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Seven Utah cities rated below the national average on LGBTQ rights — only Salt Lake City fares well in this new analysis

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Utah Pride Parade marches up 200 South in Salt Lake City, Sunday, June 3, 2018.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation rated eight Utah cities for LGBTQ equality — and seven of them fell below the national average.

The seventh annual Municipal Equality Index rated cities based on 49 different criteria, including non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city leadership’s public position on equality. The average score for 506 cities rated was 58; of the Utah cities rated, only Salt Lake City exceeded that with a 66 — although Ogden was just below the national average.

The other Utah cities on the list are:

  • Ogden — 56

  • Provo — 48

  • Logan — 46

  • West Valley City — 46

  • Park City — 35

  • West Jordan — 34

  • Orem — 20

Salt Lake City received full credit for its relationship with the LGBTQ community; majority credit for services and programs; and half credit for non-discrimination, municipality as an employer and law enforcement.

Orem received half credit for non-discrimination and no credit in the other categories.

Nationally, 78 cities scored perfect 100s, and 25 percent scored 83 or higher. At the other end of the spectrum, 15 cities scored zeros, and 36 — including Orem — scored 25 or less.

The Municipal Equality Index was produced by a partnership of the HRC Foundation — the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization — and the Equality Federation Institute.