Legislation was introduced on Thursday in both chambers of Congress that would amend existing federal law to protect LGBT people in the housing and credit markets.
The legislation, which was introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) in the House and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in the Senate, is known as the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, or HOME Act.
The measures would amend the Fair Housing Act to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as marital status and source of income. Additionally, the bills would amend the Equal Opportunity Credit Act to prohibit LGBT discrimination in credit decisions.
The legislation would outlaw housing discrimination both before and after a housing unit is acquired; bolster non-discrimination protections for the disabled and LGBT parents with children; and provide the U.S. attorney general with pre-litigation investigative power to enforce the law.
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In a statement, Nadler said the bill is necessary to ensure LGBT people aren’t ”subjected to housing discrimination at the hands of the unscrupulous or bigoted.”
“This legislation will ensure that the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act are actually protecting all Americans and guaranteeing people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, marital and familial status, and source of income the right to the housing they choose,” Nadler said.
