Bank of America has agreed to pay $7,500 and update its employee training to settle a claim that it discriminated against a lesbian couple seeking a mortgage—the first such enforcement action by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The discrimination claim was brought under HUD’s new Equal Access rule, which went into effect in March 2012. The rule, which bars lenders from basing loan eligibility determinations on actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, has been hailed by activists as one of the most significant federal nondiscrimination efforts on behalf of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
