How to Find a Neighborhood With Legal Protections for LGBT People

When you’re looking to buy or rent a home, city and county boundaries may seem less important than a commute, school district, or tree-lined street. But for those in the LGBT community, one number in a ZIP code can mean the difference between being protected against discrimination and being left out in the cold.

With a new feature launched Wednesday, Trulia, a site for real estate and rental listings, aims to help prospective homebuyers and renters find housing that’s covered by LGBT nondiscrimination laws. When searching for a home, the Local Legal Protections tool lets users see whether there are legal protections for housing, employment, and public accommodations regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. (Trulia uses the term “LGBT” instead of “LGBTQ,” as “queer” is a term not commonly recognized or utilized in policy). Local Legal Protections tells users what protections exist within a certain jurisdiction, and if they are handed down from a state, county, or city.