S.F. lacks on LGBT protections, report says

The city of Sioux Falls hasn’t moved the dial toward equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in three years, according to a leading LGBT advocacy group.

The Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index each year grades hundreds of U.S. cites based on the inclusivity of local laws, policies and government services when it comes to LGBT people. Cities get credit for having nondiscrimination policies in writing and an active human rights commission. Law enforcement and mayoral outreach to LGBT residents also earns points.

In 2015, Sioux Falls scored 28 out of 100, well below the national average of 56. Blemishing Sioux Falls’ marks in the report: no local non-discrimination laws for private employment, housing and public accommodations; no protections for transgender city employees; and no liaisons between city departments and the LGBT community.

The Human Rights Campaign has included Sioux Falls in its analysis since 2013, with the city earning a rating of 24 each year before 2015. While at a glance it appears to be an improved score, report authors say when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states couldn’t ban gay marriage, some of the grading criteria was removed from the study and what remained was more heavily weighted.

“Sioux Falls didn’t get any new credit in any new area that we rate,” said Xavier Persad with the Human Rights Campaign.

The low marks don’t sit well with some. City Councilor Michelle Erpenbach said she hopes to bring a discussion to her colleagues at some point in the coming year to consider bolstering LGBT protections on the city rule books.

“It’s kind of embarrassing to have that kind of a ranking. We need to kind of kick in the rear,” she said.

Erpenbach said she’s been in touch with Sioux Falls’ Center For Equality to see what direction the LGBT community might want the council to go.

Center For Equality President Thomas Christiansen said protections for private sector employees would have the most impact on future Human Rights Campaign grades.

“Being here in South Dakota, it’s hard to change those things,” he said. “But we’re trying to get it – even for private businesses. That’s something that we would like to see.”

While the city hasn’t adopted specific policy regarding LGBT protections for private sector employees or offered transgender-inclusive health benefits to city employees, Sioux Falls human relations manager Colleen Moran said the city considers LGBT people, including those who are transgender, to be a protected class.

“Discrimination based on sex, in most circumstances, would cover gender,” she said, adding that the city attorney’s office will investigate all reports of discrimination in the workplace, public and private.

BY THE NUMBERS 

Non-discrimination laws: 0 of 30

Municipality as employer: 6 of 24

Municipal services: 5 of 16

Law enforcement: 12 of 22

Relationship with LGBT community:  0 of 8

Total: Sioux Falls scored 28 of 100