Alabama gay rights

Home / gay topics / Alabama gay rights

The ACLU of Alabama recently enjoyed a major victory for LGBT rights by challenging and succeeding in overturning the state’s discriminatory law banning gay men and lesbians from adopting.

The ACLU’s LGBT rights strategy is based on the belief that fighting for the society we want means not just persuading judges and government officials, but ultimately changing the way society thinks about LGBT people.

This means a Alabama where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people can live openly, where our identities, relationships and families are respected, and where there is fair treatment on the job, in schools, housing, public places, health care, and government programs.

Since taking its first LGBT rights case in 1936, the ACLU has been involved in many high-profile legal challenges to discriminatory laws and policies that impact the LGBT community.

Alabama's Equality Profile

Sexual Orientation

4%

of population
fully protected

4%

of population only
partially
protected

    Legend

  • State
    Protections
  • County
    Protections
  • City
    Protections
  • No
    Protections
  • Protections
    Banned

County map only shows areas with full protections for sexual orientation (i.e., discrimination prohibited in private employment, housing, and public accommodations)

City and County Numbers:

0 counties out of 67 have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

2 cities have an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

1 municipality, not including those listed above, has an ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections).

To end discrimination, the ACLU seeks both to change the law and to convince Americans that sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination is wrong.

Serving openly in military in Alabama is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
On January 27th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.

From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S.

military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria." from serving in the military.

.

4% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, and public accommodations (full protections).

An additional 4% of the state population is protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in private employment, housing, or public accommodations (only partial protections). See table below.

LGBT Rights

The ACLU of Alabama works to create a Alabama free of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

alabama gay rights