A “Pride” perk on the taxpayers’ dime begged the question of a new discriminatory housing project, “How is this legal?”
(Video Credit: News Center Maine)
Between attempts to introduce universal basic income and widespread endeavors at all levels of government to commit to reparations, efforts at entitlements are ever-expanding. In Portland, Maine that includes a new affordable housing complex limited to older members of the alphabet community in conjunction with the ironically-named Equality Community Center.
“To have something right downtown Portland for the LGBT community to be part of is huge,” said ECC founding member and developer Ed Gardner in an interview with News Center Maine.
Credited with donating the land for the building expected to consist of 54 units for those over the age of 55 years old, he touted, “I think we’ll be able to see them come out and be more part of the community rather than being stuck in their homes and not have anybody to socialize with.”
Including a plan for 11 of the units to be set aside for those with disabilities or diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Mainebiz indicated that the project was to be funded in part by U.S. taxpayers through federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Additional funding was said to be provided by MaineHousing’s affordable tax credits, a commercial bank loan, and an award from the city of a 75 percent increment finance district.
“This place brings not only a positive place, a place where you can live with people who [aren’t] going to be awful to you,” volunteer Christine Caulfield told News Center Maine, “but it’s connected right to this. So it’s a place to live and community all put together in one spot.”
With similar projects located in Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Diego, news of the project with a targeted completion of spring 2026 set social media off over what appeared to be a blatant violation of federal law.
Popular account Libs of TikTok shared News Center Maine’s coverage of the project, which highlighted one community member mourning the loss of his partner described as “a trans-woman” who had committed suicide, and remarked, “According to the Fair Housing Act, housing discrimination based on s*xual orientation or gender identity is illegal. How is this legal?”
The popular X user garnered over 1 million views on the post with similarly frustrated reactions to the construction of units ranging from around 500 to roughly 850 square feet set aside for households earning less than 60 percent of the area median income, with the majority being for those making under 50 percent, according to Mainebiz.
“It’s NOT legal. But Dems no longer follow the laws of America–they make their own laws and @TheJusticeDept never does a stinking thing about it,” raged one user as another argued, “it sounds like straight people are now a [marginalized] group.”
It’s NOT legal. But Dems no longer follow the laws of America–they make their own laws and @TheJusticeDept never does a stinking thing about it.
— Claire {} (@cjdtwit) June 14, 2024
it sounds like straight people are now a marginized group
— BiblicalAllianceForTheWest (@realtorontodude) June 14, 2024
That’s discrimination at its finest, lawsuits incoming.
— conservativestoners (@mentalflossimg) June 14, 2024
And suddenly 10% more poor people identify as gay…
— Inevitable (@7digitBTC) June 14, 2024
So… segregation
— Jack (@jackunheard) June 14, 2024
The post INSIDER: Plan to build Maine’s first LGBTQ housing complex triggers fierce backlash appeared first on Whatfinger Wire News.