St. Louis Gets Top Marks For LGBTQ Equality, St. Charles Flunks

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Human Rights Campaign awarded St. Louis a perfect score for LGBTQ equality in its 2017 Municipal Equality Index, while St. Charles received just 38 of 100 possible points. The average score for cities in Missouri was 48, almost 10 points below the national average. The index weighed, among other things, non-discrimination laws, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, school anti-bullying policies, and LGBTQ representation in local government.

HRC President Chad Griffin said the equality index provides an important tool for local officials and business leaders. "CEOs know that in order to attract and retain the best employees, they must grow their companies in places that protect LGBTQ citizens from discrimination and actively open their doors to all communities," he said. "The MEI is the best tool to help those businesses make crucial evaluations about the welcoming — or unwelcoming — nature of towns and cities across the nation."

It's timely advice. St. Louis recently submitted a bid for Amazon's new headquarters, which is expected to bring around 50,000 jobs and $5 billion in investment to the lucky city that is picked. One of the company's requirements for choosing a site is a diverse, inclusive community.

“It is more important than ever before to let our LGBTQ citizens know they are welcome in St. Louis,” Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement. “We will continue to make sure St. Louis is an inclusive city and we hope this score will help us attract more LGBTQ families, business owners, and tourists. These scores reflect years of hard work by dedicated civil servants and elected officials who recognized the need to enshrine basic protections into public policy."

Meanwhile, St. Charles received a failing grade. The city showed no effort to actively recruit LGBTQ employees or conduct LBGTQ-inclusive diversity training, failed to offer key services to the LGBTQ community, and had no enumerated anti-bullying policy in schools, according to the published data. Further, no openly-LGBTQ officials have been elected or appointed to positions in the local government.

Pride St. Charles, an LGBTQ rights organization, told Patch the group was delighted St. Charles was included in the Municipal Equality Index:

...This important review allows us to have a big picture assessment of the region and create talking points with decision makers in the area. We hope to use the MEI as a tool to help create change in the county.

Pride St. Charles, as an organization, focuses on education and visibility. We work to foster community by providing safe and welcoming events for our LGBTQIA+ community and allies to gather together. Our work to connect the LGBTQIA+ community and businesses has been well received by local business owners, and the community alike. We work closely with other LGBTQIA+ focused organizations in the area, such as St. Charles PFLAG, St. Charles County Equality Coalition, PROMO, local GSA’s and others to create positive, permanent change in the LGBTQIA+ St. Charles County community and within neighboring communities as well.

Each community member’s experiences are unique. We have seen wide ranging interactions with the public, most of which, as an organization, have been positive, but we know that is not always the case. We strive to create long lasting change through our work with our partnership organizations and businesses and know there is still much work to be done. We look to the future with hope and optimism, for a more inclusive St. Charles County and beyond. We will continue to build bridges, and build community.

Patch has also reached out to St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith for comment and will update this article when we hear back.

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