Non-Discrimination Laws**
This category evaluates whether discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited by the city, county, or state in areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
** On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination are prohibited under federal sex-based employment protections. Nevertheless, it is imperative that localities continue enacting explicitly LGBTQ+-inclusive comprehensive non-discrimination laws since it will likely take additional litigation for Bostock to be fully applied to all sex-based protections under existing federal civil rights law. Moreover, federal law currently lacks sex-based protections in numerous key areas of life, including public spaces and services. Lastly, there are many invaluable benefits to localizing inclusive protections even when they exist on higher levels of government. For these reasons, the MEI will continue to only award credit in Part I for state, county, or municipal non-discrimination laws that expressly include sexual orientation and gender identity. Credit may be awarded on the state level if a state has definitively applied Bostock’s reasoning to include LGBTQ+ people under state sex nondiscrimination protections.
Municipality as Employer
By offering equivalent benefits and protections to LGBTQ+ employees, awarding contracts to fair-minded businesses, and taking steps to ensure an inclusive workplace, municipalities commit themselves to treating LGBTQ+ employees equally.
Municipal Services
This section assesses the efforts of the city to ensure LGBTQ+ constituents are included in city services and programs.
Law Enforcement
Fair enforcement of the law includes responsible reporting of hate crimes and engaging with the LGBTQ+ community in a thoughtful and respectful way.
Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality
This category measures the city leadership’s commitment to fully include the LGBTQ+ community and to advocate for full equality.
2020 (2019) SCORE FOR COLUMBUS GEORGIA MEI
COLUMBUS LOSES POINTS ON HRC MEI SCORE.
WENT FROM 61 to a 58
NO LGBT LIAISON NAMED FOR MAYORS OFFICE RESULTING IN LOSS OF 5 POINTS
NO NDO PASSED RESULTING IN ZERO GAIN OF 35 POINTS AWARDED FOR NDO PASSAGE AND COMPLIANCE.
We cannot afford to be losing points are just saying no to points because of voices of the past who feel we are fine like we are. VOTE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF OFFICE!
We must do better. These are careless errors that cost us points. Colgay Pride works with the LGBTQ Community. We have offered several times to help our Mayor find a candidate for Liaison. There are plenty of people that work hard everyday and deserve a shot to represent. We must put all garbage aside and quit nitpicking the NDO to death to make it sound so bad, when in fact 13 other cities in Georgia have passed one similar to our design. This is ridiculous that we still have people who oppose Equality for All. This being an election year we will sure be reminding people who blocked diversity and equality. Your voices need to be heard and more importantly you need to be helping us in this fight. 13 other cities and Columbus is second largest city in Georgia. We are a laughing stock because people look at us and think will they ever grow up? No big companies will ever set foot in our city to provide jobs and income for our citizens and long as this score remains a failing grade.
