U.S. News & World Report ranked Connecticut as one of the best states in the country for gender equality, an issue Gov. Ned Lamont says is a key priority for his administration.
The report considered several metrics related to education, the economy, health, family planning and care, and representation and power.
According to the study, women in the state earn 97% of what men earn, the smallest pay disparity among states in weekly earnings. Connecticut also ranked first in the country in the economy category.
Lamont pointed to several policies during his administration that promote gender equality:
Enacting the paid family and medical leave program: A law signed in 2019 made Connecticut among one of the first states to enact a paid family and medical leave program. This ensured workers have access to the necessary benefits to take time off work to care for their own health, a newborn child, or a sick family member.
Raising the minimum wage: Gov. Lamont proposed and signed a law in 2019 that steadily increases the minimum wage to $15.00 per hour and then indexes the minimum wage to inflation. Nearly 60% of minimum wage workers in Connecticut are women.
Allowing childcare as an eligible campaign expense when running for state office: In 2021, Lamont proposed and signed a law that allows candidates running for state elected office under the citizens election program (public financing) to use funding from the program to cover reasonable childcare expenses when directly related to campaign activity.
Promoting gender equity on state boards and commissions: A law in 2021 made it a statutory requirement for appointing authorities to consider recommendations from organizations that represent the interest of gender and racial diversity when seeking people to serve on state boards and commissions.
Protecting reproductive rights and healthcare services: In 2022, Connecticut was the first in the nation to pass a law that protects medical providers and patients who come from states that have outlawed abortion and are seeking care in the state. Additionally, it expands the type of practitioners eligible to perform certain abortion-related care.
“Women’s rights are human rights, and I am proud that Connecticut is being recognized as one of the top states that not only recognizes this fact but takes every effort to implement policies that promote gender equality,” Lamont said.
Watch U.S. News & World Report’s interview with Gov. Lamont here.