Civil Rights Law and Regulations

Louisville is back in the news these days because its plan for integrating schools, like Seattle's, was overturned recently by the Supreme Court. However divided is opinion over this decision, it should force us to look more deeply into what a well-integrated society means and requires. Public debate should range far beyond the use of race as a factor in determining which kids can go to which schools.

Discussion and debate about adoption and foster care by gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) parents occurs frequently among policymakers, social service agencies, and social workers. Three states currently restrict GLB people from adopting and more are considering similar policies. This report provides new information on GLB adoption and foster care from several government data sources. It offers a demographic portrait of the estimated 65,500 adopted children and 14,100 foster children living with gay and lesbian parents. It also assesses the costs to child welfare systems of proposed bans on allowing GLB people to foster.

This report, prepared for the D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development, reviews the state of fair housing in Washington, D.C., identifies impediments to fair housing choice for District residents, and recommends specific actions to remove or reduce those impediments. Based on data analysis and discussions with key informants, the report finds that participants in the city's real estate market are not always aware of, or do not always comply with, fair housing laws. Targeted, direct action and outreach are needed to ensure that the District of Columbia’s housing market is fair to all.

In this commentary, senior research associate Laudan Aron explores the dark side of a booming business -- matching American men with foreign women -- and what should be done to protect "mail-order brides."

Racial discrimination clearly persists in the labor market, though it is more powerful against some groups of minorities than others. While employer discrimination occurs less frequently than in earlier generations, its direct and indirect effects likely remain important. A range of approaches might be useful in reducing hiring discrimination, though the cost-effectiveness of each is not really known right now.