By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The City of Philadelphia has been recognized by an international organization for its strides in preserving the rights of those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

Gloria Casarez, director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs, says the city was ranked #1 in a survey of the large cities in the country by the Human Rights Campaign‘s “Municipal Equality Index.”

Casarez says Philadelphia got outstanding marks in a number of areas.

“Relationships with police, they’re looking at rights protections, they’re looking about relationship recognition, they’re looking at all areas of city government and city services where we may find LGBT people,” she said today, “and the City of Philadelphia believes that we have a stake throughout city government and in all aspects of city life.”

Casarez says the city has a more than 30-year record on equality issues, starting with the enactment of the first non-discrimination policy that related to sexual orientation.