The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a final rule on February 3, 2012, requiring equal access to housing in HUD programs without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. In its summary of the rule, which will take effect on March 5, 2012, HUD noted that it had previously issued a proposed rule in January 2011 based on “evidence suggesting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and families are being arbitrarily excluded from housing opportunities in the private sector.” The summary continued: “It is important not only that HUD ensure that its own programs do not involve discrimination against any individual or family otherwise eligible for HUD-assisted or -insured housing, but that its policies and programs serve as models for equal housing opportunity.” Click here to see the full text of the rule as published in the Federal Register.
