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BREAKING: Yesterday @HUDgov Sec. Ben Carson testified before Congress that he wouldn't change the rules protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing. Today, HUD announced they are proposing a rule to allow anti-trans discrimination in shelters. He lied.
The Equal Access Rule protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in housing, including in homeless shelters by ensuring transgender people are able to access HUD-funded shelter consistent with their gender identity.
HUD wants to allow shelters to decide who is eligible for access to single-sex or sex-segregated facilities, opening the door to discrimination. Gender identity is the LAST consideration in its list of factors shelters will be able to rely on. 
Discrimination against transgender people seeking shelter is widespread! Our study with the @EqualRightsCntr found only 30% of shelter were willing to properly accommodate transgender women
But we also found nondiscrimination protections work! States with these were 2x as likely to be willing to provide a test caller with appropriate shelter. That's why the Equal Access Rule's clarification that trans people are protected is so important! americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/re…
One shelter said other women would not find it fair or comfortable that they have to share their bathroom with a “man” and said that ultimately the test caller’s placement would be determined by genitalia and legal status. HUD is proposing to allow this type of discrimination!
HUD says shelters can consider safety/privacy, but it's TRANS WOMEN who are most at risk. @TransEquality found >50% of survey respondents who stayed in a shelter in the prior year were verbally harassed, physical attacked, and/or sexually assaulted bc of their gender identity.
In 2016, over 300 domestic violence and sexual violence organizations across the country signed a National Consensus Statement. These leaders agree: transgender women victims being served alongside other women is appropriate and not a safety issue. 4vawa.org/ntf-action-ale…
It's important to remember, no matter what Ben Carson does, no matter how often he lies, LGBTQ people ARE currently protected under the law from housing discrimination.
