Pride all year round 🏳️‍🌈

Columbus’ Municipal Equality Index score

Here’s why the Human Rights Campaign gave Columbus a perfect score. | Photo via Canva

The Human Rights Campaign released the 2022 Municipal Equality Index, and Columbus is on the list. How did we score?

Each year, the Human Rights Campaign releases a Municipal Equality Index which takes a deep dive into municipal laws, policies, and services and how inclusive they are of LGBTQ+ people. This year’s edition examined 506 cities on 49 different criteria across five categories — non-discrimination laws, municipality as employer, services and programs, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

Based on these criteria, Columbus earned a score of 100 out of 100. A perfect score. Here’s a breakdown of how we got here… and how we can go even further.

Non-discrimination laws

This category looks at whether LGBTQ+ discrimination is prohibited by law in areas of employment, housing, and public accommodation. Columbus achieved a 30 out of 30 for our laws across the state, county, and municipality, and received bonus points as the municipality has protections against youth conversion therapy.

Municipality as employer

Cities can achieve points for inclusive employment policies like trans-inclusive healthcare policies and non-discrimination in city employment. Columbus got a 28 out of 28, and earned bonus points for city employee domestic partner benefits.

Where we can improve

Even a perfect score doesn’t mean a perfect city. Columbus would achieve an even higher score from the HRC with a few extra efforts. For example, the municipality could have a youth bullying prevention policy for city services.

If you want to get involved, here are some local organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.

How do you think we could make our community more welcoming to all? Let us know.

MORE ABOUT OUR SCORE

Click here to have your event featured.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

First Tuesday Tea | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 12-2 p.m. | Kings Art Complex, 835 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus | Free | This monthly forum is a place for seniors to explore dance, music, books, and news from the community.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Double Feature Movie Night | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 6 p.m. | Forty Deuce, 3959 Brighten Square, Columbus | $0-$5 | Watch “Prison,” a horror movie, followed by the Oscar-winning “Platoon,” directed by Oliver Stone.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Buffalo Sabres | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Naitonwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus | $38-$285

Thursday, Dec. 8

Ohio State Men’s Basketball vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7 p.m. | Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr., Columbus | $11-$48
Andrea Bocelli | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 8 p.m. | Nationwide Arena, 200 W. Nationwide Blvd. | $83-$333 | Enjoy the serenading voice of this critically-acclaimed Italian tenor singer.

Friday, Dec. 9

Franklinton Friday | Friday, Dec. 9 | 6-9 p.m. | Franklinton Arts District, Columbus | Free

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

51º | Showers | 60% chance of rain

Opening

Bubbly Hall will open by the new year and stand as the latest food hall and retail space in New Albany. The 15,000-sqft facility is located at 6031 Central College Rd. + will have local restaurants like Hoyo’s Kitchen. 🍲 (NBC4)

Environment

The City of Columbus approved an expansion to local recycling services which will make recycling pick-up weekly in 2023. Previously, recycling services were bi-weekly + the city hopes to increase eco-friendly efforts by upping pick-ups. ♻️ (The Columbus Dispatch)

Theater

Shadowbox Live announced nine new performances for 2023 to celebrate its 35th anniversary. The local theater will kick off the new season on Thursday, Jan. 5 with “Climax: The Greatest Hits,” which is an original sketch comedy show. Find tickets + the full schedule. 🎟 (The Columbus Dispatch)

Closed

The Dry Mill, a sober bar on N. Fourth Street in downtown, is now closed, according to a Facebook post from the bar owners. The bar, which aimed to normalize sobriety, thanked its staff and community for the support since starting as a Kickstarter campaign and opening in April of this year.

Real Estate

Realtor.com released its predictions for Columbus’ home market in 2023 + found prices could rise 5% while sales could decrease by as much as 14%. However, Realtor also noted Columbus should see a 4.6% uptick in sales to help balance the scales. 📈 (Columbus Business First)

State

If Ohio had a state cookie, what would it be? According to lawmakers, it’s a sugar cookie — and a bill that motioned to make it the state cookie was unanimously passed by the Ohio House of Representatives. The bill must be approved by Senate + Gov. Mike DeWine before becoming official. 🍪 (WDTN)

Sports

Play ball, CBUS. The 2023 tournament calendar for youth baseball, youth fast pitch, and adult softball was just released by Columbus Recreation and Parks. Tournaments are held at Lou Berliner Sports Park + begin in the spring. ⚾️

Stat

In 2022, half of first-time buyers said they made offers on five or more homes before winning one. Learn more about first-time buyer trends + preferences.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Cop or drop? 🍕

Would you wear these shorts with a pocket for Hot Pockets?

Columbus Fashion Alliance designed these shorts to keep your fashionable + full. | Photo via Hot Pockets

It might be cold outside, but you can still keep your Hot Pocket warm and toasty thanks to these shorts from the Columbus Fashion Alliance.

The local fashion group partnered with the national brand as Hot Pockets’ merch line is soon to be fresh out of the microwave. The first of the fashion line will be these shorts which feature an insulated pocket — appropriately labeled “hot” — in addition to another pocket labeled cold. Is the cold pocket for ranch? We’re only asking for the entire Midwest region.

Regardless of how you fill your pockets, these Napoleon Dynamite-approved shorts are available online on Tuesday, Dec. 12. Plus, you can complete the full look with a “Hotter in the Midwest” hoodie to pay homage to all those days Hot Pockets came in clutch during college.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Mitch.

Editor’s pick: Today is Tuesday, but this isn’t just an ordinary day. Today marks my one year anniversary since joining CBUStoday + 6AM City. Thanks for reading + all the support along the way. 💙

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Check out these tips for the local real estate market.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Mitch Hooper, Hanna Williford, Sarah Leonhardt, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Ana Gibson | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?