign's Municipality Equality Index

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Mayor Tom Barrett joined city of Milwaukee leaders in celebrating Milwaukee's fourth-consecutive year of perfect scores on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipality Equality Index on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa, and representatives from the Human Rights Campaign, Fair Wisconsin and FORGE, joined Barrett in Wednesday's announcement.

“We are proud of what the city has accomplished and thankful for everyone who has worked to maintain our strong Municipality Equality Index,” Mayor Barrett said. “We also acknowledge that building an inclusive city is an ongoing project, and Milwaukee is committed to continuing this effort.”

The Human Rights Campaign is reportedly the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer civil rights organization.

Officials say the national 2021 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) report is the only nationwide assessment of LGBTQ inclusiveness in municipal law and policy. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Municipal Equality Index.

“Today we celebrate, and we challenge each other to do more. The ERC's goal is to ensure that all LGBTQ people—and particularly people of color, those who are trans or nonbinary, and people with HIV—are treated with respect and dignity,” Tony Snell, chair of the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission said. “I’m incredibly proud of our city residents, mayor and Common Council members who hold equality for all to the highest standard.”

In 2021, only 110 out of a total of 506 cities rated received perfect scores.

Wednesday's announcement stated that receiving a perfect score "highlights the historic progress being made in the city of Milwaukee as it relates to LGBTQ-inclusive laws and policies, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and city leadership’s public position on equality."