For the second time in less than a week, I find myself writing about yet another cruel move by the Trump administration to deny housing to some of the country’s most vulnerable people—this time, transgender Americans facing homelessness. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced plans to reverse the Equal Access Rule, an Obama-era regulation prohibiting federally funded emergency shelters that segregate by sex from discriminating against people based on gender identity.
Due to family rejection and discrimination in employment and housing, transgender people, especially women of color, face much higher rates of housing insecurity, homelessness and violence than the general population. More than 1 in 4 transgender Michiganders has been evicted or denied a home based on their gender identity or expression, and more than 1 in 3 has experienced homelessness at some point in their lives.
The Equal Access Rule, which HUD adopted in 2016, requires emergency shelters to house clients according to their gender identity, prohibits them from denying gender-affirming placements based on other residents’ objections or biases, and prevents them from requiring proof of biological characteristics or gender-affirming medical treatment.
The Trump administration’s proposal instead would allow a single-sex or sex-segregated shelter provider to establish its own policy outlining how it would consider an individual’s sex in determining whether and how to provide services. Along with gender identity, the shelter could consider a person’s sex according to government documents, religious beliefs, privacy, safety and practical concerns. The policy would have to be consistent with state and local law, so shelters in places lacking civil rights protections for transgender people could turn them away or dangerously assign them to accommodations that don’t correspond to their gender identity.
Stigma and discrimination often force homeless transgender people into the underground economy, where they’re even more vulnerable to violence and serious health issues. Plus, many of the things unhoused people must do to survive are criminalized, subjecting them to further trauma through incarceration and creating yet another barrier to health, safety, education, employment, economic security, and stable housing. Sadly, LGBTQ youth are seriously overrepresented among the homeless youth population, so they’re also at a higher risk of ending up in the justice system and trapped in the cycle of trauma and poverty.
The proposed rule reversal is taxpayer-funded religious oppression disguised in the rhetoric of religious freedom. Weakening the Equal Access Rule would mean more young people fending for themselves on the street, mental illness, addiction, and crime. It would mean more precious lives lost to exposure, accidental injury, homicide and suicide. And it would contribute to a general atmosphere of hostility for all transgender members of our communities.
After HUD publishes a formal notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register, there will be a public comment period during which the League will be submitting its strong opposition to this unconscionable plan, and we call on you to do the same. We’ll keep you updated in the coming months so you’ll be ready to act once the notice is published.
In the meantime, mobilize your networks and contact your members of congress to tell them you support legislation to prohibit HUD from rolling back this essential protection for transgender people in the most desperate circumstances. Tell your U.S. Senators to support the Equality Act in defense of comprehensive LGBTQ rights nationwide.
A bit closer to home, urge your state legislators to support Senate Bill 351 and House Bill 4688, which would prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing and public accommodations, as well as employment and education. There’s some debate about whether the state law prohibiting sex discrimination includes sexual orientation and gender identity, so Michigan needs an explicit statutory ban to protect LGBTQ people with certainty and consistency.
An Irish proverb states, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” Facilities established specifically to provide shelter cannot abandon their duties when it comes to people who have already been denied safe homes because of who they are. Please join us in making sure our safety net providers respect the inherent dignity and worth of every human being seeking refuge from suffering.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
