Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert, Esq.

(Washington DC, June 1, 2012)—Dr. Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research (PD&R) at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will be leaving HUD on June 1, 2012. Nominated by President Obama, Dr. Bostic has served in this position since July 2009. In his capacity as Assistant Secretary, Dr. Bostic, who is openly gay, has been a dedicated advocate for LGBTQ rights.

Under his leadership, PD&R has been at the helm of crucial work to target and address housing discrimination and housing needs in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. He has worked tirelessly to further efforts to collect data and research on the discrimination faced by LGBTQ people seeking housing. In December 2011, his understanding of the unique housing challenges of LGBTQ elders brought about the first-ever national LGBTQ Elder Housing Summit. The event, co-sponsored by PD&R, NCLR and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), brought government officials, activists, and academics together to discuss a broad range of issues affecting LGBTQ elders, including housing, discrimination in long-term care facilities, and how to ensure LGBTQ elder housing efforts are inclusive of transgender elders and elders of color.

Dr. Bostic earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University and his B.A. from Harvard University. Prior to HUD, Dr. Bostic was a Professor at the University of Southern California School of Public Policy, Planning, and Development, where he did ground-breaking research on how anti-discrimination laws affect minority homeownership. He also worked at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he received a Special Achievement Award for his work on the Community Reinvestment Act.

Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert, Esq.:
“Dr. Bostic has been an incredible advocate for the LGBTQ community in his leadership role at HUD. Dr. Bostic’s commitment to the LGBTQ community, along with that of many other advocates in the Obama administration, has changed the tone of our dialogue with government agencies and created the space for important policy improvements. He is a dedicated public servant, a tireless advocate, and a friend. It has been a privilege to work in partnership with him.”

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.
www.NCLRights.org .