HUD Moves to Include Gays

Federal housing officials announced a series of proposals today to ensure that their core housing programs are open to all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said it will also commission the first national study of discrimination against members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community.

HUD officials said a proposed rule will:

• Clarify that the term "family" as used to describe eligible beneficiaries of our public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs include otherwise eligible lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgender individuals and couples. HUD's public housing and voucher programs help more than three million families to rent an affordable home. The department's intent to propose new regulations will clarify family status to ensure its subsidized housing programs are available to all families, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Require grantees and those who participate in the department's programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that cover sexual orientation or gender identity; and

• Specify that any Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgage loan must be based on the credit-worthiness of a borrower and not on unrelated factors or characteristics such as sexual orientation or gender identity.

The move comes at a time when activists have criticized the administration for not doing enough for the GLBT community.