Despite some state and federal motions to stymie pro-equality measures, cities across the U.S. are continuing to increase equality standards and protections for all of their citizens, no matter their gender or social orientation, a nationwide index finds.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute released their eighth annual Municipal Equality Index report on Nov. 19. The 2019 index rated 506 cities across the United States on "49 criteria covering citywide non-discrimination protections, policies for municipal employees, city services, law enforcement and the city’s leadership on LGBTQ equality," according to a press release.

This year's report found 88 cities across the United States achieved perfect scores – up from 11 in 2012. All 88 cities reported hate crimes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and have an LGBTQ police liaison. Meanwhile, the majority had contractor non-discrimination policies that included gender identity, have an official LGBTQ liaison for the city (separate from one for the police), have an openly LGBTQ elected or appointed official in senior leadership, support direct services to people living with HIV/AIDS and offer trans-inclusive health benefits to city employees.

Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City are among the 88 cities that scored 100 points for their inclusive policies and laws. Notably, some cities scored high despite being located in states without supportive laws, including Brookings, South Dakota; Missoula, Montana; Birmingham, Alabama; Huntington, West Virginia; and St. Louis, Missouri.

"From coast to coast, and in every corner of our country, local leaders are moving our community closer to full equality – from Richmond, Virginia to Anchorage, Alaska, from Norman, Oklahoma, to State College, Pennsylvania," Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, said in the report. "As we look at ways for cities and towns to make further progress, we also celebrate the amazing work that is being done right now to make cities and towns better, more equitable places to live and visit."

The index, first issued in 2012, says 25 million people are now living in cities with more transgender-inclusive, anti-discrimination laws than on the state level. Further, the number of transgender-inclusive health care benefits offered to employees of municipalities continued an increasing trend to 164 in 2019, up from five in 2012.

Overland Park, Kansas; Norman, Oklahoma; Racine, Wisconsin; Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, were the five most-improved cities since the 2018 index, the report said, and 38 state average scores increased this year over last.

Rebecca Isaacs, executive director of the Equality Federation Institute, said the results of the index give "a bird’s eye view of protections LGBTQ people have in the communities they call home" across the nation.

"Progress made by the 88 municipalities with perfect scores – more than any other year – creates momentum for other communities to make progress and for passage of the federal Equality Act," she said in the report. "Gone are the days when disrespect goes unnoticed and unchecked. LGBTQ people have proven time and time again that we have a voice and will use it to protect and defend each person in our community."

Authors of the report noted that the index is not a ranking of the best cities to live for LGBTQ populations, but rather "an evaluation of each city’s law and policies, and an examination of how inclusive city services are of LGBTQ people."

According to the report, "Some high-scoring cities may not feel truly welcoming for all LGBTQ people, and some low-scoring cities may feel more welcoming than their policies might reflect."