HRC MEI Highest for State in JXN

Jackson is proving itself hospitable when it comes to equality for all.

Mississippi’s capital city received an 80 out of 100 in the 2020 Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Municipal Equality Index (MEI).

The annual scorecard demonstrates how many cities can—and do—support the LGBTQ people who live, work and visit there.

In partnership with the Human Rights Campaign of Mississippi and their State Director Rob Hill, the City of Jackson and Visit Jackson, efforts to raise the score have resulted in Jackson’s score that is well above the national average, the highest in the state by more than double.

“We congratulate Jackson for standing up for equality by continuing to increase its MEI score well beyond the national average, said Hill. “This progress is important to me as an LGBTQ advocate and a resident of the City With Soul. The Human Rights Campaign looks forward to working with city leaders and the Visit Jackson team in the effort to enjoy even more success this year.”

In addition to the MEI score, HRC also compiles a list of healthcare facilities that again meet or exceed the LGBTQ community’s needs. Jackson has two major medical facilities on the 2020 Healthcare Equality Index, the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and the V.A. G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Medical Center.

Each year the HRC assigns grades to hundreds of cities across the United States among several different categories: non-discrimination laws, healthcare, and inclusivity by employers, municipal services, law enforcement, and city leadership.

Visit Jackson encourages you to contact your local HRC representative and find out how you, your employer and your city can assist in raising your score.

For more information on the Human Rights Campaign or the Municipal Equality Scorecard, visit HRC.org.

About Visit Jackson

Visit Jackson is the official destination leadership organization for the city of Jackson. The bureau serves Jackson by positively impacting the city’s economy through recruitment and procurement of meetings and tourism activities.

Created in 1983, Visit Jackson acts as a quasi-independent government agency reauthorized by the state legislature and governed by an independently appointed board of directors with members representing the hotel, restaurant, attraction, art, and education sectors.

Media Contact: Kim Lewis – klewis@visitjackson.com or 601.354.2553 for interviews, statements and story ideas.