Human Rights Campaign PAC Endorses Mayor Randall Woodfin For Re-election In Birmingham, Alabama

by Wyatt Ronan •

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Today, the Human Rights Campaign PAC — part of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) equality — is announcing the endorsement of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin for re-election ahead of the municipal general election on August 24th. As mayor, Woodfin has strategically worked to improve and promote LGBTQ equality in Birmingham. Woodfin has been a champion for the LGBTQ community, opposing anti-transgender legislation. During the 2021 Alabama legislative session, Woodfin and the appointed LGBTQ+ Task Force Board opposed anti-transgender legislation for Birmingham.

Mayor Randall Woodfin has been a crucial voice for LGBTQ equality in Birmingham and a clear example of true leadership in the state of Alabama. His efforts have made the city more inclusive and have charted Birmingham on the course to becoming one of the most welcoming municipalities for LGBTQ people in the South. Beyond his work as mayor, his advocacy has extended statewide, where he has stood up and spoken out against discriminatory anti-transgender legislation signed by Governor Kay Ivey. Mayor Woodfin has been a champion for equality, and his hard work has meant that LGBTQ people in Birmingham can live more freely, safely, and prosperously. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Mayor Woodfin for re-election.

Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, Human Rights Campaign Alabama State Director

In 2014, HRC launched Project One America, an initiative geared towards advancing social, institutional and legal equality in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. In 2019, Texas became a Project One America state, in recognition of HRC’s long-term commitment to the state. HRC Alabama continues to work to advance equality for LGBTQ Alabamians who have no state-level protections in housing, workplace or public accommodations. Through HRC Alabama, we are working toward a future of fairness every day -- changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.

I’m honored to earn the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign once again. HRC members and supporters volunteered over 100 hours with my campaign in 2017, and their hard work went a long way to making sure Birmingham elected the first mayor willing to be a vocal ally for LGBTQ equality. I look forward to welcoming HRC members back to the field -- to knock on doors, make phone calls, send texts and get the message out there about my vision of a fairer, more equitable, and inclusive Birmingham.

Randall Woodfin, Birmingham Mayor

Mayor Woodfin immediately improved Birmingham's Municipal Equality Index (MEI). In 2016, before Woodfin entered the race, Birmingham's MEI score was an unacceptable 12%. A non-discrimination ordinance passed during the 2017 runoff, which helped bring that score up to 77%. Woodfin brought that score up to 100% in his first year in office, and the city has received a perfect 100% every year since under his leadership and guidance. Woodfin appointed the City’s first LGBTQ+ Liaison in 2018 to help facilitate the implementation of the nondiscrimination ordinance and creation of the Birmingham Human Rights Commission. In addition, Woodfin promoted inclusive health benefits to all city employees by introducing an insurance plan that specifically covers transgender healthcare needs, including gender-affirming surgeries, hormone therapy, and mental health support, and established Mayor Woodfin's LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Under Woodfin, Birmingham has worked with other cities across Alabama to improve their equality standards.

In Mayor Woodfin’s first year in office, he made Birmingham one of the first Southeastern cities in the United States to sign the Fast Track Declaration and commit Ending the HIV Epidemic as a public health crisis addressing the root causes of risk, vulnerability and transmission. His office has committed to work with AIDS Service Organizations (ASO) in Birmingham, to provide support, host training classes, and provide community education.

He joined the Mayors Against LGBTQ Discrimination coalition, presented a proclamation recognizing June as Pride Month, and joined with more than 140 other mayors, city council members, and municipal leaders to send a letter to Congress calling on members to pass comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections at the federal level.

Mayor Woodfin promised to make progress, and when it comes to LGBTQ equality, he’s done exactly that. HRC is proud to support Randall Woodfin for Mayor of Birmingham as we continue to organize, mobilize, and advocate for his vision of a fairer, more equitable, and inclusive Birmingham.

Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Not authorized by any federal candidate or candidate committee.

Contact Us

To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.

Topics:
Elections