Michigan alleges notice posted on church billboard breaks rules http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=218349 Big Brother at it again.
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Woman seeks 'Christian roommate,' state cites her for discrimination
- Thread starter Jedi Knight
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Of course not...it's only discrimination when it is Christians doing it. Or if a white guy did it...
So the Bible discriminates when it says "don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers"?
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
Housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability is illegal by federal law. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/housing_discrimination
I believe that there is an exception for sex if it's a roommate you're looking for.
I really think it is strech to apply this when it comes to looking for a room mate. Denying someone the right to rent an apartment or a home is one thing. But, when it comes to someone who will sharing a bathroom, kitchen, etc., there has to be some leway given. Then again, with liberals in charge of our government common sense is hard to be found.
Actually there is an exception for an owner renting to share their living quarters with another.
This complaint is not going to go anywhere.
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
Targus, could you point me to a source of that information? I've never heard of that.
Steven2006
New Member
Two thoughts.
She should have worded it as "Christian woman seeks roommate" and she would accomplished the same thing without crossing the line.
Second thought, I wonder who from her own church turned her in? Maybe time to look for a more bible preaching church to attend.
She should have worded it as "Christian woman seeks roommate" and she would accomplished the same thing without crossing the line.
Second thought, I wonder who from her own church turned her in? Maybe time to look for a more bible preaching church to attend.
You are probably unaware because it is an exception under Michigan law.
There are a few specific exceptions to the Fair Housing Act. The Act does not apply to:
•A religious organization may give preference to persons of the same religion (unless restricted on account of race, color or national origin) in non-commercial transactions;
•A private club may provide lodgings for members in non-commercial transactions;
•An owner who owns four units or less and lives in one unit;
•A private individual owner who does not own more than three single family houses, if the owner does not use the services of a broker, and if the owner does not use discriminatory advertising, and if the owner has not participated in three or more rental or sales transactions in a one year period;
•Housing for elders may exclude families with children. For example, housing may be designated for people ages 62 years or older only. Also housing that serves people age 55 and older, where 80% of the housing is occupied by at least one person who is 55 or older, is exempt
I remember this exception from my former real estate agent days.
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
Okay. Thanks for providing that. I agree, this complaint will go nowhere.
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
I wonder if you could work around the housing discrimination laws by using things other than race that correlate with race. For example, if you wanted to exclude non-Asian minorities, you could set a minimum IQ to rent. Because non-Asian minorities score lower on IQ tests, you could use that as a proxy to exclude them. I wouldn't want to do that because I'm opposed to racial discrimination and even if you did, it would still be disparate impact discrimination.
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
No. It's allowed by the Commerce Clause.
mcdirector
Active Member
In my poor feeble mind, there is some (ok, huge) difference in finding a roommate (or renting a room in the same house) to renting an apartment or a house or a condo.
What about the fact that this ad was placed on a church bulletin board? Does that make any difference? You can see where if anti-discrimination laws applied, then someone could be forced to violate their own tenets, besides that it is expected to be read by attenders of that church. But on the other hand, if that is a method of getting around such laws, someone with intent to discriminate by race or nationality could post ads at churches which will accept them and overtly state such intention (unless the church forbids that). And finally, posting ads for anything-- but in particular a job or housing-- in a church (especially if only a church) might be seen as "intent to make such discrimination;" a clause most anti-discrimination laws usually contain.
I find it interesting that it is unlawful to discriminate against anything or anyone, and yet there is a LOT of discrimination against God, the Bible, and Christians.
If I were to advertise for a roommate, I would prefer only a Christian and would advertise that way. I would be willing to bet that if someone advertised for a roommate and said, "Must be gay and NOT a Christian", there would be nothing said or done about that.
If I were to advertise for a roommate, I would prefer only a Christian and would advertise that way. I would be willing to bet that if someone advertised for a roommate and said, "Must be gay and NOT a Christian", there would be nothing said or done about that.
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
You can discriminate based on sexual orientation, but not religion.
The Commerce clause is designed for inter-state commerce. The Supreme Court has went way out of bounds with that.
Therefore, executive depts will try to push the envelope just as far as they can to further their liberal causes.
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