By John Mack Freeman
Secretary Julian Castro announced new rules this week for homeless shelters that receive money from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. The rules specify that these facilities must provide access to everyone on an equal basis regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It also makes explicit that shelters are not allowed to inquire about sexual orientation or gender identity. Via the Washington Blade:
“The rule does not, however, prohibit voluntary self-identification of sexual orientation or gender identity,” it reads. “It provides a limited exception for inquiries about the sex of an individual to determine eligibility for temporary, emergency shelters with shared sleeping areas or bathrooms, or to determine the number of bedrooms to which a household may be entitled.”
