HUD to ban LGBT discrimination
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development proposed regulations Jan. 20 to ensure that its programs do not discriminate against LGBT people.
"This is a fundamental issue of fairness," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "With this proposed rule, we will make clear that a person's eligibility for federal housing programs is, and should be, based on their need and not on their sexual orientation or gender identity."
The proposals now move to a "public comment" phase.
HUD also is conducting a first-of-its-kind national study of discrimination against LGBT people in the rental and sale of housing.
"These are critically important reforms given that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people remain particularly vulnerable in seeking or retaining housing due to widespread bias, discrimination and a lack of housing protections," said National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey. "These reforms will go a long way toward ending an injustice that has had such a profound and far-reaching negative impact on people's lives."
Carey noted that HUD "plays a major role in low-income housing programs and the private mortgage market."
