• In 2020, we scored 60 out of 100
• In 2021, we scored 82 out of 100
• In 2022, we scored 77 out of 100

Non-discrimination laws

Municipality as employer

• 2020 score: 15
• 2021 score: 20
• 2022 score: 20

Services and programs

• 2020 score: 5
• 2021 score: 10
• 2022 score: 5

Law enforcement

• 2020 score: 12
• 2021 score: 22
• 2022 score: 22

Leadership on LGBTQ+ equality

Looking ahead

• Modern Shag Night | Thursday, June 15 | 8:30-11 p.m. | Bill’s Music Shop, 710 Meeting St., West Columbia | $5 | Learn this Southern staple dance and mingle with other Shag dancers.
• Third Thursday Art Night: Lauren Casassa | Thursday, June 15 | 6-8 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | Free | This body of work is a series of Taylor Swift portraits in the medium of gouache and watercolor on paper.

• Jenna McSwain | Friday, June 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St., Columbia | $18 | Enjoy a one-of-a-kind concert featuring premier swing jazz.
• Friday Night Laser Lights | Friday, June 16 | 6-10 p.m. | South Carolina State Museum, 301 Gervais St., Columbia | $10 | See a choreographed laser show tuned to Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” in the museum’s 55-ft digital dome planetarium.

• 7th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival | Saturday, June 17 | 1:30-9:30 p.m. | Segra Park, 1640 Freed St., Columbia | Free | This afternoon celebration features live music, food vendors, games+ guest speakers.
• Reggaetronic: Lake Murray Music Festival | Saturday, June 17 | Spence Island, Lake Murray | $275 per boat | Jam to Reggaetronic tunes on the water — this festival is only accessible by boat.
• Southeastern Piano Festival Winners Recital | Saturday, June 17 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | USC School of Music, 813 Assembly St., Columbia | $20 | Hear the winners of the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition perform.

• Free Sundays | Sunday, June 18 | 1-4 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site, 1403 Richland St., Columbia | Free | Enjoy free admission to this historic site every third Sunday of the month.

• Start at The Grand and celebrate with a prime rib and flights of Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, 101, and Wood Finishing Series.
• Now, it’s time to play. Head to Players Club for a US Open Watch Party at 12 p.m. presented by Southern Glazer. Festivities include drink specials and prize giveaways, and pro tip: The Academy at Player’s Club has free golf bays in honor of Father’s Day. Call (803) 608-7692 to book a bay.
• Bonus: Give your dad the gift of golf with a three-month Player’s Club membership with no initiation fees.

• Benedict College, in collaboration with Siemens and MD Energy Advisors, has launched a campus improvement initiative to enhance student experiences. The plans are set to begin in 2024, including boosting indoor air quality + energy efficiency and dormitory comfort while reducing maintenance costs.

• USC freshman outfielder Ethan Petry and catcher Cole Messina have been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America team. This marks Petry as the 24th Gamecock named a First Team All-American and the first since 2015.

• $142,210,807. That’s the total revenue generated by the Gamecock’s Athletics Department in 2022 according to USA Today. That puts USC at No. 27 in the country overall. Clemson is No. 17 on the list pulling in ~$158 million.

• Stand-up comedian and podcaster Shane Gillis will be at the Township Auditorium on Friday, December 1. Tickets are on sale now at the box office on Taylor Street and through Ticketmaster.

• Bust out your glowsticks and check your shirt under a black light, Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is lighting up Colonial Life Arena on Oct. 29-30 with a Glow Party. Snag your tickets here for the family-friendly event.

• We’ve done some digging to highlight local animal shelters looking for some purrfect parents to give local fur babies a second chance. Animal Mission, Final Victory Rescue, Pawmetto Lifeline, and Petsinc are four local animal rescue and shelters across Columbia that could use your help fostering, adopting, and volunteering.

• Need a last minute Father’s Day gift idea? Treat dad to the ultimate smart home upgrade by converting his manual window shades into motorized SmartShades. Easy-to-install, energy savings, and smart sophistication all in one package. RYSE is offering 10% off the entire store. Snag the deal here.*

• Fewer than 10% of hospitals in the country earn this elite distinction, and Lexington Medical Center is the only South Carolina hospital included among them.*

• United Way of the Midlands is hiring a full-time Midlands Reading Consortium AmeriCorps School Liaison. This position is responsible for enrolling pre-kindergarten to third-grade students in one-on-one reading and STEM engagement sessions with the goal of increasing home libraries and promoting literacy and STEM. Learn more + apply.*

• A Banksy painting that gave everyday investors 32% returns? Yep, you read that right. Thousands of investors are smiling all the way to the bank thanks to the fine art investing platform Masterworks. Masterworks investors have benefitted from sales with returns of 13.9%, 35.0%, and 27.3%. Skip the waitlist and join.*

• It’s time to plan that last summer hurrah for Labor Day weekend. May we suggest a coastal getaway to the Outer Banks? Or maybe your dream destination is a rustic treehouse in the Adirondack Mountains. Wanna splurge? This modern farmhouse in Napa Valley is sure to be unforgettable.*