City of Rehoboth Beach Achieves Perfect Score on 2025 Municipal Equality Index, the Highest in the State of Delaware
November 18, 2025
Score Demonstrates Strong Partnership with CAMP Rehoboth
Rehoboth Beach has emerged as a standout example of municipal progress in advancing LGBTQ+ equality, earning a perfect score of 100 on the 2025 Municipal Equality Index. The MEI, conducted by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), examines how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.
This is a remarkable leap from its 2024 score of 61. The transformation reflects the City’s strong commitment to fostering an inclusive, affirming environment for all residents and visitors; as well as a strong partnership with CAMP Rehoboth, a nonprofit organization that delivers LGBTQ+ services, advocacy, and community engagement on behalf of the City.
CAMP Rehoboth delivers essential services typically performed by municipal governments in larger jurisdictions. These services directly align with multiple MEI scoring categories and fulfill municipal functions that have now been credited toward the City’s MEI score, demonstrating the City’s reliance on CAMP Rehoboth as its trusted, community-based service provider.
“The City of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is widely known for its long-standing reputation as a welcoming and affirming destination and home for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors. Yet, the city’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) score was not as high as expected, until now,” said Assistant City Manager Evan Miller. “Thanks to our strong partnership with CAMP Rehoboth, and their guidance through this process, we are so proud to earn a perfect score that more accurately reflects our values. Rehoboth Beach’s journey from progress to excellence exemplifies how intentional policy, leadership, and community engagement can drive meaningful change.”
“CAMP Rehoboth is proud to build on its transformative legacy of fostering understanding and cooperation in our community and the southern Delaware region at large,” said Kim Leisey, PhD, Executive Director at CAMP Rehoboth. “While progress is never final, this perfect score demonstrates how valuable partnerships between local government and organizations can forge safer and more inclusive communities for everyone.”
Over the past year, Rehoboth Beach implemented a series of impactful policy changes and initiatives, affirming its employment practices by including more comprehensive non-discrimination protections and strengthening its internal workplace policies to promote equity and inclusion. The City received credit for offering transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits to municipal employees.
Regarding public services, Rehoboth Beach appointed an LGBTQ+ liaison in the Police Department and City Manager’s office, ensuring thoughtful engagement and fair administration and enforcement practices. Flex-point credits were received after recognizing CAMP Rehoboth’s services for LGBTQ+ youth, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals living with HIV or AIDS.
Leadership played a pivotal role. City officials publicly affirmed their support for LGBTQ+ equality and advanced pro-equality efforts, signaling sustained commitment to inclusive governance and workplace. The City received credit for LGBTQ+ competency training in partnership with CAMP Rehoboth.
For the 2025 Municipal Equality Index Scorecard for Rehoboth Beach, please visit: Rehoboth Beach, DE
The MEI is a nationwide evaluation of 506 cities on how inclusive cities’ laws, policies, and services are of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people. For more information, and to see the complete Standards for Credit, and the Scorecard, please visit: www.hrc.org/resources/municipal-equality-index
