availability of transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits.availability of city employee domestic partner benefits.protection of youth from conversion therapy.The MEI examines laws, policies and services of municipalities and rates them based on their inclusivity of LGBTQ people who live and work there.Įxamples highlighted in the 2021 report include: Long Beach was one of 506 cities nationwide to be scored, and one of 110 to achieve a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Municipal Equality Index. Garcia himself is both the city’s youngest and first elected openly LGBT mayor, and also the first Latino American to hold the office. “We are very proud of our efforts and completely committed to ensuring Long Beach remains a place where everyone - regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity - is welcome.” “It is an honor for our city to be recognized for our unwavering commitment to the LGBTQ community for the 10th consecutive year,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. For the 10th year in a row Long Beach has been named one of the best cities in the nation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer inclusion in municipal law and policy, earning a perfect score and 11 bonus points, the city announced Friday.
