Bill > S1328

Introduced Session

Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2017 This bill amends the Fair Housing Act (FHA) under the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to add sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected against discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing. (Currently, the FHA prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.) The bill defines: (1) "gender identity" as gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth; and (2) "sexual orientation" as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. The bill also extends prohibitions against housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin to include discrimination based on: (1) an individual's association with another person who is a member of such a protected class; and (2) a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, that an individual is a member of such a protected class.

Committee Categories

Tim Kaine (D)*,  Tammy Baldwin (D),  Michael Bennet (D),  Richard Blumenthal (D),  Cory Booker (D),  Sherrod Brown (D),  Maria Cantwell (D),  Ben Cardin (D),  Tom Carper (D),  Susan Collins (R),  Chris Coons (D),  Catherine Cortez Masto (D),  Tammy Duckworth (D),  Dick Durbin (D),  Dianne Feinstein (D),  Al Franken (D),  Kirsten Gillibrand (D),  Kamala Harris (D),  Maggie Hassan (D),  Martin Heinrich (D),  Angus King (I),  Amy Klobuchar (D),  Patrick Leahy (D),  Ed Markey (D),  Bob Menendez (D),  Jeff Merkley (D),  Patty Murray (D),  Bernie Sanders (I),  Jeanne Shaheen (D),  Tina Smith (D),  Jon Tester (D),  Chris Van Hollen (D),  Elizabeth Warren (D),  Sheldon Whitehouse (D),  Ron Wyden (D), 

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S3365) (on 06/08/2017)

Official Document