Minnesota Housing Partnership submitted a comment on Monday, Sept. 21 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development urging withdrawal of a rule that would sanction discrimination in shelters for people experiencing homelessness. View MHP’s comment here.

“MHP recognizes that the proposed rule change is a part of the current administration’s ongoing efforts to limit the rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly transgender people,” wrote Elizabeth Glidden, MHP’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Policy. “This Proposed Rule would strip protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people seeking HUD-funded shelter and is rooted in harmful and dangerous stereotypes about transgender persons, particularly transgender women.”

“We urge that this proposed rule change be withdrawn in its entirety.”

The rule change was published on July 24 and is titled, “Making Admission or Placement Determinations Based on Sex in Facilities Under Community Planning and Development Housing Programs.” It provides a list of ways for shelters to turn away transgender and gender expansive people. 

“This proposed rule would grant single-gender shelters permission to close their doors to transgender people experiencing homelessness, an unacceptable result,” MHP’s comment states. ”MHP believes that moving forward with this proposed rule change is egregious and cruel, and particularly so during a global pandemic when access to housing may mean the difference between life and death.”

For more than two decades Minnesota law has protected the rights of transgender and gender expensive residents. 

“Minnesota values strengthening protections for transgender community members, not weakening them,” MHP stated.