On January 20th, The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, praised draft regulations from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would protect LGBT families from discrimination and make clear that federal housing programs are open to all families. HUD is also in the midst of the first-ever nationwide survey of housing discrimination against LGBT people.
“Today’s announcement from HUD will help protect LGBT people and our families in one of the most fundamental aspects of life – finding and keeping a home,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “The policies proposed today will help some of the most vulnerable people in our community and the nationwide survey will finally shed light on the discrimination LGBT people face every day in trying to make homes for themselves and their families.”
The new proposed rule makes three important changes to federal regulations. First, it includes language that ensures same-sex couples and their children are recognized as families covered by HUD programs, including affordable housing assistance. Second it prohibits owners and operators of HUD-assisted housing, or housing whose financing is insured by HUD, from inquiring about the sexual orientation or gender identity of an applicant. Third it prohibits consideration of factors other than creditworthiness, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in the awarding of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The proposed rule will be open for public comment for 60 days. During this period, HRC will review the draft regulation and provide suggestions on how it may be improved to provide the strongest protections for LGBT families.
As part of its Blueprint for Positive Change, HRC submitted more than 70 recommendations for executive action which would improve the lives of LGBT Americans to the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team. Since the administration began, HRC staff have met and communicated with numerous federal agencies on how to implement these policies. Addressing discrimination in federal housing programs was part of HRC’s recommendations for HUD.
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