Mayor Andre Dickens announced the City of Atlanta has achieved its highest-ever total raw score on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Municipal Equality Index (MEI), earning a perfect 100% score along with 16 bonus points.

Atlanta has also been prominently featured as a "success story" in the index, acknowledging its pioneering efforts to safeguard and advance the rights of LGBTQ Atlantans. The 2023 MEI score marks the City of Atlanta's eleventh consecutive perfect score on the index.

"Inclusivity is not just a goal for Atlanta; it's part of our identity," said Mayor Dickens. "We proudly stand as the LGBTQ capital of the South—a vibrant community where acceptance and excellence prevail, regardless of who you are or who you love."

The Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs, led by the City of Atlanta's Director of LGBTQ Affairs, Malik Brown, stands as the sole office of its kind in the Southeastern United States. Supported by the Mayor's LGBTQ Advisory Board, this division works to eliminate systemic barriers and champion the rights of the LGBTQ community, simultaneously celebrating Atlanta's vibrant culture and its role as the LGBTQ capital of the American South.

As an employer, the City of Atlanta mandates annual LGBTQ cultural humility training for every employee and elected official. The City's Department of Human Resources collaborates closely with the Division of LGBTQ Affairs to ensure that employment benefits align with the needs of the City’s LGBTQ+ employees. Last year, City of Atlanta employees proudly established the COA Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG), a thriving community comprising hundreds of City of Atlanta LGBTQ+ and ally employees. This ERG actively engages in policy recommendations to City leadership and offers social and professional development opportunities for its members.

Key Initiatives by the Mayor's Division of LGBTQ Affairs in 2023:

• Hosted the Youth Pride Summit + Festival: Provided Atlanta's LGBTQ+ youth and their families with access to age-appropriate programming, activities, and resources.

• Committed he City of Atlanta's Largest-Ever Financial Investment: Supporting the transgender community, encompassing legal name changes, capacity building resources, wellness programs, and more.

• Launched Atlanta's inaugural LGBTQ youth mentorship pilot program.

• Curated the 3rd Annual Mayor's Pride Exhibit: Featuring over 40 pieces of art by dozens of local LGBTQ artists.

• Unveiled Atlanta's First-Ever LGBTQ Historic Context Statement: An insightful document that chronicles Atlanta's LGBTQ history, laying the foundation for the formal recognition of LGBTQ historic places and spaces by the City of Atlanta.

The Human Rights Campaign serves as the nation's largest LGBTQ civil rights organization, and their MEI evaluates the inclusivity of laws, policies, and services pertaining to LGBTQ individuals residing and working within municipalities. The assessment encompasses non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement practices, and the city's leadership in promoting LGBTQ equality. In its twelfth annual edition, the 2023 MEI assesses a total of 506 cities across the nation.

The 2023 Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index is accessible at hrc.org/resources/municipal-equality-index.