Rep. Jennifer Wexton is taking action to block a proposed rule change by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would allow shelters receiving HUD grants to discriminate against transgender individuals. The bill she introduced, which will be considered by House Democrats when Congress is back in session, aims to prevent HUD from implementing the rule.
Wexton emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting the potential dire consequences for transgender individuals who are turned away from shelters seeking emergency housing. Transgender people already face disproportionately high rates of homelessness, with nearly 1 in 3 reporting experiences of homelessness according to a 2015 survey.
HUD's proposed rule would essentially allow shelters to disregard nondiscrimination protections for transgender people, which were established under Title VIII of The Civil Rights Act. This proposed change contradicts previous efforts by the Obama administration to clarify and strengthen protections for transgender individuals accessing HUD-funded shelters.
If implemented, this rule would force transgender individuals to choose between shelters that do not recognize their gender identity or foregoing shelter altogether, putting them at risk of dangerous situations. Legal experts have suggested that the rule may be unconstitutional and likely to face legal challenges.
This move by HUD is part of a broader pattern of anti-trans actions by the Trump administration, which has rolled back protections for transgender students, attempted to implement a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, and proposed rules allowing broad religious exemptions that could undermine LGBTQ rights.
Wexton's bill represents a significant effort to push back against these discriminatory policies and protect the rights and safety of transgender individuals seeking shelter.
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