Harrisburg city hall
Harrisburg has substantially improved its score on an equality index formulated by the Human Rights Campaign, it was announced today.
For 2018, the city tallied a score of 81 out of 100 points on the group’s Municipal Equality Index Scorecard, which evaluates how inclusive municipal laws, policies and services are for the LGBTQ population.
In 2016, the city had a score of 68 points and, in 2017, 56 points.
According to the report, the reinstatement of the Harrisburg Human Relations Commission in late 2017 led to much of the improvement–a full 10 points.
“I commend the Human Relations Commission and all of our city workers who are helping to improve the quality of life for all of our residents and who are making Harrisburg a more inclusive and welcoming city,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said, in a statement.
Harrisburg scored especially well in the categories of non-discrimination laws and of employment with the city.
The report demonstrated that Harrisburg could improve its score even more if it did two things: had an LGBTQ liaison in the mayor’s office and had an LGBTQ police liaison or task force.
Click here to read the full evaluation of Harrisburg.
