Washington, D.C.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Thursday it will use the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender, expanding civil rights protections for LGBTQ people seeking housing or temporary shelter.
"Today, the Biden Administration announced it will enforce the Fair Housing Act in cases of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Erin Uritus, CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, said in a released statement. “This is meaningful action just three weeks after President Biden issued an executive order directing all federal agencies to implement the Bostock decision.”
The 1968 Fair Housing Act bans housing discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, familial status and disability, but was not previously considered by HUD to cover sexual orientation and gender.
The new HUD directive builds on the Obama administration's efforts to end housing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, something the Trump administration attempted to dismantle.
"Unfortunately, housing discrimination is the lived reality for many LGBTQ people in our country – and this is especially true for the transgender community,” said Uritus. “Housing is a basic human right.”
"Today, the Biden Administration announced it will enforce the Fair Housing Act in cases of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity,” Erin Uritus, CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, said in a released statement. “This is meaningful action just three weeks after President Biden issued an executive order directing all federal agencies to implement the Bostock decision.”
The 1968 Fair Housing Act bans housing discrimination on the basis of race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, familial status and disability, but was not previously considered by HUD to cover sexual orientation and gender.
The new HUD directive builds on the Obama administration's efforts to end housing discrimination against LGBTQ individuals, something the Trump administration attempted to dismantle.
"Unfortunately, housing discrimination is the lived reality for many LGBTQ people in our country – and this is especially true for the transgender community,” said Uritus. “Housing is a basic human right.”
