LGBT rules would protect Native Americans from housing discrimination

The Obama administration is looking to root out discrimination against gay people in Native American communities.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is developing new rules that would prohibit federally-funded Native American housing projects from turning away people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

{mosads}The move is part of a continued effort by the Obama administration and congressional Democrats to protect people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender from discrimination.

Beyond advocating for same-sex marriage, Democrats are pushing various pieces of legislation that would root out discrimination against LGBT individuals in the workplace, when trying to obtain mortgages or looking for a hotel, and at stores and restaurants.

HUD already prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in most federally funded housing projects around the country, but this would be the first time it is targeting Native American communities.

The proposed rules are expected next month. They were revealed last week in the Unified Agenda, which is a list of all the rules federal agencies plan to issue in the coming year.