Chapel Hill Scores 100, Carrboro Scores 95 in 2023 Study of LGBTQ+ Inclusive Policies

In the latest update of a national database tracking LGBTQ+ policies and services at the local level, the towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro once again stood out from the pack.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, a national advocacy group against discrimination of the LGBTQ+ population, recently shared its 2023 Municipal Equality Index. The database is a ranking tool that examines the policies enacted in cities in the U.S. that scores how inclusive its laws, services, and benefits are for the LGBTQ+ community. The index, which is not a ranking of ‘quality of life,’ rates the municipalities on a set scale of 0-100 — adding in up to 22 “flex points” that can be awarded for items that apply just in certain areas, but not all cities.

Chapel Hill followed up its score of 100 in 2022 with yet another 100 the following year. The local government scored highly in terms of its “leadership’s commitment” to LGBTQ+ equality and its law enforcement’s “responsible reporting of hate crimes.” The town also picked up several flex points thanks to its services offered to LGBTQ+ youth, elders, transgender, and unsheltered populations. Ultimately, it earned a score of 85 from 100 standard points and reached the triple-digit mark thanks to 18 flex points.

The Town of Carrboro saw its score of 100 in 2022 slip to 95 in the 2023 Municipality Equality Index. Similar to Chapel Hill, the town scored highly in the ‘Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality’ and ‘Law Enforcement’ categories while also earned the maximum amount of points in the ‘Municipal Services’ section. Carrboro earned 12 flex points to go with its 83 standard points to reach its final score.

“I’m glad to see Carrboro once again perform well on the Municipal Equality Index,” Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils said in a town release about the 2023 database. “We will continue standing up for LGBTQ+ people in our community and urge our leaders at the state level to ensure that all people are safe, welcomed, and respected in North Carolina.”

Meanwhile, because of North Carolina’s lack of non-discrimination laws passed by its legislature, Chapel Hill and Carrboro earned “All-Star” status due to their high scores in lieu of inclusive state policies. The cities of Greensboro (100), Charlotte (95) and Winston-Salem (90) joined the two towns in their top rankings and “All-Star” label.

Across the U.S., the Human Rights Campaign Foundation reported of the 506 municipalities it examined this year, 126 of them earned scores of 100 points. Despite nearly double the anti-LGBTQ+ laws put into place by higher levels of government compared to 2022, the group pointed to more cities passing or expanding non-discrimination ordinances and inclusive services. South Carolina and Wyoming were the two states that saw the highest average increase in points for their possible cities. The Municipal Equality Index’s cities are comprised of:

the 50 state capitals
the 200 largest cities in the United States
the 5 largest cities or municipalities in each state
the cities home to the state’s two largest public universities (including undergraduate and graduate enrollment)
75 cities and municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples nationwide
98 cities selected by HRC and Equality Federation state groups members and supporters

The full executive report on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2023 Municipal Equality Index can be read here, with its municipality search tool available here.

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Chapel Hill Scores 100, Carrboro Scores 95 in 2023 Study of LGBTQ+ Inclusive Policies

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