LITTLE ROCK — A report from a gay civil-rights group ranks five Arkansas cities below the national average for supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
The third annual report from the Human Rights Campaign ranks more than 350 cities nationwide, including Little Rock, North Little Rock, Fayetteville, Springdale and Fort Smith.
The 2014 Municipal Equality Index rated cities on 47 separate criteria under categories like non-discriminatory laws, relationship recognition, law enforcement, and employment policies.
The national average score was 59 out of 100 possible points. Fayetteville scored 42, tops in Arkansas. North Little Rock, Fort Smith and Springdale each scored a 16, while Little Rock scored a 13.
The highest ranking scores were in New England and Mid-Atlantic and Western regions, while the lowest scores were in the Southwest and Southeast.