The City of Irvine earned a nearly perfect score of 97 – on a scale of 0 to 100 – on the 2021 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) rating system based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and the City leadership’s public position on equality.
The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
“I am proud of the work we are doing to set the standard for inclusion – including the annual display of the Pride Flag at City Hall, the creation of a Pride Month shoulder patch for Irvine Police Department, and dedicated LGBTQ+ liaisons to ensure LGBTQ-related concerns are heard and appropriately addressed,” said Mayor Farrah N. Khan. “We will continue to collaborate with our LGBTQ+ community to ensure we are a City that is welcoming and equitable for all.”
Irvine received perfect scores in the following MEI categories, including:
- Non-Discrimination Laws: 30 out of 30 points, plus 4 bonus points (2 for single-occupancy all-gender facilities; 2 for youth protection from conversion therapy)
- Municipal Services: 12 out of 12 points, plus 4 bonus points (2 for City provides services to LGBTQ+ youth; 2 for City provides services to people living with HIV or AIDS)
- Law Enforcement: 22 out of 22 points
The full 2021 MEI report is available at hrc.org/mei.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Americans. The 2021 MEI boasted the largest number of top-scoring cities in its history, the highest overall average, and growth in every region of the country.
For more information about the City of Irvine’s programs and initiatives to promote unity, inclusivity, and diversity, please visit weareirvine.org.