issued
proposed regulations that would prohibit housing discrimination
against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families and
individuals.
The Fair Housing Act currently prohibits housing discrimination on
the bases of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
disability, and familial status. In addition to leaving out sexual
orientation and gender identity, the FHA has a narrow definition of
family that does not cover the broad range of families in the
United States. HUD understands that our families “are being
arbitrarily excluded from some housing opportunities in the private
sector” and has proposed this new regulation to make sure that
HUD programs and benefits are open to all families and individuals,
regardless of who they are or who makes up their family. Under the
new regulations, a much broader range of families will be covered,
including married and un-married same-sex partners, parents without
legal or biological relationships to their children, and
transgender parents.
Family Equality will be submitting comments on the proposed
regulations and we encourage our families to submit their own!
Use this link
to submit your own comments. Copy the comments below and add a
story about the importance of housing to your family.
Regulations Division
Office of General Counsel
Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th Street, SW., Room 10276
Washington, DC 20410–0500
RE: A Comment on Proposed Rule FR 5359–P–01, Equal
Access to Housing in HUD
Programs – Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender
Identity
I would like to thank the Department of Housing and
Urban Development for proposing regulations that would allow all
families to access HUD programs and benefits regardless of who they
are or how they have built their family.
Because the Fair Housing Act does not currently
prohibit housing discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation
and gender identity, and because the FHA has a narrow definition of
family that does not cover the broad range of families in the
Unites States – my family currently lacks desperately needed
federal protections. Your proposed comments are a giant step
forward in preventing LGBT families from “being arbitrarily
excluded from some housing opportunities in the private sector.”
Under the new regulations, a much broader range of families will be
covered.
Home is where the heart is and access to housing is
important to so many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
families.
My family is [insert your story here].
Again, thank you to the Department for its commitment
to equality for all families.
Sincerely,
[your name]