Oregon Ranks In Top Bracket Of LGBT-Friendly States in Equality Index

According to Human Rights Campaign, Oregon ranks among the most LGBTQ-friendly states in the nation.  

The State Equality Index is HRC’c annual review of statewide policies that affect LGBTQ people, which are divided into six categories: parenting, hate crimes and criminal justice, non-discrimination, religious refusal and relationship recognition, youth, and health and safety. States are given a rating based on their performance in each category, ranging from “High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality” to “Working Toward Innovative Equality.”  

Oregon fared quite well in all six categories, although the state did get dinged slightly for “Religious Exemptions in State Non-Discrimination Laws” regarding both sexual orientation and gender identity. The text did not specify the legislation in question.  

HRC also found that 40 LGBTQ-positive bills had been introduced in the state since 2009, while only a single negative bill had been submitted in the entire decade. Likewise, 27 LGBTQ-positive laws were passed in the same timeframe.  

Oregon was ultimately given the designation of “Working Toward Innovative Equality,” placing it in the top bracket of the index along with 17 other states and the District of Columbia.  

Unfortunately, 28 states, many in the Deep South and Midwest, fell into the lowest-rated category, “High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality.”  

“In the absence of federal non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community,” HRC president Alphonso David said in a statement, “states must put policies in place to ensure equality for their residents, workers and visitors.”