The City of Norman has received a perfect score in the 2021 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index – a benchmark initiative evaluating laws, policies and services that create supportive LGBTQ environments – reaffirming its mission to Build an Inclusive Community and setting the standard for local governments across the state.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognized with a perfect score by the Human Rights Campaign as we support all efforts to achieve fundamental fairness and equality for all,” said Mayor Breea Clark. “We recognize inclusive efforts create stronger communities and drive economic impact; we will continue to uphold values that support those efforts and move our city forward.”

In January 2021, the City of Norman established an Office of Diversity and Equity to “ensure systems and resources are align to create a more inclusive community and organizational workforce by building and sustaining an ecosystem of education, engagement and access across all communities in Norman.” The office is led by Chief Diversity & Equity Officer Cinthya Allen, who says that reaching this level of recognition takes hard work and commitment.

“We want to thank our community, local organizations, and civic leaders for helping us create a community where everyone can be free to live openly and contribute to our community in positive ways,” Allen said.

Of the eight Oklahoma municipalities surveyed and evaluated, Norman was the only city in the state to have achieved 100 out of 100 points within the index. Nationwide, Norman emerged in the top 22 percent of all participating cities. The average score of all participating cities was 67, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

The categories for which cities are evaluated and rated include: Non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

The Human Rights Campaign, established in 1980, leads with the goal to "ensure that all LGBTQ+ people, and particularly those of us who are trans, people of color and HIV+, are treated as full and equal citizens within our movement, across our country and around the world."

Visit normanok.gov/your-government/diversity-and-equity for more information about becoming involved in the advancement of diversity and equity at the local level.