Key findings from the 2025 Municipal Equality Index, which scored 506 cities, include:

• This year, a record-breaking 132 cities or over 25 percent of all MEI-rated cities,earned the highest score of 100, which is up from 130 in 2024
  • Only 5 cities scored zero points.
• Across 21 states, 64 cities and towns earned over 85 points despite their state lacking non-discrimination statutes that explicitly protect sexual orientation and gender identity. In recognition of their efforts, the following localities earned the title of "All-Star City." (A "*" below indicates the city earned all-star status for the first time this year)
  • Alabama: Birmingham
  • Alaska: Anchorage*, Juneau
  • Arizona: Chandler, Flagstaff, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe, Tucson
  • Georgia: Athens-Clarke County*, Atlanta, Decatur
  • Indiana: Bloomington, Evansville, Terre Haute
  • Iowa: Cedar Rapids*, Davenport*, Des Moines*, Dubuque*, Iowa City*
  • Kentucky: Covington*, Lexington*, Louisville*
  • Louisiana: New Orleans
  • Missouri: Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis
  • Montana: Missoula
  • Nebraska: Omaha
  • North Carolina: Carrboro, Durham, Greensboro, Raleigh*, Winston-Salem
  • Ohio: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Dublin, Lakewood, Toledo
  • Oklahoma: Norman
  • South Carolina: Myrtle Beach
  • South Dakota: Brookings, Vermillion
  • Texas: Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, San Antonio
  • Utah: Salt Lake City*
  • West Virginia: Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown
  • Wisconsin: Appleton*, Green Bay*, Madison*, Milwaukee*, Oshkosh*
  • Wyoming: Casper*, Laramie

Every year, the Municipal Equality Index scores the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the United States, the five largest cities or municipalities in each state, the cities home to the state's two largest public universities, 75 cities and municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples, and 98 cities selected by HRC state groups, members, and supporters.

The rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric at every level of government has created a chilling effect in cities across the country. Many cities have lost points that they have historically received due to state actions and threats from the federal government to suspend funding if engaged in "DEI" work. This impact can be seen in the lower national score average of 70, lower scores in almost every regional score average, and lower state averages in 75 percent of states. Even though local leaders continue to pave the way forward for equality, there remains an unacceptable patchwork of laws for LGBTQ+ people across the country. This reinforces the need for the federal Equality Act - one of HRC's top legislative priorities - that would provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

The full 2025 MEI report, including detailed scorecards for every city and a searchable score database, is available online at www.hrc.org/mei.