After years of just missing the mark and coming oh so close, Oakland Park finally got a 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index annual report.

“Oakland Park embraces and celebrates the rich diversity of its staff, its citizenry and its visitors from far and near,” said Mayor Michael E. Carn.

In 2017 the city received a 99, then the following two years a 97. Last year they just missed the mark again with a 99.

“While we are quite proud of the rise in the score to a 99, we will continue to find every way possible to receive a perfect score of 100 by next year,” Oakland Park City Commissioner Matthew Sparks said last year.

Well it appears the city found the way forward as Sparks said they would.

“We are extremely proud that the Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognized our intentional mission of inclusivity of all people and more particularly, for this recognition, our families and friends of the LGBTQ+ community,” Carn said. “Oakland Park champions equality and continually seeks to be a more welcoming city to everyone who lives here, works here, and plays here.”

Next door Wilton Manors received a perfect score as well — for the eighth year in a row.

Cities receive points based on their laws, policies, benefits and services. Some of the areas scored include “Law Enforcement” and “Municipal Services,” and “Leadership on LGBTQ Equality.”

This is the tenth annual municipal equality list HRC has compiled. More than 500 cities across the country were included in the report this year with 110 receiving perfect scores. Twenty-one cities in Florida were included with 11 receiving perfect scores.

Wilton Manors Gazette

 Jason Parsley | The Gazette | 27 December 2021

https://southfloridagaynews.com/The-Gazette/finally-oakland-park-scores-100-on-annual-equality-index.html

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