Carson City trails in index on LGBT equality

Carson City ranks lowest among seven Nevada communities regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

The campaign, also known as the HRC, says it’s the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization and made the assessment after checking what it determined were pertinent matters in 353 cities and towns nationwide, including seven cited in the Silver State. The state’s capital city had a score of 50 out of 100 points involving several categories. The HRC Municipal Equality Index is in its third year.

Carson City also trailed the nationwide average for the more than 350 communities checked. The nationwide average was 59 and the average for Nevada’s seven communities was 75.

The other six Silver State communities and their scores were Paradise and Enterprise, both at 92, Las Vegas at 87, Reno at 75, Henderson at 67, and North Las Vegas at 65.

“Wow, the truth can hurt,” said Pam Graber of Carson City, secretary of the PFLAG organization in the Carson City region. PFLAG is the organzation formerly known as parents and friends of lesbians and gays.

“We are thankful to HRC for the Municipal Equality Index,” said Graber. “It demonstrates exactly what our community must do to be more attentive to LGBT people, and perhaps PFLAG Carson Region can have a hand. A score of 50/100 tells me that it’s very good PFLAG Carson Region exists.”

Carson City received 20 of 29 possible points in the municipality as employer category, 18 of 18 in non-discriminatory laws and 12 of 12 in relationship recognition. However, it got no points in the categories of municipal services for the LGBT community, the city’s relationship with the LGBT community and in law enforcement.

Generally, the index was credited in a news release from HRC with showing that municipalities are helping lead the way in forging ahead to support the LGBT community nationwide in ways states and the federal government have not.

“From Mississippi to Idaho, mid-size communities and small towns have become the single greatest engine of progress for LGBT equality — changing countless lives for the better,” said Chad Griffin, the HRC president, as he assessed the meaning of index results.