"Ben Carson today testified before Congress that he is ignoring protections for LGBTQ people in homeless shelters, and defended his inaction by citing debunked and mean-spirited claims about transgender people that completely lack merit,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “The level of ignorance he has consistently shown as the nation's top housing official is deeply alarming, and has clear consequences for LGBTQ people who experience disproportionate rates of homelessness. When homeless shelters become unwelcome spaces for LGBTQ people, the consequences are devastating."

 

Ben Carson has a long history of opposing LGBTQ equality and has been key a figure in the Trump-Pence Administration’s efforts to attack the civil rights of LGBTQ people. Only two weeks ago, Carson floated a new HUD Department mission statement that removed mention of fighting discrimination in housing. Last year, HUD withdrew a notice requiring emergency shelters receiving HUD funding to post information about LGBTQ people’s rights to access shelter safely and in accordance with their gender identity.

During a separate budget hearing today, Betsy DeVos defended the Department of Education’s refusal to investigate reports of discrimination against transgender students in direct conflict with federal court rulings. Last month, HRC called out the Department’s decision to advance the dangerous Trump-Pence anti-LGBTQ agenda.