WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus today applauded Secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro for the new rule protecting transgender people seeking access to emergency shelters.
“On behalf of the LGBT Equality Caucus, I thank Secretary Castro and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for this groundbreaking rule,” said LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41). “Transgender Americans, particularly transgender women of color, can face multifaceted discrimination in many areas of life. Access to emergency housing is a vital part of our shared safety net: a place that any person can go when they are facing a dangerous situation at home or on hard economic times. The HUD rule will literally save lives.”
Transgender Americans, particularly transgender women, disproportionately face homelessness and other challenges when accessing critical services for homeless populations. According to the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, one in five transgender people have been homeless at some point, and nearly one in three transgender people who attempted to access homeless shelters were turned away due to their gender identity. Under this new rule, shelters that segregate housing or programs by gender cannot force people into accommodations that are inconsistent with their gender identity. These steps follow similar measures by the Department of Justice under the Violence Against Women Act, and are vital to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society have access to life-saving services.
