Virginia Beach Receives Another High Score on Municipal Equality Index

Virginia Beach has once again been recognized as one of the top municipalities in the nation for supporting equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, plus other sexual and gender minorities (LGBTQ+). The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) released its 2025 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) on Nov. 18, and Virginia Beach continues to be among the highest scoring cities in both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the country. 

The MEI is a national benchmarking tool used to assess how well cities protect and serve LGBTQ+ residents, employees and visitors. Each year, the Human Rights Campaign evaluates 506 municipalities using 49 criteria that measure citywide nondiscrimination protections, employee policies, core services, law enforcement practices and leadership’s public commitment to inclusion. Although 100 is considered a perfect score, cities can earn additional flex points that reflect innovative or exemplary work. 

This year’s results once again highlight Virginia Beach’s ongoing progress and consistent investment in inclusive policies and programs. Eleven cities across Virginia were rated, and Virginia Beach continues to be at the top as one of the strongest performers statewide. 

Progress Rooted in Policy, Partnership and Community 

Virginia Beach's commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion has grown significantly over the past decade. In the first year of the Municipal Equality Index in 2011, the City earned a score of 17. By 2018, the score had risen to 50, which prompted City leadership to formalize an LGBTQ+ liaison position to the city manager. This role was charged with reviewing policies, coordinating training and supporting community-focused initiatives. 

Since then, intentional policy updates and sustained community engagement have led to remarkable improvements. The City reached a score of 77 in 2019, earned a perfect score in 2020 and has continued to hold high marks every year, earning a perfect score again this year. 

“Another strong performance on the Municipal Equality Index reflects the hard work that so many people have put into making Virginia Beach a place where every person feels welcome,” said Corey Overstreet, LGBTQ+ liaison to the city manager. “Our continued recognition reflects our daily commitment to making sure every resident, employee and visitor feels seen and valued. It is encouraging to see how far we have come since 2011, and we are excited about expanding programs and resources across the city.” 

Municipal Equality Index 

The Municipal Equality Index helps cities understand where they are succeeding and where they can continue to grow. The index also serves as a resource for residents, businesses and prospective employers who want to know how communities support LGBTQ+ individuals. 

The 506 cities evaluated this year include: 

• All 50 state capitals 
• The 200 largest cities in the United States 
• The five largest municipalities in each state 
• Cities with large LGBTQ+ populations 
• Cities selected through recommendations from HRC and Equality Federation partners 

Each score reflects policies and practices in five key areas: nondiscrimination protections, municipal workplace policies, city services, law enforcement engagement and leadership’s public commitment to equality. 

To review the full report and each individual city's score, visit Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index. 

• LGBTQ+ Community Resources
• MEI 2025