Today, the Human Rights Campaign published its much-anticipated Municipal Equality Index scorecard rating for the city of Fort Worth. The scorecard rates American cities based on how “inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there.” While a score of 97 may seem great, it hides a concerning trend.
For the first time in nine years, Fort Worth received a less than perfect score, losing ground particularly in the category of political leadership support for LGBTQ+ equality.
As one of Fort Worth’s premier advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, we at the HELP Center are troubled, but not surprised. For the past year, key members of Fort Worth’s political leadership have stepped back from their true support of the LGBTQ+ community to defensively crouching, as they seek to avoid the bigoted fire of extremists.
This passivity in leadership endangers Fort Worth’s cultural and economic future. Companies invest in diverse, innovative cities. The most talented and sought-after workers seek out cities with inclusive cultures. In continuing down this path, Fort Worth risks becoming less economically successful, less interesting, and less culturally vibrant.
We at the HELP Center for LGBT Health will be here, as we have been for over thirty years, to ensure LGBTQ+ Fort Worth residents have a voice and an advocate. We hope that Fort Worth’s political leadership will find the courage of their convictions and once again support all of our citizens and visitors.
The HELP Center congratulates the City of Arlington for once again achieving a perfect score.