The 2025 Municipal Equality Index (MEI) Scorecards for four key Coachella Valley cities—Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Cathedral City, and Palm Springs—reveal a strong commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion, with two of the four cities achieving the highest possible score.
The MEI, a project of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), evaluates municipal law, policy, and services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people who live and work in the city. The scorecards are broken down into five key categories: Non-Discrimination Laws, Municipality as Employer, Municipal Services, Law Enforcement, and Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality.
Key Scorecard Findings
The overall scores demonstrate exceptional performance across the board for these four municipalities. Click the city name to view the full scorecard:
| City | Final Score (out of 100) | Total FLEX Score (out of 22) |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral City, CA | 100 | 9 |
| Palm Springs, CA | 100 | 19 |
| Rancho Mirage, CA | 98 | 7 |
| Palm Desert, CA | 97 | 7 |
Cathedral City and Palm Springs Lead with Perfect Scores
Both Cathedral City and Palm Springs achieved a perfect Final Score of 100, demonstrating comprehensive support across all criteria categories.
Palm Springs, however, notably earned the highest number of FLEX points (19) among the four, which are awarded for criteria not accessible to all cities or for going above and beyond minimum requirements. These points often reflect added services or policies, such as providing services to the transgender community or for those living with HIV or AIDS.
High Scores for Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage
Rancho Mirage, with a score of 98, and Palm Desert, with a score of 97, also rated exceptionally high, falling just short of the maximum score. The high scores across all four cities underscore the region’s dedication to equal rights and inclusive policies.
The Five Categories of Equality
The MEI evaluates cities based on the following:
- Non-Discrimination Laws: Prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas like employment, housing, and public accommodations.
- Municipality as Employer: Assessing benefits and protections for LGBTQ+ employees, including transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits and inclusive workplaces.
- Municipal Services: Evaluating a city’s efforts to ensure LGBTQ+ residents are included in city services and programs (e.g., services for LGBTQ+ youth, older adults, and the transgender community).
- Law Enforcement: Fair enforcement of the law, including responsible reporting of hate crimes and engagement with the LGBTQ+ community, often through a police LGBTQ+ liaison or task force.
- Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality: Measuring the city leadership’s public and legislative commitment to full inclusion and advocacy for equality.
The scorecards indicate that all four cities have strong foundations in place, particularly in areas like Law Enforcement and Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality, with the majority of points being secured in the core categories. The minor point differences are often found in areas that carry FLEX points, which demonstrate a city’s voluntary dedication to expanding on foundational protections.
Learn more about the Municipal Equality Index at https://www.hrc.org/resources/municipal-equality-index