Virginia Bars Gays From Low-Income Loans

Applicants for low-income home loans must be related by blood, adoption or marriage under new state regulations that effectively bar gay couples from pooling their incomes to get a loan.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority’s 6-2 vote reverses a policy it adopted in June 1994 to allow unrelated people to combine their incomes when applying for the loans.

“We feel like the new regulation will encourage the traditional family,” Chairman Michael G. Miller said.

Gov. George F. Allen, a conservative Republican, requested the change last year. The new regulations take effect Feb. 5.

Gay-rights advocates were outraged and the decision also created sharp dissent among the commission itself.

“This change grants loans to convicted ax murders who are married - while denying Mother Teresa and an unrelated sister a loan,” said commission member Albert C. Eisenberg.