Making Shaun Donovan a Gay Icon

The Obama administration said today that it's working to make its Housing and Urban Development Programs more accessible to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender families. A new proposed rule will clarify that the term "family" as used to describe eligible beneficiaries of public housing and housing voucher programs includes eligible LGBT individuals and couples. Another proposal is requiring grantees and those who participate in the Department's programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws (since the federal government has no LGBT non-discrimination law) that cover sexual orientation or gender identity. HUD also plans on commissioning the first-ever national study of discrimination against members of the LGBT community in the rental and sale of housing. Pictured: HUD head Shaun Donovan. [HUD]