Virginia Turns Down Gays For Low-Interest House Loans
Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter in Washington

January 24, 2002

Richmond, VA:   Virginia will provide low-interest home mortgages to the disabled, the elderly and single parents.  But, a plan to include gays and lesbian couples has been turned down.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority rules currently restrict the joint purchase of a home to people related by blood, birth, marriage or custodial guardianship.

Governor Warner's chief of staff presented the VHD with a letter from Warner urging the board to make gay couples eligible for the loans.

Late last year, the authority undertook a major study of housing needs state-wide. Officials said the findings, coupled with input from real estate agents, developers, lenders, non-profit groups and others, prompted the staff proposal to eliminate the family rules. 

Conservative activists fought the proposal to include gays and threatened to block the change in the General Assembly if necessary. 

The Virginia Housing Development Authority is a self-supporting agency established in 1972 to assist borrowers of limited means. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, the authority approved about 5,000 loans worth about $680 million.