• Woman facing civil rights lawsuit for seeking fellow christian roommate
    52 replies, posted
[quote=Foxnews.com]A civil rights complaint has been filed against a woman in Grand Rapids, Mich., who posted an advertisement at her church last July seeking a Christian roommate. The ad "expresses an illegal preference for a Christian roommate, thus excluding people of other faiths,” according to the complaint filed by the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan. "It's a violation to make, print or publish a discriminatory statement," Executive Director Nancy Haynes told Fox News. "There are no exemptions to that." Haynes said the unnamed 31-year-old woman’s case was turned over to the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Depending on the outcome of the case, she said, the woman could face several hundreds of dollars in fines and “fair housing training so it doesn’t happen again.” Harold Core, director of public affairs with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, told the Grand Rapids Press that the Fair Housing Act prevents people from publishing an advertisement stating their preference of religion, race or handicap with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling. "It's really difficult to say at this point what could potentially happen," he told the newspaper, noting that there are exemptions in the law for gender when there is a shared living space. But Joel Oster, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, which is representing the woman free of charge, describes the case as "outrageous." "Clearly this woman has a right to pick and choose who she wants to live with," he said. "Christians shouldn't live in fear of being punished by the government for being Christians. It is completely absurd to try to penalize a single Christian woman for privately seeking a Christian roommate at church -- an obviously legal and constitutionally protected activity." Haynes said the person who filed the initial complaint saw the ad on the church bulletin board and contacted the local fair housing organization. The ad included the words, "Christian roommate wanted," along with the woman's contact information. Had the ad not included the word "Christian," Haynes said, it would not have been illegal. "If you read it and you were not Christian, would you not feel welcome to rent there?" Haynes asked. Oster said he hopes the case will eventually be dropped and that he's sent a letter to the state asking the authorities to dismiss the case as groundless. "The First Amendment guarantees us Freedom of Religion," he said. "And we have the right to live with someone of the same faith. The Michigan Department of Civil Rights is denying her rights by pursuing this complaint." But Haynes said officials plan on pursuing the matter. "We want to make sure it doesn't happen again," she said.[/quote] [url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/22/civil-rights-complaint-filed-christian-roommate-advertisement/]SOURCE[/url] I'm not quite sure what to say to this.
Lol. Women and rights.
Wait, so they are suing her for a personal opinion? This is almost as bad as squatters rights in england.
[QUOTE=bravehat;25641965]Wait, so they are suing her for a personal opinion? This is almost as bad as squatters rights in england.[/QUOTE] [url=http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1017029-Man-leaves-home-for-a-week-15-Italian-squatters-3-dogs-and-2-cats-move-in.]Italy would like to have a word with you[/url]
This is fucking ridiculous.
[QUOTE=bravehat;25641965]Wait, so they are suing her for a personal opinion? This is almost as bad as squatters rights in england.[/QUOTE] Meh, I don't know. I can see the purpose of the law. It's to protect the ability of minorities and such to find a home. If the majority of the population hated blacks, it would be pretty difficult for them to find a place to live. On the other hand I can understand the counter argument.
But... It's her house? She doesn't have a right to deny certain people access to her house? I mean, I'm no christian but I cant see anything wrong with what she's doing. It wasn't a public announcement, it was at her church.
What the fuck? Man, I yearn for the days when people didn't bitch and get the government involved every time somebody did something that [B]indirectly[/B] hurt their feelings.
But, this isn't a business...
[QUOTE=Bird;25642073]Why want a christian roommate?[/QUOTE] Why not? It's her choice.
The main thing wrong is that it's a published ad that discriminates against a person's religion, which is apparently illegal. The really weird thing is that the ad was posted on a CHURCH bulletin board... and someone went out of their way to complain.
[QUOTE=chewgo;25642185]The main thing wrong is that it's a published ad that discriminates against a person's religion. The really weird thing is that the ad was posted on a CHURCH bulletin board..[/QUOTE] How does it discriminate? She's publishing it at a church. A muslim isn't going to go to a church bulletin board and go HMMMM I WONDER IF I'LL FIND ANY APARTMENTS FOR RENT TODAY
[QUOTE=bord2tears;25642112]But, this isn't a business...[/QUOTE] A landlord falls under the same distinction that a buisness would for this law.
Single woman seeking adult with imaginary friend.
[quote]the Fair Housing Act prevents people from publishing an advertisement stating their preference of religion, race or handicap with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling.[/quote] This sounds extremely cut and dry to me.
Tough issue. She has to accept minorities and non-christians if she is making them pay to stay. But at the same time it is her choice who is allowed in her home.
[QUOTE=that1dude24;25642323]A landlord falls under the same distinction that a buisness would for this law.[/QUOTE] She isn't a landlord.
[QUOTE=BURN DOWN;25642218]How does it discriminate? She's publishing it at a church. A muslim isn't going to go to a church bulletin board and go HMMMM I WONDER IF I'LL FIND ANY APARTMENTS FOR RENT TODAY[/QUOTE] Why did she have to specify "Christian" if she was posting it at a christian church? [QUOTE=BURN DOWN;25642428]She isn't a landlord.[/QUOTE] She's renting out a portion of her home. She's a landlord, or a lessor if it makes you feel better. [QUOTE=Nitrowing;25642423]Tough issue. She has to accept minorities and non-christians if she is making them pay to stay. But at the same time it is her choice who is allowed in her home.[/QUOTE] You're allowed to discriminate so long as you don't put it down in writing or say it out loud, essentially.
[QUOTE=BURN DOWN;25642428]She isn't a landlord.[/QUOTE] Anyone renting out their property to others most certainly IS a landlord.
[QUOTE=that1dude24;25642433]Why did she have to specify "Christian" if she was posting it at a christian church?[/QUOTE] I don't know. It still doesn't matter. [editline]25th October 2010[/editline] [QUOTE=ZekeTwo;25642448]Anyone renting out their property to others most certainly IS a landlord.[/QUOTE] She's looking for someone to live with, not someone to rent her property.
Uh okay, I don't see what the problem is with putting a notice up at a Church, asking for a Christian room-mate. She seems to just be looking for someone of the same faith as her, it's not like she's saying "I HATE MUSLIMS, BURN THE JEWS, FUCK THE ASIANS" or something... So I personally wouldn't call it discriminatory...
[QUOTE=BURN DOWN;25642454]She's looking for someone to live with, not someone to rent her property.[/QUOTE] If she charges them even a penny a month for the basement couch it's renting property.
[QUOTE=BURN DOWN;25642454]I don't know. It still doesn't matter.[/quote] It does matter if you're trying to say she's not discriminating against others, solely based on that she posted it at her church. [QUOTE=BURN DOWN;25642454]She's looking for someone to live with, not someone to rent her property.[/QUOTE] I really can't tell from the way the article was written, but if the fair housing committee was contacted and responded there was likely a monetary agreement involved.
What if a gay person posted an ad seeking a gay roommate?
there's more to this than the article makes it appear to be
[QUOTE=GoldenGnome;25642927]What if a gay person posted an ad seeking a gay roommate?[/QUOTE] That sounds gay.
[QUOTE=bravehat;25641965]Wait, so they are suing her for a personal opinion? This is almost as bad as squatters rights in england.[/QUOTE] Squatters Rights have a purpose. It stops rich people buying up loads of things and leaving them empty, disenfranchising poor people. Admittedly it's often somewhat poorly applied and people who can't really afford it are victimised by the squatters but there are cases where I can see the goodness behind it.
[QUOTE=GoldenGnome;25642927]What if a gay person posted an ad seeking a gay roommate?[/QUOTE] If he's trying to rent it out, probably the same thing. I don't remember whether sexuality is considered in the law though.
Okay, I mock religion and what not regularly, but come on, why the fuck does a woman who OWNS a house need to be sued just for the criteria of room mate she's placed?
So if I put up an ad for a roommate but forbid pets, does that infringe on animal rights?
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