APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton is leading the way in Northeast Wisconsin for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, according to the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for gay rights.
The Municipal Equality Index surveys laws and policies of cities across the nation.
Appleton’s score of 93 on the index is up 15 points in five years. The Human Rights Campaign’s annual report rates cities based on how inclusive those policies are toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“The city’s focus overall is fostering the community where people feel like they belong,” said Timber Smith, Appleton’s diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator.
The Municipal Equality Index’s scoring criteria is based on a number of conditions; including, non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
“This report captures what some of what Appleton is doing like non-discrimination ordinances, an LGBTQ task force in the police department, reporting bias motivated crime statistics,” said Rev. Hannah Villnave, a Unitarian Universalist pastor.
Rev. Villnave recently moved to the Fox Valley with her wife.
“I’ve been learning about it from multiple perspectives professionally and personally.”
She also says the report also captures some of the things Appleton is not doing.
“Gaps in the care for our LGBTQ elders and unhoused people.”
Appleton scored zero bonus points in having services for LGBTQ elders, but added two for providing services to LGBTQ homeless.
“We keep an open line of communication with our LGBTQ community,” said Smith. “There’s very good relationships there so as concerns come into play, they do have the opportunity to voice them and we do take them seriously.”
Smith has been Appleton’s diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator since last year.
FOX 11 asked Smith what he thinks the city needs to do to improve its score.
“Well one of the things that we’re going to do to help improve the score, is we are in the process of going through a remodel here at City Hall and we’re going to have gender neutral bathrooms here in the future,” said Smith. “It’s really important, helps them feel like they belong when they’re available.”
Green Bay scored 90 and Oshkosh scored 78.
Madison, Milwaukee and Racine are part of the 120 cities that scored a perfect 100.
To read the Human Rights Campaign’s full Municipal Equality Index report, click here.
