GREENVILLE — The city of Greenville’s inclusivity score from a national LGBTQ rights group has risen for the second straight year.
The increase to the city’s score comes from policies and ordinances the city has created or changed, all tied to improving inclusivity and creating protections for LGBTQ people, according to the Upstate SC LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
Greenville was scored 64 out of 100 points in 2023 by the Human Rights Campaign, an increase from its score of 52 in 2022.
That score increase reflects the city’s appointment of LGBTQ leaders, adoption of a nondiscrimination ordinance for city contractors, provision of services to people living with HIV or AIDS, and creation of a youth bullying prevention policy, according to the chamber.
LGBTQ+ Chamber CEO Tyler Prescott said the score represents the policy advances made by the city to protect LGBTQ people, and that those changes help foster economic inclusivity.
“I think this score indicates that the city is a good place for the LGBT community to live and work,” Prescott said.
The index examines how inclusive a city’s laws, policies and services are of the LGBTQ people who live and work there. Scoring focuses on nondiscrimination laws, the city as an employer, city services, law enforcement and leadership on equality.
When people and companies consider moving to Greenville, they look at the city’s score, Prescott said. When relocating, major corporations weigh whether they can retain, recruit and attract a diverse set of candidates.
Despite the increase, Greenville sits behind Charleston, Columbia and Myrtle Beach, which had respective scores of 71, 82 and 99 in 2023.
But the city has made changes in recent years to improve its score, up from 52 in 2022 and 33 in 2021. LGBTQ liaisons were tapped in the city staff and within the Greenville Police Department, and a committee was formed under the LGBTQ+ Chamber to work with city staff. City Council has also issued a Pride proclamation.
“Greenville is in constant competition for employees and businesses, and the investments they bring,” City Councilwoman Dorothy Dowe said in a press release. “Our demonstrated commitment to equality through policies that protect everyone, including LGBT+ people, is fully supported by our City Council priorities of economic development and inclusivity.”
Prescott said he thinks the city’s score will increase again next year. This year’s score did not reflect the city’s bias-based intimidation ordinance, which provides additional criminal charges if someone commits a crime based on the victim’s sexual orientation and gender. That law has been on the books since January 2020.
“As we continue to work to improve our score and create a safe, inclusive community, we are also learning more about the scoring and submission process,” city spokeswoman Beth Brotherton said. “We will make sure the ordinance is included with our materials next year.”
