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Times Store * Second Opinion * Subscriptions (BUTTON) + Manage Subscription + EZPAY + Delivery Issue + eNewspaper + Students & Educators + Subscribe + Subscriber Terms + Manage Subscription + EZPAY + Delivery Issue + eNewspaper + Students & Educators + Subscribe + Subscriber Terms Copyright © 2020, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal Information (BUTTON) Sections Los Angeles Times * California * Entertainment * Sports * Food * Climate * Opinion * | * Place an Ad * Crossword * eNewspaper (BUTTON) Show Search ____________________Search Query (BUTTON) Submit Search Advertisement * Facebook * Twitter * Show more sharing options Share (BUTTON) Close extra sharing options * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Email * Copy Link URLCopied! * Print Opinion Op-Ed: Trump’s Housing Department wants to make transgender discrimination legal again. Don’t let it Hundreds participate in a Transgender Day of Remembrance protest on Nov. 20, 2015, in West Hollywood. Hundreds gather in West Hollywood to participate in the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, 2015, and to protest violence against the transgender community. (Los Angeles Times) By Julián Castro, Shaun Donovan and Cyndi Lauper Sep. 8, 2020 3:05 AM * Facebook * Twitter * Show more sharing options Share (BUTTON) Close extra sharing options * Facebook * Twitter * LinkedIn * Email * Copy Link URLCopied! * Print The need for universal access to safe, stable housing may have never been more urgent. The grave health risks faced by those experiencing homelessness are only made more severe by this pandemic. Los Angeles, which has one of the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness in the country, has seen numerous COVID outbreaks among unhoused communities, and experts predict that Los Angeles may be facing an increase in homelessness of up to 16 percent due to COVID. The most marginalized among us are left particularly vulnerable to both the virus and its lasting economic impact. This is particularly true for transgender Americans, who are disproportionately afflicted by poverty and homelessness even in better years. But instead of strengthening support for the trans community, the Trump administration has taken steps to weaken it. In July, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, under the leadership of Secretary Ben Carson, proposed a dangerous new rule that would allow taxpayer-funded emergency shelters to discriminate against transgender people. By permitting shelters to serve people on the basis of “biological sex” without regard for gender identity, this rule would explicitly grant single-gender shelters permission to close their doors to transgender people experiencing homelessness. Mixed-gender shelters would be allowed to force transgender people to access services based on the gender they were assigned at birth instead of their gender identity. This places them at increased risk of gender-based violence and sexual assault. HUD’s stated mission is “to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all,” and to “build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination.” This proposed rule runs directly counter to that mission. Advertisement Transgender people face devastating rates of homelessness across the United States. Nearly one-third of respondents to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey — a major accounting of the experiences of trans Americans — reported being homeless at some point. One in eight said they had been homeless within the previous year. The survey results paint an even more dire picture for Black trans women, a group especially vulnerable to abuse, violence and HIV. More than 50 percent of respondents said they had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, and nearly one-quarter of them reported being homeless within the previous year. If this rule is adopted, it will endanger trans people. Many of those experiencing homelessness will not seek shelter, fearing discrimination (which nearly 30% of transgender people seeking shelter have experienced) and potential violence (22% of trans people experiencing homelessness report being sexually assaulted by shelter staff or residents). Those who do seek shelter will be more likely to be turned away or harassed for who they are. In the context of COVID-19, this means that trans people experiencing homelessness will be at a heightened risk of falling ill, since shelters are many communities’ best access point to the safe, individual housing options that the CDC stresses must be made available to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. It’s true that, in the time of COVID, shelters might not always be safer than unsheltered living. But individual housing options —such as the hotel rooms offered through California’s Project Roomkey — absolutely are. To ensure equitable access to housing, we need to ensure equitable access to emergency shelters. Advertisement Enforcing equal access to shelter is the least we can do for transgender people in our communities. They are ordinary people whose lives should never be used as a political wedge issue in cynical campaigns that try to turn neighbors against one another. Rather than thinking of new ways to make trans people’s lives more difficult, the Trump administration should be developing and executing strategies that build on the progress made under the Obama administration, which dramatically reduced homelessness for LGBTQ+ people, veterans and families. The federal government should not target the rights of trans people. Instead, as a society we should be dedicated to helping the trans community, which has historically experienced social and economic harm because of who they are. All too often, American society has failed to provide crucial and necessary support for the estimated 1.4 million transgender Americans — including one in 50 teenagers — who have lived authentically despite great obstacles. That cannot be the case once again. The Housing Saves Lives campaign is working to stop this discriminatory new proposal, which has a comment due date of September 22^nd. The HUD must uphold its own Equal Access Rule, in both letter and spirit. Julián Castro was secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2014 to 2017. Shaun Donovan was the HUD secretary from 2009 to 2014. Cyndi Lauper is the co-founder of True Colors United. __________________________________________________________________ OpinionOp-Ed Julián Castro Shaun Donovan and Cyndi Lauper More From the Los Angeles Times * Opinion Column: Ted Cruz, party bellwether, tells you where the GOP is headed FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2020 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz R-Texas, speaks to the media during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Cruz is urging the Justice Department “to closely monitor New York City” for potential religious discrimination amid the pandemic after its mayor singled out “the Jewish community” following the breakup of a large gathering of Orthodox Jews. Cruz made his request in a Thursday, April 30, letter to Attorney General Bill Barr,(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Opinion Column: Ted Cruz, party bellwether, tells you where the GOP is headed Even Ronald Reagan’s principles are now considered political losers, thoroughly obliterated by fealty to Trump. * Opinion Letters to the Editor: Finally, some good COVID-19 news: Hospital cleaning staff get the vaccine Maria Saravia gets vaccinated at Keck Hospital of USC. Saravia changes in and out of protective gear 24 times a day - once for each patient room she enters on the COVID-19 floor at Keck Hospital of USC. Opinion Letters to the Editor: Finally, some good COVID-19 news: Hospital cleaning staff get the vaccine The people who assume great risk to clean hospitals deserve to be at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccines. * Opinion Op-Ed: President Trump’s mobster rule An officer between supporters of President Trump and counter protesters outside of the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta. Opinion Op-Ed: President Trump’s mobster rule To Trumpists — not just the Proud Boys but mainstream Republicans too — strong-arming may be the defining American freedom, one that isn’t enhanced by the ideals of democracy and fair play. * Opinion Editorial: Garcetti: Glad you’re sticking around. Now here’s what we want to see Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti gives his annual State of the City speech in Los Angeles on April 19, 2020. Opinion Editorial: Garcetti: Glad you’re sticking around. Now here’s what we want to see This is the moment for Garcetti to be the leader that L.A. needs. That means bold, compassionate and innovative action to get this city out of crisis mode. Subscribers Are Reading * California Supermarkets in L.A. County see unprecedented coronavirus infection rates PALMDALE, CA - DECEMBER 18, 2020: Barbara Hughes, left, a cashier at Food 4 Less in Palmdale, hands a flyer to customer Rona Mllage of Palmdale, notifying her that there have been 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at this store in the past 2 weeks. Hughes demonstrated with others outside the store on December 18, 2020. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) California Supermarkets in L.A. County see unprecedented coronavirus infection rates Grocery stores and other essential businesses have been hit hard by the coronavirus surge, further straining services that must stay open despite the stay-at-home order. More Coverage Here are some tips for shopping safely Tracking the coronavirus in California * California With coronavirus spreading in L.A. County supermarkets, here are some tips for shopping safely SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Stephanie Nguyen goes food shopping ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday at Baron's Market in North Park on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 in San Diego, CA. (Jarrod Valliere / The San Diego Union-Tribune) California With coronavirus spreading in L.A. County supermarkets, here are some tips for shopping safely The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines for shopping as safely as possible. Here are some of them. * Politics Congressional leaders reach deal for nearly $900-billion coronavirus aid package WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 20: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) heads to the floor of the Senate from his office on December 20, 2020 in Washington, DC. Republicans and Democrats in the Senate finally came to an agreement on the coronavirus relief bill and a vote is expected later today. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Politics Congressional leaders reach deal for nearly $900-billion coronavirus aid package Congress’ leaders reach a bipartisan deal providing direct payments to most Americans, continuing small business loans and extending jobless aid with a bonus. More Coverage Despite his boasts, Trump again is no deal-maker as Congress seeks pandemic relief bill Tracking the coronavirus in California * Opinion Op-Ed: Stop dismissing all vaccine skeptics as anti-science conspiracy theorists Nurse Helen Cordova, right, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Opinion Op-Ed: Stop dismissing all vaccine skeptics as anti-science conspiracy theorists Vaccine hesitancy has a long history in the United States. Here are three ways to help break through vaccine fears. * Lifestyle The 10 best things to buy from our merch store. Subscriptions! Dodgers! Lakers! Zines! Mugs! Los Angeles Times gifts. Lifestyle The 10 best things to buy from our merch store. Subscriptions! Dodgers! Lakers! Zines! Mugs! The L.A. Times store offers Lakers and Dodgers memorabilia, subscriptions, apparel and more to delight people on your 2020 holiday gift list. Advertisement Latest Opinion * Opinion Letters to the Editor: L.A. teachers will go back to the classroom when they’re vaccinated WOODLAND HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 09, 2020: Cynthia Medrano, a college counselor at Alliance Marine Tech High School, an LAUSD charter school in Sun Valley, works remotely at her home in Woodland Hills. Medrano is a dedicated counselor who has worked hard this semester to connect with her students remotely, texting, emailing, and setting up one-on-one virtual meetings to encourage them to apply to college and make sure they've completed the necessary steps, despite the absence of an on-campus presence. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) Opinion Letters to the Editor: L.A. teachers will go back to the classroom when they’re vaccinated COVID-19 transmission is still too dangerous to return teachers to the classroom in Los Angeles. * Opinion Op-Ed: A crooked Christmas tree for a crooked year The Cavanaugh family ponderosa pine Christmas tree from Pike National Forest. For M.L. Cavanaugh Christmas 2020 op-ed. (Photo credit: Rachel Mutdock) Opinion Op-Ed: A crooked Christmas tree for a crooked year In Pike National Forest, the ponderosa pine seemed like a perfect metaphor for an awful year. We fell in love with it. * Opinion Letters to the Editor: California is still limiting physician assistants as ICUs fill up Dr. Rafik Abdou checks on a COVID-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles. Opinion Letters to the Editor: California is still limiting physician assistants as ICUs fill up A physician assistant says 13,000 professionals like her could do more to relieve crowded ICUs if the state would give them more freedom. * Opinion Editorial: Stimulus checks: Too little for some, too much for many In this Dec. 15, 2029, photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., walks past reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Opinion Editorial: Stimulus checks: Too little for some, too much for many As Congress rushed to pass the year’s final spending bill, some critics complained that lawmakers were offering only token payments directly to Americans. The “stimulus checks” will probably be too small to help those most in need, but they’ll also pad the savings accounts of millions of Americans who aren’t suffering. * Opinion Letters to the Editor: Mike Pence’s COVID-19 vaccination was obscene Vice President Mike Pence receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Washington. Karen Pence, and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams also participated. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Opinion Letters to the Editor: Mike Pence’s COVID-19 vaccination was obscene The vice president and other Republicans stood by as thousands of Americans needlessly died, and they are among the first to be vaccinated. 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