Birmingham Earns High Score For LGBTQ Equality

BIRMINGHAM, AL — In a state that fought hard to deny same-sex marriage rights, the city of Birmingham received a high score on a recent index measuring LGBTQ equality.

Birmingham earned 100 points on the 2020 Municipal Equality Index despite hailing from a state without statewide non-discrimination statutes that explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity.

For context, the average Alabama municipality scored a 30 out of 100. The national average is 64.

Birmingham's score places the Magic City as one of the Human Rights Campaign’s 61 MEI "All-Star" designations. MEI All-Stars are municipalities nationwide that excel by advancing LGBTQ equality locally without relying on explicit state-level protections.

These cities set a standard of LGBTQ inclusiveness by prioritizing measures such as local non-discrimination laws, providing transgender-inclusive health benefits for city employees, and providing services for particularly vulnerable members of the LGBTQ community.

"These All-Star cities are blazing the path forward for equality and fighting back against extreme unrelenting attacks on the LGBTQ community." said Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign. "These cities are sending a strong message that our lives, our families and our community are valuable and valued. This year’s Municipal Equality Index underscores the importance that mayors and local officials play in creating safe and inclusive communities – even if there has been a lack of leadership at the federal level."

The full HRC report, including detailed scorecards for every city, as well as a searchable database, is available online.