North Carolina cities fall below national average in LGBTQ equality, study says

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Several North Carolina cities fall below the national average when it comes to LGBTQ equality, according to a new report released by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Equality Federal Institute.

The average score for cities in North Carolina is 52 out of 100 points, while the national average is 60.

The eighth annual Municipal Equality Index assessed LGBTQ equality in 506 cities.

It looks at non-discrimination laws, municipality as employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ equality.

This is how the 10 North Carolina cities ranked:

• Cary--0
• Chapel Hill--78
• Charlotte--64
• Durham--69
• Fayetteville--39
• Greensboro--79
• Raleigh--58
• Wilmington--15
• Winston-Salem--52
• Carrboro--70

"The City of Raleigh strongly believes in being an inclusive community where everyone has a place at the table and every voice has a part in the conversation. We continually strive to find new and innovative ways to ensure all of our residents and visitors feel welcome."

ABC11 has reached out to Cary for a statement.

"I think that in general municipalities in the South have been slower to catch on to the need to provide affirming policies and services to the LGBTQ community, which is not to say that no cities are doing well," said Ames Simmons, Director of Equality NC Policy. "It has been more difficult in North Carolina particularly because of laws that prevent our municipalities from being able to enact nondiscrimination protections in private employment and in public accommodations."

Click here to see how your city ranked.

ABC11's Gloria Rodriguez is investigating this study. She'll have a full report tonight on ABC11 at 6.