Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the City of Atlanta has earned its highest-ever score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Municipal Equality Index (MEI)—with a total raw score of 112. Additionally, Atlanta achieved MEI “All-Star” status for its perfect score, despite Georgia’s status as a state without non-discrimination statutes that expressly protect LGBTQ people. The 2021 MEI marks the City of Atlanta’s ninth Consecutive Perfect Score on the MEI.

 "Our Administration has made it a priority to ensure Atlanta is a more equitable and inclusive city for our LGBTQ community,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Thank you to HRC for recognizing our efforts, and thank you to our City officials, LGBTQ Advisory Board and partners for their counsel and support in moving equality forward for LGBTQ Atlantans.” 

 Upon taking office, Mayor Bottoms appointed Atlanta’s Director of LGBTQ Affairs, Malik Brown. The historic appointment marked the first full-time official in the City of Atlanta dedicated to the advancement of LGBTQ rights. Additionally, the role is the first and only in the Southern region of the United States, and only one of a handful in the entire country.

Through a series of historic firsts, the Bottoms Administration has become an international model for municipal leadership on LGBTQ affairs. During her tenure, Mayor Bottoms prioritized policies and initiatives that move LGBTQ equality forward—including expanding access to PrEP, designating all City-owned single-user restrooms as all-gender and hosting two LGBTQ opportunity fairs.

In partnership with HRC, the Bottoms Administration co-founded Connecting Communities: A National LGBTQ Liaison Summit, which brought together more than 100 LGBTQ municipal liaisons and allied City officials for a first-of-its-kind convening.

Throughout her term, Mayor Bottoms has hosted annual receptions in recognition of Atlanta Black Pride and Atlanta Pride. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Atlanta Pride, Mayor Bottoms established the annual tradition of illuminating Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s canopies in the colors of the pride flag.

The Human Rights Campaign is the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. Their MEI examines how inclusive laws, policies and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work in municipality. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and the city’s leadership on LGBTQ equality. The 2021 MEI is the tenth annual edition and rates a total of 506 cities across the nation.

The 2021 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index can be accessed at hrc.org/resources/municipal-equality-index.