HUD pauses Obama-era LGBT housing protection – Washington Examiner
The Department of Housing and Urban Advancement (HUD), led by Secretary Scott Turner, has announced a pause on the enforcement of the “Equal Access Rule,” a regulation established during the Obama administration that ensures access to housing programs regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The decision aligns with President Trump’s directive associated with limiting the use of “gender identity” language in federal policies and reverting definitions back to biological sex. Turner stated that this change aims to align HUD’s actions with Trump’s mission to restore what he describes as “biological truth” and eliminate what he considers “far-left gender ideology.”
Turner emphasized that while protections for sexual orientation and marital status will remain, the focus will shift to recognizing only male and female genders in HUD’s policies. He highlighted his commitment to reviewing all HUD programs to ensure they advance its mission of providing affordable housing and fostering community investment. Turner expressed his sense of honor in taking on his new role and conveyed a message of hope, suggesting that personal circumstances should not limit one’s opportunities for success.
HUD overhauls Obama-era LGBT housing protection to end ‘far-left gender ideology’
Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner announced on Thursday that the department will pause the enforcement of its “Equal Access Rule” to align with President Donald Trump‘s crackdown on “gender identity” language in federal policies.
‘HIGH CALLING’: HOW TRUMP’S HUD SECRETARY PLANS TO TACKLE TO HOUSING CRISIS
HUD’s Equal Access Rule, installed by former President Barack Obama in 2012 and updated in 2016, guaranteed access to affordable housing programs regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status. The regulation said evidence suggested “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals and families” were being “arbitrarily excluded from housing opportunities in the private sector.”
HUD officials told the Washington Examiner that Thursday’s pause won’t affect protections for sexual orientation or marital status but will revert the “gender identity” definition back to biological sex, which will still be protected.
Turner made the announcement at a Thursday press conference, just one day after being confirmed and sworn into his new position.
“Let me be clear, we at this agency are carrying out the mission laid out by President Trump when he signed an executive order on January 20th to restore biological truth to the federal government,” he stated, referencing Trump’s Day One directive for the federal government to only recognize two genders: male and female. “It means doing away with far-left gender ideology and getting government out of the way of what the Lord intended.”
“As I have said before, we are going to look at all of HUD’s programs and ensure every dollar that goes out the door is advancing HUD’s mission, which is to provide quality, affordable homes for communities across the country — urban, rural, and tribal — and promote economic investment to build stronger communities and a brighter future.”
FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS, ACTIONS, AND PROCLAMATIONS TRUMP HAS MADE AS PRESIDENT
Trump’s January 20th executive order, “Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government,” specifically directs “every agency and all Federal employees acting in an official capacity on behalf of their agency shall use the term ‘sex’ and not ‘gender’ in all applicable Federal policies and documents.”
Turner, who was previously appointed to be the executive director of the White House’s Opportunity Zone initiative during Trump’s first term in office, told department staff Thursday afternoon that “God’s Grace and his sovereignty” had been preparing him to take the reins at HUD.
“From washing dishes, playing college football, playing in the NFL, serving in the House, building businesses, a foundation,” he said in a speech delivered at HUD headquarters. “And to now stand with you as the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, I am truly honored, and I want to encourage everyone in here: I am a living witness. Your circumstances do not define your ability or your opportunity to succeed.”
You can watch Turner’s remarks in full below.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...