Augusta’s score jumped from a 14 last year to a 33, gaining 14 points with the Augusta Commission’s June vote to extend equal employment protections for city employees based on both sexual orientation and gender identity and five points for the addition of an LGBT liaison to the city staff.

Augusta has more than doubled its score on the Municipal Equality Index, a rating of the city’s friendliness toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community published by the rights group Human Rights Campaign.

Augusta’s score jumped from a 14 last year to a 33, gaining 14 points with the Augusta Commission’s June vote to extend equal employment protections for city employees based on both sexual orientation and gender identity, and five points for the addition of an LGBT liaison to the city staff.

Augusta’s score moved it ahead of Athens-Clarke County (28), but it continues to trail Savannah (40), Columbus (36) and Atlanta (100).

Augusta maintained its maximum 10 points for the continued existence of an LGBTQ liaison, Deputy Zay’Vion Williams, at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

Augusta increased its score for city leadership’s public position on equality from a 2 to a 3 and gained another point for leadership’s pro-equality legislative or policy efforts, but lost two points the city had for providing housing for HIV-positive individuals.

In 2016, Mayor Hardie Davis asked city Compliance Director Kellie Irving to serve as the mayor’s office liaison to the LGBT community, and Irving has been meeting approximately once a month with local LGBT leadership to improve the score.

“I’m excited that the Municipal Equality has increased," said Irving, who recently resigned to be closer to family in California. "That’s quite a feat for Augusta, and hopefully the work we’ve accomplished over the past year with Matt Duncan and Zay’Vion Williams will continue with the interim director serving as the LGBT liaison.”

Duncan, a board member for the rights groups Equality Augusta and Georgia Equality, thanked Davis, Irving and the commission for their work.

“Augusta’s 2018 Municipal Equality Index reflects the extraordinary progress Augusta has made in recognizing and protecting its LGBTQ community,” Duncan said.

“Our growing economy, including the high-tech sector led by the cyber industry, will require a world-class workforce, and our improved score will help ensure that Augusta is able to attract the best and brightest talent,” he said.