Mayor Kasim Reed announced that the City of Atlanta has earned its fourth consecutive perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s 2016 Municipal Equality Index. This year, the City of Atlanta received a total of 104 points, exceeding previous years’ scores. Atlanta was once again the only city in Georgia to receive a perfect score in the index.

“I am very proud of the City of Atlanta’s fourth consecutive perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “My Administration has worked to make sure our policies and practices speak to our values. Our performance shows that our work is making a difference to Atlanta’s LGBT community, and setting the standard for cities in the Southeast.”

Mayor Reed’s commitment to advocacy on behalf of the Georgia LGBT community dates back to his time as a Georgia state senator, where he was the chief sponsor of the state’s only LGBT-inclusive anti-hate crimes bill. He also led opposition against a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and serves as an Honorary Co-Chair of the Mayors for Freedom to Marry campaign.

Earlier this year, the Reed Administration appointed the first transgender individual to the Atlanta Citizen Review Board in the city’s history. Mayor Reed also supported President Obama’s executive action to ensure transgender women and men have access to their preferred restroom. Atlanta City Hall offers single-occupancy restrooms to staff and the public.

Under the Reed Administration, the City of Atlanta maintains transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage for City employees. Mayor Reed also amended the Atlanta Code to include gender identity in all non-discrimination provisions. In 2013, Mayor Reed appointed Atlanta Law Department Chief Counsel Robin Shahar as Mayoral Advisor on LGBT issues.

The MEI is a report that rates 506 municipalities around the country on their inclusivity of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender residents and employees, on the basis of laws, policies and services.