CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Monday that it will now require grant applicants seeking HUD funding to comply with state and local antidiscrimination laws that protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
"We're using every avenue to shut the door against discrimination," HUD secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement. "Today, we take an important step to insist that those who seek federal funding must demonstrate that they are meeting local and state civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity."
An estimated 20 states and the District of Columbia currently prohibit discriminating against people in housing on the basis of their sexual orientation, and 12 states plus the District of Columbia have the same prohibition on gender identity discrimination, according to a release from HUD.
HUD spokesperson Brian Sullivan said the department had "limited authority" as it specifically relates to LGBT people since cities and states do not have uniformed policies and no federal law protects LGBT people against discriminatory housing practices.
"We can't be making law, but we went as far as we could," he said.
Sullivan added that the adjustment was not a regulatory change but instead an administrative requirement. Traditionally, HUD has required all applicants for competitive grant funding to comply with all applicable federal fair housing and civil rights requirements including those expressed in Fair Housing Act; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The department has been taking a series of steps to make several aspects of housing fairer across the board for LGBT people. In addition to the notice published today, HUD intends to propose new regulations that will clarify that the term "family," as used to describe eligible beneficiaries of HUD's programs, includes otherwise eligible LGBT individuals and couples. Sullivan said HUD was "in the process of developing" this new rule but he declined to estimate when the change might be completed. The department's proposed regulations will clarify family status to ensure that its core housing programs are available to all families, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Authorities at the Federal Housing Administration also intend to instruct lenders that FHA-insured mortgage loans must be based on the creditworthiness of borrowers and not on unrelated factors or characteristics such as sexual orientation or gender identity.
Finally, HUD will commission the first national study of discrimination against LGBT people in the rental and sale of housing. The department is currently seeking online public comment from interested parties in how it might design this new study. Sullivan said the study itself would be "groundbreaking" but that they did not yet know how the information would be utilized once it's collected.
"We are very intent on building a body of evidence and seeing where that leads us," he said.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: The Daily
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Trending stories from our video partner Advocate Channel.
For more videos and shows go to advocatechannel.com.
Latest Stories
Maine signs trans and abortion sanctuary bill into law, despite violent threats
April 25 2024 11:39 AM
Terrorist threat stops Nashville disc golf tournament with transgender player
April 25 2024 10:40 AM
Harvey Weinstein's sex crime conviction overturned in New York, new trial ordered
April 25 2024 10:27 AM
Alleged Minneapolis mass shooters charged after killing one at LGBTQ+ punk rock show
April 25 2024 10:21 AM
Gay Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic primary for auditor general
April 25 2024 7:30 AM
Meet the transgender minister representing LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia
April 25 2024 6:30 AM
How a lesbian's triumph on the Portland Timbers billboard broke barriers
April 24 2024 4:52 PM
‘Faces of Gun Violence’ exhibit unveiled at inaugural survivors’ summit
April 24 2024 4:46 PM
Trans woman Andrea Doria Dos Passos beaten to death in Miami Beach; arrest made
April 24 2024 4:36 PM
TikTok may be banned in the U.S. after Biden signs new law — Why?
April 24 2024 3:43 PM
Serial killer of gay men in New Orleans released after 46 years in prison
April 24 2024 2:16 PM
The 'largest bi+ event in the world' is happening this year. Here's when and where
April 24 2024 12:42 PM
What happens if Donald Trump is jailed for criminal contempt?
April 24 2024 12:22 PM
Megan Rapinoe, Sue Bird, and more urge NCAA to stand up for trans inclusion
April 24 2024 8:00 AM