Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson announced Friday he was discontinuing the city’s LGBTQ+ liaison positions following what he says were concerns raised by people over “no named liaisons for any other group or organization.”

The announcement comes after a campaign over annexation in which an anti-LGBTQ billboard appeared in west Mobile advocating for people to vote “No.” The leader of the movement blasted Stimpson, an annexation supporter, for appointing the LGBTQ liaisons in 2021.

The appointments also riled the Mobile Baptist Association, whose executive committee urged city leaders last year to pass a religious liberty ordinance to protect Christians who are not supportive of the LGBTQ+ lifestyle and same sex marriage.

Stimpson did not address either of those issues in a statement sent out via a press release on Friday.

His full statement reads:

“Ten years ago, the door to my office was removed to symbolically send a message that everyone had access to the mayor’s office. This was further emphasized by promoting One Mobile, a vision to unite our citizens into becoming a safer, more business and family-friendly city. My administration hasn’t just promoted this vision; we’ve lived it by embracing ALL our citizens, no matter their backgrounds.

In 2021, I was approached by members of the LGBTQ+ community about appointing liaisons to the administration. In the spirit of One Mobile, I appointed two trusted individuals whom I have known and believed would be forthright in helping me navigate issues facing their community. Natalie Fox and Michael Tyner have done just that. They have represented their community with integrity, and I appreciate their service to the City of Mobile.

However, the appointment of liaisons created concern for many because I have no named liaisons for any other group or organization. Instead of an action of unity, it created a rift within the city as it unintentionally communicated privileged access to the mayor’s office when, in fact, no such special privilege exists with any group or organization. It is for this reason that I have decided to discontinue the liaison positions.

My door has been open and will remain open to ALL citizens in our community.”

The city’s addition of LGBTQ+ liaisons was coordinated the effort with the Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for LGBTQ+ positions in communities around the country. The idea was to help boost the city’s rating on the HRC Municipal Equality Index, which placed Mobile among the lowest ranked cities analyzed by HRC in Alabama.

The review is based on a number of variables including whether the city has a non-discrimination ordinance or policies preventing youth violence or provides transgender-inclusive health benefits.