Three of four Oregon cities received top marks for LGBT inclusion, according to the third annual Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index.
The 353 U.S. cities evaluated achieved points based on their non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, nondiscriminatory hiring practices, municipal services, law enforcement and relationship with LGBT community.
The four Oregon cities included in the index came out with an average of 75.5 points out of a total of 100. The national average was 56 points.
Portland received the most points with 95, while Salem got 85 and Eugene was awarded 78. Gresham brought down the average with a score of 44.
Portland was celebrated for recognizing same sex marriage, making health care options available to transgender people and having a human rights commission. However, the city was dinged for no having an LGBT liaison to a city executive.
Gresham was heavily docked because the city doesn't have a non-discrimination ordinance and hasn't created an LGBT presence in the local government or with the police.
Copyright 2014 Oregon Public Broadcasting