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Polk County RV park owner to pay $45K in transgender discrimination case

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — An owner and property manager of a Davenport recreational vehicle park has entered into a consent order after discriminating against a transgender woman, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said Thursday.

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The consent order states the resort and Dykgraaf must pay the tenant and her family $45,000 in damages.

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21 RV Palms Resort Inc. and its owner, Nathan Dykgraaf, were charged in July with discriminating against a tenant because of her gender identity.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing providers from discriminating against tenants, including on the basis of their gender identity.

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Dykgraaf allegedly violated the act when he gave the tenant a letter that said he was aware she was transitioning but told her she should dress, speak and behave like a man to avoid trouble.

“Housing providers have no place restricting a transgender resident’s expression of their gender identity,” said Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

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The company will also go through training on the Fair Housing Act and transgender discrimination.

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