Video: Donovan Announces HUD to Ban Anti-LGBT Disrimination in Federal Housing Programs

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced on Saturday that his agency will codify a proposed rule next week that will bar anti-LGBT discrimination in federal housing programs.

"LGBT discrimination is real and we must do something about it," he said at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s annual Creating Change conference in Baltimore. "LGBT individuals and couples have the right to live where they choose. This is an idea whose time has come."



Donovan first unveiled the proposal that would specifically include HUD-funded programs and Federal Housing Authority-backed mortgages last June. The agency announced in June 2010 that prospective grant recipients must comply with local and state anti-discrimination laws that include LGBT-specific protections.

HUD also hosted the first federal summit on housing for LGBT elders in December.

"All HUD housing providers are covered under this rule," said John Trasviña, assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity at HUD, earlier on Monday.

Lobby Day Brings Hundreds of LGBT Activists to Capitol Hill

Photo by Michael K. Lavers

Hundreds of activists and their allies descended upon Capitol Hill on Thursday to lobby members of Congress to pass several LGBT-specific pieces of legislation.

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, was among those who took part in the lobby day that coincided with the Task Force's annual Creating Change conference that will take place in Baltimore through Sunday. The activists specifically pushed for passage of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the Safe Schools Improvement Act, the Student Non-Discrimination Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. They also sought the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act.