Ensuring Equal Access of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People in HUD Programs

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Ensuring Equal Access of Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People in HUD
Programs

• Ken Carroll, Director
• Fair Housing Assistance Program Division
• HUD/FHEO

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October 21, 2009 Press Release

• Obama Administration to Ensure Inclusion
• of the LGBT Community in HUD Programs
• Clarify definition of family in HUD
  regulations.
• Include sexual orientation and gender identity as
  prohibited factors in determining FHA
  eligibility.
• Require grantees to comply with state and local
  laws that prohibit LGBT discrimination.
• Study nature and extent of LGBT discrimination.

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LGBT Rule

• Definitions of family in HOME, Section 8,
  public housing, FHA, CDBG, and HOPWA regulations
  to include LGBT inclusive language.

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LGBT Rule, contd

• Eligibility for any FHA-insured mortgage loan
  must not be based on sexual orientation or gender
  identity.

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Require Grantee Compliance with State and Local
Anti-Discrimination Laws

• 2010 General Section of HUD NOFA
• Announced in June 7, 2010 press release An
  applicant will be ineligible if it has been
  charged with a systemic violation of a
  substantially equivalent state or local law that
  prohibits sexual orientation, gender identity,
  or source of income discrimination.

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HUD LGBT Study

• HUD is commissioning a study to measure housing
  discrimination in the rental market faced by
  same-sex couples.
• First national study of its kind.
• Internet testing.
• Housing Discrimination Study 2010.

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FHEO Memorandum June 15, 2010

• Assessing Complaints that Involve Sexual
• Orientation, Gender Identity, and Gender
• Expression
• -thoroughly review for HUD jurisdiction
• -track LGBT inquiries
• -refer for jurisdiction determination under state
• and local law.

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Listening and Conference Sessions

• Listening sessions on LGBT housing
  discrimination New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
  Boston (FHEO specific), Spokane (FHEO specific)
• First ever Fair Housing Policy Conference session
  on combating housing discrimination against the
  LGBT Community.

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More Information

• Kenneth.J.Carroll_at_HUD.gov
• [phone]