LOS ANGELES, CA –  As Pride Month unfolds across California, the Housing Rights Center (HRC) reaffirms its steadfast commitment to ensuring fair housing for LGBTQIA+ community, especially transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Founded in 1968, HRC is the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to fair housing, relentlessly fighting discrimination through education, advocacy, investigation, and litigation.

 

Under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) individuals are legally protected against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Despite clear legal protections, housing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ individuals—especially transgender and nonbinary people—remains widespread. A 2023 survey by the Williams Institute found that 21% of trans and nonbinary respondents in Los Angeles County believed they had been denied housing due to their gender identity. Many reported feeling the need to hide who they are to avoid harassment, misgendering, or rejection by housing providers.

 

“Knowing your housing rights is fundamental to protecting your rights,” said Margot Parker-Elder, Director of Outreach and Education at HRC. “We’re proud to provide free services that empower renters and hold housing providers accountable to the law. Our commitment to LGBTQIA+ communities is unwavering—this Pride Month and every month.”

 

The Housing Rights Center operates an Investigations Department staffed by experienced Case Analysts who mediate and resolve fair housing issues between tenants and housing providers. Case Analysts’ advocacy includes addressing harassment, wrongful denials, and refusals to accommodate gender identity or expression—ensuring that all residents can live safely and authentically in their homes.

 

If you believe you have experienced discrimination in housing based on your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other protected characteristic (such as race, national origin, disability, familial status, and more), contact the Housing Rights Center for free counseling at 1 (800) 477-5977 (TTY: 1 (213) 201-0867), or visit www.housingrightscenter.org/get-help.

Download a copy of the full press release here.
 

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Housing Rights Center (HRC) is a non-profit organization established in 1968 to actively support and promote equal opportunity and freedom of residence to all persons without regard to their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, familial status, disability, marital status, ancestry, age, source of income, or other characteristics protected by law. The Center engages in activities – including outreach/education, investigation/testing and legal advocacy – to identify barriers to fair housing in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and to help counteract and eliminate discriminatory housing practices.  

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