H.R. 1447House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2017

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:32 PM UTC

The Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2017 expands the Fair Housing Act to protect people from housing discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It adds these categories to the list of protected classes and provides definitions for gender identity and sexual orientation. The changes apply to anyone involved in housing—landlords, sellers, lenders, and others—so they cannot discriminate against individuals because of these characteristics, even if the discrimination is based on a perceived or inaccurate belief about them.

Key Provisions

Adds “sex, sexual orientation, gender identity” to the protected‑class list in the Fair Housing Act, covering both actual and perceived characteristics.
Defines “gender identity” as an individual’s gender‑related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other characteristics regardless of sex assigned at birth.
Defines “sexual orientation” as homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.
Amends multiple sections of the Fair Housing Act (including §§ 804, 805, 806, 808(e)(6) and the intimidation provision in § 901 of the Civil Rights Act) to insert the new terms wherever “sex” appears, ensuring the expanded protections apply throughout the law.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

March 21, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 9, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

March 9, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

March 21, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 9, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1447

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 9, 2017

Mr. Taylor (for himself and Mr. Schneider) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To extend the protections of the Fair Housing Act to persons suffering discrimination on the basis of sex or sexual orientation, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fair and Equal Housing Act of 2017.

Housing

(a)

Fair Housing Act

The Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended—

(1)

in section 802, by adding at the end the following:

(p)

Race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin, used with respect to an individual, includes—

(1)

the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin, respectively, of another person with whom the individual is associated or has been associated; and

(2)

a perception or belief, even if inaccurate, concerning the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, handicap, familial status, or national origin, respectively, of the individual.

(q)

Gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth.

(r)

Sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.

;

(2)

in section 804, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity after sex, each place that term appears;

(3)

in section 805, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity after sex, each place that term appears;

(4)

in section 806, by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity after sex, each place that term appears;

(5)

in section 808(e)(6), by inserting sexual orientation, gender identity after sex,; and

(6)

by adding at the end the following:”.

(b)

Prevention of intimidation in fair housing cases

Section 901 of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3631) is amended by inserting gender identity, sexual orientation (as such term is defined in section 802 of this Act), after sex, each place that term appears.