HUD Secretary Announces New Equal Access to Housing Rule for LGBT Individuals, Couples
A new rule took effect this week barring those who own or operate U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded housing from asking about an applicant’s sexual orientation or gender identity, an Obama Administration official announced Friday.
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said the new equal access to housing rule “says clearly and unequivocally that LGBT individuals and couples have the right to live where they choose.”
Donovan made the announcement at a White House conference on lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender housing and homelessness in Detroit. The daylong conference at Wayne State University brought together advocates, community leaders and the public to discuss the issue of the tens of thousands of homeless youths across America who are LGBT.Detroit has the only nonprofit agency in the Midwest that focuses on LGBT youth — the Ruth Ellis Center, which co-hosted Friday’s conference
The new rule, Donovan said, represents “a real demonstration of how important this issue is to me, to the president to the entire administration.”
“If you’re denying HUD housing to people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity — actual or perceived — you’re discriminating,” he said. “You are breaking the law, and you will be held accountable.”