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After the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today that it would officially withdraw the previous Administration’s proposed rule which would have removed protections under the Equal Access Rule and would allow for discrimination against transgender Americans seeking emergency shelter, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) released the following statement:

“After nearly two years of fighting back legislatively and through public comment against this anti-trans proposed rule, it's a relief to see it officially withdrawn. I'm so grateful to the many advocates and my colleagues in Congress who have joined me in successfully blocking this policy, and I applaud Secretary Fudge for her leadership on this issue.

“Housing saves lives, especially for the trans community who face disproportionate rates of violence and homelessness. HUD’s actions today will advance equality and protect the well-being of transgender Americans across the country.”

Congresswoman Wexton was an outspoken critic of the previous administration’s unsuccessful proposed rule change to the Equal Access Rule that would allow federally funded emergency and temporary shelter providers to turn away transgender Americans. After an exchange with former HUD Secretary Ben Carson during a House Financial Services Committee hearing in which Carson falsely claimed his Department had no intention of making any changes to rollback protections for LGBTQ people seeking emergency shelter, Wexton called on him to resign his position.

Wexton is a Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus’ Transgender Equality Task Force.

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