Arlington Awarded Top Rating for LGBTQ Protections

Published on December 19, 2025

Arlington County earned a perfect score – 100 out of 100 – on the Human Rights Campaign's 14th annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI). The MEI examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there.

Arlington again received a score of 100 – plus an additional 16 bonus points – on the MEI Scorecard, which rates jurisdictions based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement, and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

It marks the sixth consecutive year Arlington has earned a perfect score of 100 on the MEI Scorecard. The MEI is the only comprehensive nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ equality in the areas of municipal policies, laws, and services.

Arlington earned 10 of its 16 “flex points” in the area of municipal services, specifically under “Provides services to LGBTQ+ Youth.” Arlington’s LGBTQIA+ Resources include dedicated resources for Teens, Youth, and Young Adults, along with the Arlington Teen Health Clinic. The clinic offers the following services to all teens aged 13-19 regardless of where they live, their gender, or their sexual orientation: free condoms; pregnancy prevention education; testing for pregnancy, STIs, HIV; and pregnancy and STI prevention methods.

View Arlington County’s 2025 Municipal Equality Index Scorecard

2025 also marked the first full year of Arlington’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee. The committee, which held its first meeting in October 2024, provides a space for community members and County staff to promote and collaborate on services, programs, policies, and resources that impact LGBTQ+ community members.

Learn more about the services provided by Arlington's Office of Human Rights and what Arlington County Government is doing to make the County more equitable and inclusive. Visit the County's LGBTQIA+ Resources to find local and national resources that serve the community.