WV lesbian Couple Denied Apartment

[ccharles000]

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Race, sex, age, disability -- it's common knowledge that if you discriminate based on those things, you could face a tough legal battle no matter where you live in the United States.

But what if you're gay?

That still depends on where you live. It's a lesson learned the hard way by one woman who's speaking out after what she calls a hurtful decision.

"I think it's discrimination," Rayetta Darby said.

Darby is gay. She and her partner, Erika Johnson, have been together for two years. They were looking forward to sharing an apartment together when they hit an unexpected roadblock with their potential landlord.

"I said, 'Is it the gay thing?' and I got a response that, 'Yeah, I guess I have a problem with that,' " Darby said.

http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/84994592.html

[Dappleganger]

1. It's like this in Virginia too...

and landlords regularly deny people based upon their race, marital status, whether they have children or not, etc. One landlord we had later told us after we had signed the lease to a rental house that he wouldn't have rented to us if we'd just been living together 'in sin.' Dh and I just stared at him dumbfounded, we actually broke that lease early because the LL turned out to be such a jerk. We also heard he never rented to anyone except whites from the neighbors.

Some people really suck. :(

[Warpy]

2. How utterly silly.

Unfortunately, fundies do own apartment buildings. The best strategy is to realize your sleeping arrangements are absolutely no concern of any prospective landlord and mention that you will have one roommate to defray costs. Most landlords are OK with that since it guarantees they'll get paid.

It sucks that the closet has to extend to simple things like renting a place to live, but that's the way a large part of this country still is and there are few legal protections. I was once denied an apartment simply because I was single and planning to live alone. The fundy landlord thought single women who lived alone were all whores.

You can't do anything about stupid except go with the flow and fool the fools.

[annabanana]

3. Sadly.. When it comes to those things, there is NO legal battle.

It isn't against the law, in Virginia and other states, to discriminate against someone on sexual issues. You can be fired and denied housing, etc.

[Winterblues]

7. It used to be illegal in Virginia just a few weeks ago in fact.

The new Governor just used an executive order to make it so it is not illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation..Now Gays and Lesbians can be legally denied what other Americans can not..

[Lil Missy]

4. I'd set a bag of poop on fire on their porch and ring the doorbell.

[treestar]

5. How do they tell the difference between a lesbian couple and mere

roommates?

Idiots.

[virgogal]

8. That's what I'd like to know. My son,because of financial reasons.

shares an apartment with another guy.

Makes good economic sense.

[KamaAina]

6. My favorite WV lesbian just rented an apartment

at the other end of the state.

She is NOT going to be a happy camper when she hears about this...