Bank to pay $7,500 for denying loan to lesbians
The case against Bank of America was the first of its type since the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued new anti-discrimination rules.
Bank of America has agreed to pay $7,500 to settle allegations that it refused to grant a loan to a lesbian couple because of their marital status and sexual orientation.
The case is the first of its type since the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a new rule requiring equal access to housing in HUD programs regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. That rule says lenders cannot base decisions about loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.
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"The HUD Equal Access Rule means just what it says: One’s sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status is not a legitimate basis on which to deny a mortgage," John Trasviña, HUD’s assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity, said in a news release. "Members of the housing industry should take note of this settlement agreement. HUD will enforce its regulations to make sure its programs are truly open to all qualified families."
The rule also applies to all other housing program administered by HUD.
It’s not unusual for unmarried couples -- or other people who are unrelated, such as business partners -- to seek a mortgage together.
In this case, two women, who were not identified in the HUD press release, were seeking to buy a home together in South Daytona Beach, Fla., using an FHA-backed mortgage. Because one did not have a job, her mother agreed to be a co-signer.
Everything went fine until one business day before the closing, HUD said, when "BOA denied the mortgage because it did not consider the loan applicant and the co-applicant directly related because the applicant and her partner were not married."
Bank of America agreed to pay HUD $7,500, update its training programs and remind its employees they are prohibited from discriminating against FHA loan applicants on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.
There was no immediate comment from Bank of America, but HUD praised the lender for "taking immediate corrective action after HUD notified BOA of the violation."
FHA mortgages are routinely granted to unmarried couples, though it’s important to make sure both people are legally protected. You can read more about FHA mortgages here.
Worse off are the BOA employees who will be scapegoated even tough they were probably only following BOA's own rules.
Now they also face re-education when BOA "updates" its training to assure they have the politicaly correct, tolerant opinion of homosexuals weher they would agree with that or not.
Did they get the loan? I know married couples fully emplyed making 6 figures and plumping down 40% on a $800k house that did not get a loan from BA. They threatened to sue BA because they felt BA was discriminating against them because they were not white and miraculously they got the loan. The banks are not giving out money period and are making all kinds of excuses, with my frinds it was that one was self-employed.
Breaking his leg still does not sway this childs' stubborn mindset, he still thinks he is a bird, nothing will stop him from achieving his goal of being a bird. He continues to jump off the roof, sometimes breaking his leg(s), other times injuring himself in other ways, and, the tragedy, he utterly refuses to believe or conform to reality. He cannot be a bird no matter how much he believes in his heart that he is and continuing the viscous circle will only cause further damage to his body until he is dead.
Such is the folly of LGBT, enjoy your 'broken legs' people.
About Teresa Mears
Teresa Mears is a veteran journalist who has been interested in houses since her father took her to tax auctions to carry the cash at age 10. A former editor of The Miami Herald's Home & Design section, she lives in South Florida where, in addition to writing about real estate, she publishes Miami on the Cheap to help her neighbors adjust to the loss of 60% of their property value.
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