For the sixth year in a row, State College is one of 129 cities to receive a perfect score on the 2023 Human Rights Campaign Municipality Equality Index (MEI).

The MEI evaluates how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are for LGBTQ+ citizens and employees, and cities are rated on a scale of 0-100. Across Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Erie, and Carlisle also received perfect scores.

Over 25% of MEI-rated cities achieved perfect scores, an increase from 2022, with an average score of 71.

Cities included in the metric are chosen based on population, those home to the state’s two largest public universities, and 75 cities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples. From there, they’re graded on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

State College Mayor Ezra Nanes has prioritized LGBTQ+ equality and inclusivity in his term, participating in the last State College Pride Parade and declaring Transgender Day of Visibility in March.