Skip to content Skip to search

Republish This Story

* Please read before republishing *

We’re happy to make this story available to republish for free under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons license as long as you follow our republishing guidelines, which require that you credit The 19th and retain our pixel. See our full guidelines for more information.

To republish, simply copy the HTML at right, which includes our tracking pixel, all paragraph styles and hyperlinks, the author byline and credit to The 19th. Have questions? Please email partnerships@19thnews.org.

— The Editors

Loading...

Modal Gallery

/
Let’s talk menopause

Menu

Topics

  • Abortion
  • Politics
  • Education
  • LGBTQ+
  • Caregiving
  • Environment & Climate
  • Business & Economy
View all topics

Menopause, without the noise

Let’s talk about it, in your inbox every Tuesday.

[altcha]

You have been subscribed!

Submitting...

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please email community@19thnews.org to subscribe.

This email address might not be capable of receiving emails (according to Bouncer). You should try again with a different email address. If you have any questions, contact us at community@19thnews.org.

  • Latest Stories
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Strategic Plan
  • Ways to Give
  • Search
  • Contact
Donate
Home

We’re an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting on gender, politics, policy and power. Read our story.

Topics

  • Abortion
  • Politics
  • Education
  • LGBTQ+
  • Caregiving
  • Environment & Climate
  • Business & Economy
View all topics

Menopause, without the noise

Let’s talk about it, in your inbox every Tuesday.

[altcha]

You have been subscribed!

Submitting...

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please email community@19thnews.org to subscribe.

This email address might not be capable of receiving emails (according to Bouncer). You should try again with a different email address. If you have any questions, contact us at community@19thnews.org.

  • Latest Stories
  • Our Mission
  • Our Team
  • Strategic Plan
  • Ways to Give
  • Search
  • Contact

We’re an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting on gender, politics, policy and power. Read our story.

Menopause, without the noise

Let’s talk about it, in your inbox every Tuesday.

[altcha]

You have been subscribed!

Submitting...

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please email community@19thnews.org to subscribe.

This email address might not be capable of receiving emails (according to Bouncer). You should try again with a different email address. If you have any questions, contact us at community@19thnews.org.

Become a member

The 19th thanks our sponsors. Become one.

LGBTQ+

HUD bars anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in housing, rentals

It’s the first agency to implement Biden’s sweeping executive order on sexual orientation and gender identity, but it won’t be the last, officials said. 

LGBTQ+ flag flying in front of a home.
(Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Kate Sosin

LGBTQ+ reporter

Published

2021-02-11 06:00
6:00
February 11, 2021
am

Republish this story

Share

  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Email

Republish this story

For the first time ever, it will be illegal to turn away people looking to rent an apartment or buy a house simply because they are queer. Officials in the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Thursday that the agency was implementing President Joe Biden’s executive order barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. 

On Wednesday afternoon, HUD officials told reporters in a press call that housing discrimination against LGBTQ+ was rampant and “demands urgent enforcement action.” 

“Every person should be able to secure a roof over their head, free from discrimination and the action we will take tomorrow will move us closer to that goal,” officials said on a press call Wednesday afternoon. Other agencies will be following suit, officials, speaking on background, said.

The 19th thanks our sponsors. Become one.

Last June, the Supreme Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits sex discrimination, covers sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. Courts have since interpreted that ruling to mean that sex discrimination protects LGBTQ+ people in many areas of life, including housing, public accommodations, health care and education. 

Biden’s executive order directed federal agencies to similarly apply the Supreme Court ruling in their agencies. Because the Fair Housing Act already bars sex discrimination, officials said, a new law is not required to protect LGBTQ+ people who are looking to buy a home or rent a house. 

HUD is the first agency to implement the measures in the January 20 executive order, a move that has as much symbolic meaning as it does practical significance. Before leaving office, President Donald Trump was on the brink of finalizing a HUD rule that would have allowed taxpayer-funded homeless shelters to turn away transgender people. LGBTQ+ advocates widely expect the Biden administration to withdraw it. 

Queer people and youth, in particular, report some of the highest levels of homelessness and housing discrimination in the country. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey found that 23 percent of respondents experienced housing discrimination in a single year. Young queer people between 18 to 24 are believed to represent 40 percent of the youth homeless population, according to a 2015 study by True Colors United. 

Still, less than half of states have protections on the books for LGBTQ+ Americans, HUD notes. 

HUD now will be taking up complaints that were previously not investigated, the agency said, including incidents dating back to January 20 when Biden issued his executive order. Officials said those who have filed complaints in the past can also update those grievances.   

“Let me assure you, I will be using all of the enforcement tools I have combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity,” an official said.

Republish this story

Share

  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Email

Recommended for you

A child looks out at the crowd during a protest in support of care for transgender youth outside the Supreme Court during the United States v. Skrmetti arguments.
Supreme Court rules to keep Tennessee’s gender-affirming care ban in place
People with rainbow umbrellas protest in support of care for transgender youth outside the Supreme Court during the United States v. Skrmetti arguments.
The door to fight gender-affirming care bans isn’t closed, LGBTQ+ rights attorneys say
Two parents hold their child.
LGBTQ+ families don’t always feel safe. Here’s where they can find support.
Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates at his primary election party.
Zohran Mamdani pulled off a political upset running on affordability

Menopause, without the noise

Let’s talk about it, in your inbox every Tuesday.

[altcha]

You have been subscribed!

Submitting...

Uh-oh! Something went wrong. Please email community@19thnews.org to subscribe.

This email address might not be capable of receiving emails (according to Bouncer). You should try again with a different email address. If you have any questions, contact us at community@19thnews.org.

Become a member

Explore more coverage from The 19th
Abortion Politics Education LGBTQ+ Caregiving
View all topics

Support representative journalism today.

Learn more about membership.

  • Give $19
  • Give $50
  • Give $100
  • Any amount
  • Transparency
    • About
    • Team
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Community Guidelines
    • Gift Acceptance Policy
  • Newsroom
    • Latest Stories
    • Strategic Plan
    • 19th News Network
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Fellowships
  • Newsletters
    • Daily
    • The Amendment
    • Menopause
  • Support
    • Ways to Give
    • Sponsorship
    • Republishing
    • Volunteer

The 19th is a reader-supported nonprofit news organization. Our stories are free to republish with these guidelines.