New regulations intended to ensure housing programs don’t discriminate against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity have been proposed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"This is a fundamental issue of fairness," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "With this proposed rule, we will make clear that a person’s eligibility for federal housing programs is, and should be, based on their need and not on their sexual orientation or gender identity."

Read the proposed rule here.