Something I came across today from Michigan. A lady put a notice up on her CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD asking for a "Christian" roommate, and has been charged for discrimination. http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/michigan/No-Christian-roommate-for-churchgoer
So it's against the law now to look for a Christian in a church??? This is so wrong on so many levels!!! And a fellow churchgoer turned her in!!!!!
So it's ok to discriminate as long as you don't SAY you're discriminating?! HUH!!!???? Contact Michigan Department of Civil Rights Contact MDCR Lansing Executive Office Capitol Tower Building 110 W. Michigan Ave., Ste. 800 Lansing, MI 48933 Phone: (517) 335-3165 Fax: (517) 241-0546 TTY: (517) 241-1965 Email: MDCR-INFO@michigan.gov
amazing. Plus the fact that they want this woman to go to a class to learn about the fair housing act without realizing that if she is advertising for a roomate to live with her, she can be as discriminating as she wants. The fair housing act (unfortunately necessary) applies only to seperate dwellings rented out as a business or rooming houses. Individuals can rent a bedroom to share the cost to anyone, or exclude anyone. duh. otherwise it would be illegal to advertise for a female roomate. double duh. Plus the very idea that you CAN discriminate in PRACTICE, but just not SAY that you are...is offensive.
"Haynes said the Fair Housing Center began investigating after someone in the congregation, who was offended, filed a complaint." Somebody was offended! What a crybaby! There are soooo many more important things in this world to be upset about.
AMEN! I'd be interested to know what sort of church it was. I can't wrap my mind around a member of a Christian church being offended by a Christian who only wants to share her home with another Christian. Personally, I hope this goes to court. I'd love to see the housing office try to explain why they are clearly violating their own law by enforcing them on someone who is an obvious exemption.
That is so stupid! I could see if she owned an apartment complex, but of course she would want someone with a similar lifestyle to actually be her roommate. It would also be discrimination to ask for a female roommate I guess, but most single young women would want to live another young woman.
IDK. I think the housing authority may be off here. Roommates are people who agree to share space and expenses for rent and utilities. She's not looking to be someone's landlord. My MIL rents out rooms in her home - not as a B&B, like we have. These folks live there, and they probably have some arrangements with her for meals. I can tell you, no way does she consider them "roommates." They are tenants. They pay, they stay. They are not equals in the situation. She makes the decisions. They can decide if they like it and stay or not like it and leave. THAT'S a landlord.
weird. i wouldn't think that those types of housing laws would apply to a 'roommate' situation... i'd have a problem with it if this was a true landlord/tenant situation - same as i would if the landlord refused to rent an apartment/house to someone based on age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, etc.... but if this is a 'roommate' thing...it's kind of a different situation. i wonder - did she advertise a "room for rent" ...or for someone to "share the house" ... could make a difference in terms of legality... strange that someone in her own church was upset by it though...
I just have a couple of things to say about that. Some people are so bored and need to get a real life. It takes all kinds to make this world go around
Reading through the housing laws there, they DON'T apply to a roommate situation. Which is why I hope this goes to court. The housing office doesn't have a leg to stand on!
yeah - which makes me wonder exactly how the advertisement was worded...'someone to share my house' versus 'room for rent' ...that sort of thing. it might make a diff in how the law applies. know what i mean? there is a difference between those...
I heard about this. What a bunch of poppycock!!! I hope it goes to court too. I hope the person who turned her in gets what they deserve as well. HOW RIDICULOUS!!!!
Hey, just read an update on this! It's been dismissed, but the judge was rather vague in that. Also, they can still file Federal charges against her. http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=138121 It also said in one of the articles I looked up is that so many of the conservative law groups have an almost, "Go ahead.... Make my day!" attitude about the possibility of Federal charges.
