Comments on: Fed housing dept will ensure LGBT inclusion http://www.365gay.com/news/fed-housing-dept-will-ensure-lgbt-inclusion/ The daily news source for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:11:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Ballston http://www.365gay.com/news/fed-housing-dept-will-ensure-lgbt-inclusion/comment-page-1/#comment-74938 Ballston Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:27:58 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=10313#comment-74938 "require grantees and those who participate in the Department’s programs to ***comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that cover sexual orientation or gender identity***" Great for those living in the relatively few states/cities with nondiscrimination laws on the books. Otherwise, it means nothing. “require grantees and those who participate in the Department’s programs to ***comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that cover sexual orientation or gender identity***”

Great for those living in the relatively few states/cities with nondiscrimination laws on the books. Otherwise, it means nothing.

]]> By: Drewski http://www.365gay.com/news/fed-housing-dept-will-ensure-lgbt-inclusion/comment-page-1/#comment-74936 Drewski Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:22:23 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=10313#comment-74936 First, I gotta note that the Fair Housing Centers of Michigan study creepily mirrors a study done in Cleveland in the 70s. The Cleveland study examined bias toward nonwhite prospective tenants in a city neighborhood (Collinwood, much of which is now majority-black). The Cleveland study was so damning that it was used as primary evidence for Congress to pass the Fair Housing Act in the 70s. Michigan and Ohio are culturally similar, and our "culture"--like many other states--seems to include an unfortunate inclination to discrimination with no financial grounds. When you look at Cleveland and Detroit, you might also notice that it's that pre-judgement which has also helped destroy entire cities. It's one thing if you're shady and sketchy. You act like a hoodlum, a landlord might well have reason to not want you around. Somebody like Yodafriend--that could be any of us. You qualify for disability, you want a roof over your head. Reasonable, right? None of us can predict what may happen to our bodies (or our minds, for that matter). But what if you qualify to rent a place on paper, and suddenly the prospective landlord finds some reason to rule you out? Most os us are gonna process this argument thinking, "OK, I can still go somewhere else." Not when you're disabled. You might be too far from a bus or train line. You might be forced to look in a neighborhood where the sidewalks you need don't exist. You might be forced to look in a neighborhood you can afford, but which you very much wanted to avoid because of its high crime rate. This isn't theoretical--it happens every day. Congratulations to Secretary Donovan for taking this step. No, it won't fix everything, and I fully expect some asshole in some backwards state (maybe Ohio, maybe South Carolina) to challenge this standard in court. And it's not law, let alone Federal law--it's agency policy. Secretary Donovan is making a major effort. It would be nice to see this turned into Federal law. Where are you, President Obama, after the photo opp and the handshakes? You gonna stand up for the American people on this matter, or are you gonna let it wash away like a sandcastle? First, I gotta note that the Fair Housing Centers of Michigan study creepily mirrors a study done in Cleveland in the 70s. The Cleveland study examined bias toward nonwhite prospective tenants in a city neighborhood (Collinwood, much of which is now majority-black). The Cleveland study was so damning that it was used as primary evidence for Congress to pass the Fair Housing Act in the 70s. Michigan and Ohio are culturally similar, and our “culture”–like many other states–seems to include an unfortunate inclination to discrimination with no financial grounds. When you look at Cleveland and Detroit, you might also notice that it’s that pre-judgement which has also helped destroy entire cities.

It’s one thing if you’re shady and sketchy. You act like a hoodlum, a landlord might well have reason to not want you around. Somebody like Yodafriend–that could be any of us. You qualify for disability, you want a roof over your head. Reasonable, right? None of us can predict what may happen to our bodies (or our minds, for that matter). But what if you qualify to rent a place on paper, and suddenly the prospective landlord finds some reason to rule you out? Most os us are gonna process this argument thinking, “OK, I can still go somewhere else.” Not when you’re disabled. You might be too far from a bus or train line. You might be forced to look in a neighborhood where the sidewalks you need don’t exist. You might be forced to look in a neighborhood you can afford, but which you very much wanted to avoid because of its high crime rate. This isn’t theoretical–it happens every day.

Congratulations to Secretary Donovan for taking this step. No, it won’t fix everything, and I fully expect some asshole in some backwards state (maybe Ohio, maybe South Carolina) to challenge this standard in court. And it’s not law, let alone Federal law–it’s agency policy. Secretary Donovan is making a major effort. It would be nice to see this turned into Federal law. Where are you, President Obama, after the photo opp and the handshakes? You gonna stand up for the American people on this matter, or are you gonna let it wash away like a sandcastle?

]]> By: yodafriend http://www.365gay.com/news/fed-housing-dept-will-ensure-lgbt-inclusion/comment-page-1/#comment-74935 yodafriend Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:07:34 +0000 http://www.365gay.com/?p=10313#comment-74935 I have been on Disablility for 13 years now. I've tried to get help from the HUD housing, but it took quite some time. When I finally did qualify, my apartment manager made a comment to one of the people from the HUD housing, that I was gay. I used to have a very nice relationship with HUD housing, but now it is attitude and no respect/(from the same people). It is a shame that I've had to go through that, but it just shows me how people really treat the gay community. I have been on Disablility for 13 years now. I’ve tried to get help from the HUD housing, but it took quite some time. When I finally did qualify, my apartment manager made a comment to one of the people from the HUD housing, that I was gay. I used to have a very nice relationship with HUD housing, but now it is attitude and no respect/(from the same people). It is a shame that I’ve had to go through that, but it just shows me how people really treat the gay community.

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