Feds to hold 'focus groups' to see if LGBT renters face discrimination

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will conduct focus groups to see whether Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals face discrimination when looking for apartments.

The department posted a 30-day notice in the Federal Register on Monday, explaining its intention to interview 60 LGBT potential renters and 15 heterosexual renters, and document their experiences in big cities.

“The department is conducting this study as part of a larger effort to study housing discrimination,” the notice said. “As part of that research, the department would like to learn more about the process that people use to search for housing.”

“Specifically, we are interested in the manner in which people identify themselves as lesbian, gay, or transgender when searching for rental housing,” HUD said. “The full project is to conduct in-person testing for lesbian and gay people in at least two major metropolitan rental markets and transgender people in at least one market.”

“The study will use paired testing methods to measure disparate treatment,” the department said.

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