WORST Cities for LGBT Rights

                                                                            

Across the United States, cities are increasingly embracing equal treatment and access for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans. In a foreword to this year's Municipal Equality Index, Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), said that "cities continue to demonstrate that all corners of America are ready for equality."

One issue important to LGBT Americans is same-sex marriage. According to research from the Pew Research Center, same-sex marriage is legal or will soon be legal in 35 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Ten years ago, gay marriage was explicitly legal in just one state — Massachusetts.

Still, there are many parts of the U.S. where LGBT citizens not only lack the right to marry but other fundamental protections. This year, 4% of all cities measured on the HRC's Municipal Equality Index received scores of less than 10 on a scale of 0 to 100. Four cities received scores of 0, indicating that they lacked any of the policies or initiatives identified by HRC as being supportive of LGBT equality. Based on city scores on the Municipal Equality Index, these are the worst cities for LGBT rights.

Cathryn Oakley, legislative counsel for state and municipal advocacy, at HRC told 24/7 Wall St. that the largest finding from this year's study is that cities are leading the way on matters of equality. According to HRC's report, 15 of the 38 cities with perfect scores are in states with restrictive laws — in this case, policies that make it harder for cities to pass laws that foster inclusivity.

One reason cities are taking the lead on LGBT equality, according to Oakley, is the greater role of personal connections at the local level. "At the city level, its more personal. You know people, and it's not acceptable to have your neighbor discriminated against."

According to HRC's report, there are also practical reasons for cities to promote greater equality. "Cities that have vibrant gay and lesbian communities have higher levels of income, life satisfaction, housing values, and emotional attachment to their community as well as higher concentrations of high-tech business."

The cities with the lowest scores on the Municipal Equality Index, incomes are lower than across the U.S. as a whole. Just one of these cities, Southaven, Mississippi, had a higher level of household income than the U.S. overall. In four of these low-scoring cities, the median household income was less than $40,000 from 2011 to 2013, compared to $52,176 national median for the same period.

A similar pattern exists for home values, which were lower in each of the 10 least LGBT-friendly cities than the U.S. median of $173,200 from 2011 to 2013. In two of these cities — Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Mesquite, Texas — the median home value was less than $110,000.

Most of the cities with the lowest scores are quite small. Indeed, the largest of these was Laredo, Texas, which had less than 250,000 residents and was just the 81st largest city in the U.S. Four of the cities with the lowest scores had populations of less than 100,000. Conversely, six of America's 10 most populous cities had perfect scores.

Based on HRC's 2014 Municipal Equality Index, 24/7 Wall St. identified America's least LGBT-friendly cities. HRC assigned scores based on six broad categories, each consisting of multiple policy-based variables. These categories are: non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and the city's relationship with the LGBT community. Cities could also earn bonus points outside the standard points awarded, as state laws and size restraints can prevent some cities from enacting all policies endorsed by HRC.

 In addition to data from HRC, we also reviewed figures on median income, median home value, and total population from the Census Bureau's 2013 American Community Survey (ACS). Data from the ACS used here are collected over three years, from 2011 to 2013. Data on STEM jobs (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is from the Brookings Institution's 2013 report "The Hidden STEM Economy," which uses 2011 data by metropolitan statistical area.

These are the worst cities for LGBT rights.

1. Southaven, Mississippi

> Index score: 0 out of 100
> Median household income: $56,172
> Points for non-discrimination laws: 0 out of 18
> Anti-bullying policy score: 0 out of 6
> Has human rights commission: No

Southaven is one of just four cities scoring zero on the Municipal Equality Index, and the only city in Mississippi to receive the lowest possible rating. While Southaven does not provide any of the policies or programs recommended by HRC, an imminent court decision may place the future of Mississippi's same-sex marriage ban in doubt. Several legal scholars contacted by The Clarion-Ledger stated that they expected a U.S. District Court judge would block the law and allow same-sex marriages to take place. However, experts also predict the state will seek a stay from the appellate court, delaying the effect of the judge's decision.

2. Irving, Texas

> Index score: 0 out of 100
> Median household income: $50,810
> Points for non-discrimination laws: 0 out of 18
> Anti-bullying policy score: 0 out of 6
> Has human rights commission: No

Irving received zero points out of 100 on the Municipal Equality Index, tying for the lowest score nationwide. Irving was one of just four cities — three of them in Texas — without a single point. There may be less drive among the local LGBT community to improve the city's policies, however, because both Dallas and Fort Worth are within commuting distance. Both these cities received very high scores on the index — 91 and 83 respectively — and were among the top quartile of all cities reviewed by HRC.

3. Lubbock, Texas

> Index score: 0 out of 100
> Median household income: $43,413
> Points for non-discrimination laws: 0 out of 18
> Anti-bullying policy score: 0 out of 6
> Has human rights commission: No

In 2005, residents of Lubbock "voted heavily in favor of Proposition 2, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman," according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. However, the future of Texas' ban on gay marriage is currently up in the air. In February, a federal judge ruled that the state's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional. Currently, the state is appealing the ruling. Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General and Governor-Elect, has represented the state's position in the case.

4. Mesquite, Texas

> Index score: 0 out of 100
> Median household income: $47,298
> Points for non-discrimination laws: 0 out of 18
> Anti-bullying policy score: 0 out of 6
> Has human rights commission: No

Mesquite is one of the three cities in Texas, and one of just four nationwide, that received absolutely zero points from HRC's Municipal Equality Index. However, not all of Texas scored poorly on the index. In fact, Dallas received a 91 out of 100, higher than most cities reviewed by HRC, while Austin received a perfect score. In June, Texas governor Rick Perry was widely criticized in the media for making comments equating homosexuality to alcoholism. The San Francisco Chronicle quoted Perry as saying: "I may have the genetic coding that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way."

 5. Great Falls, Montana

> Index score: 2 out of 100
> Median household income: $42,487
> Points for non-discrimination laws: 0 out of 18
> Anti-bullying policy score: 0 out of 6
> Has human rights commission: No

Great Falls received by far the lowest score among the five Montana cities reviewed. Further, it is the only city among the 10 least-LGBT friendly that is not located in Alabama, Mississippi, or Texas. Great Falls was only awarded two points in total. It received these points for providing services to residents living with HIV/AIDS. While such support is invaluable for many residents, members of the Great Falls LGBT community receive little support from other city policies. Montana is among the minority of states that does not allow, or will not soon allow, same-sex couples to be married. Same-sex couples have sued the state in federal court, challenging the 

Montana’s ban on gay marriage. 24/7 Wall St. is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of  USA TODAY.