HUD Announces Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity are Protected by Federal Fair Housing Act
Discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity are now considered types of “sex” discrimination prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), according to a February 11, 2021, memorandum issued by HUD. In the memorandum, HUD recognized that, courts and governments have routinely withheld legal legitimacy from loving couples because of their... Read More
NC Local Ordinances Passed Prohibiting Discrimination in Housing, Public Accommodations & Employment based on LGBTQ+ Status
In January 2021, several local jurisdictions in North Carolina passed ordinances prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in certain situations. Although the North Carolina General Assembly had created a moratorium on such legislation through 2017 N.C. H.B. No. 142, those provisions expired on December 1, 2020. The cities of Durham and Greensboro... Read More
Sapelo Island Residents Settle Discrimination Suit Against State of Georgia and Government Officials; State to Pay $750,000 and Make Additional Changes to Address Race & Disability Discrimination Claims
In December, 2020, the law firm of Relman Colfax announced the settlement of a federal Fair Housing Act case brought by 54 property owners and residents of Sapelo Island against the State of Georgia and other state officials and entities. The Plaintiffs are the descendants of the Gullah-Geechee slaves whose families have lived on Sapelo... Read More
President Biden Directs HUD to Review Recent Fair Housing Rules
On January 26, 2021, President Biden issued an “Memorandum on Redressing Our Nation’s and the Federal Government’s History of Discriminatory Housing Practices and Policies” directing HUD to review two recent fair housing rules. The first of these rules, “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice” rule, went into effect on August 7, 2020, and replaced HUD’s 2015... Read More