Casarez led the efforts of the Mayor's Office of LGBT Affairs and the Mayor's advisory board on LGBT Affairs from 2008 to 2014. The Director of LGBT Affairs developed priorities for the city of Philadelphia on issues including public safety, education, economic development, health and city services and civil rights. The Office of LGBT Affairs worked to foster equitable working and living conditions for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people and to advocate for LGBTQ issues in all areas of City government. In 2012, Philadelphia was ranked number two nationwide for LGBT equality in the first edition of the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index. Philadelphia was the highest scoring city in the nation (of the ten largest cities) and the highest scoring city without statewide legal protections for LGBT people.
