My homophobic landlord

[LilBit]

I put a rainbow flag in my living room window last night. When I got home this afternoon, I found a note from my apartment manager asking me to remove it, as it constitutes an "alteration," which is prohibited under my lease. I checked my lease, and the wording is extremely vague.

His note said that all "signs, posters, and light fixtures" are prohibited in both living room and bedroom windows. My flag doesn't fall under any of those categories. There are several apartments in my building (and others) that have campaign posters displayed in their windows.

The note said that the reason for this rule is to preserve uniformity. Virtually every apartment has something in the window. One woman in my building had dozens of knickknacks in her windows. My neighbor has a birdfeeder on the lawn. I've had a vase of dried flowers in my window for months, and management hasn't said a thing.

I know why I was asked to remove the flag. It's nice to know where I stand.

I complied, BTW. And I won't be making a stink because I really don't want to get any higher on the asshole's shit list.

 

[boxerdudeuk]

"signs, posters, and light fixtures" doesn't sound too vague too me. unless you were looking for "rainbow flags" to be in that list - i think you want it to be vague.

that's just me though.

 

[Scrub]

Without knowing the wording in the lease it is hard to comment on your specific issue.

While it is sad I think you did the right thing to not start a fight over it.

 

[Garawr]

Rainbow curtains - GO!

 

[LilBit]

"signs, posters, and light fixtures" doesn't sound too vague too me. unless you were looking for "rainbow flags" to be in that list - i think you want it to be vague.

that's just me though.

No, that was the wording of his note. The wording of the lease is "alterations to the property." And like I said, lots of people have decorations in their windows. As far as I know, I'm the only one who's been asked to remove anything.

 

[GL]

i'm all for the rainbow curtains myself.

seriously though i'm sorry you got a rude awakening about your landlord. i would think campaign posters are just as susceptible to the same rule as your rainbow flag. if that happened to me i would begin looking for somewhere else to live once my lease expired.

 

[construct]

I doubt that the knicknacks or the vase are alterations. The campaign posters are. The flag is arguably analogous to the campaign posters; so the unequal enforcement of the lease terms may well be discriminatory on the basis of sexual orientation.

I doubt that Carrboro, NC, has any protection on the basis of sexual orientation, but it may be worth looking into.

Edit to add: Since the signs are not mentioned in the lease, it's arguable that neither they nor the flag are actual alterations. They certainly are not what I would understand to be alterations.

 

[LilBit]

I knew my maintenance guy was a raging bigot before I even moved in here. (I've had several friends who have lived in this complex, and for the most part, they gave favorable reviews.) I also got majorly douchetastic vibes from the apartment manager the first time I met him. I'm not surprised, just disappointed.

Given that I'll only be living in this town for another year and a half or so, I'll be renewing my lease for another year, but I won't be givign the palce nearly as enthusastic a review as others have.

 

[LilBit]

I doubt that Carrboro, NC, has any protection on the basis of sexual orientation, but it may be worth looking into.

This is actually one of the most progressive towns in the South. I know that town employees get domestic partner benefits. I don't know about housing discrimination. Given that I wasn't fined or evicted or anything, though, I doubt it would be worth it to pursue the matter.

 

[LilBit]

Ahhhhh apartment/association living.

Uniformity of the building.

My bloody ass.

If your ass is bloody, you're not using enough lube.

 

[construct]

This is actually one of the most progressive towns in the South. I know that town employees get domestic partner benefits. I don't know about housing discrimination. Given that I wasn't fined or evicted or anything, though, I doubt it would be worth it to pursue the matter.

Good to know. What is it? A suburb of Raleigh or Charlotte or something? If town employees get domestic partner benefits, I'll bet the city council has passed an ordinance protecting sexual orientation in housing. Might be worth checking just to satisfy curiosity if nothing else.

Edit to add: I looked up a map, and Carrboro is a suburb of Chapel Hill. That explains it.

 

[LilBit]

Yeah, Carrboro is part of Jesse Helms' proposed zoo.

And thanks for quoting that post, Mikami. Nice to be reminded of all of my typos. *D'OH!*

 

[metta]

If your lease is up soon, you may want to look into moving somewhere else. Rents have been dropping in LA quite a bit with the economy so it would not surprise me if they have also been dropping in other places, including the area where you live.

 

[gmoney]

For $10, you can't go wrong here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rainbow-Stripe-...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

 

[PabloZed]

Actually LilBit, let me alleviate your fear of possible discrimination. There is no automatic right to display a flag in an apartment. In order for there to be a right it would have to be in the rules/regulations/by-laws. This question has come up all over the country, but usually it concerns the US flag. Attorneys for property owners usually counsel their clients to basically ban everything to avoid having to fight over every little thing. It would be different if your bldg allowed only some flags.

And some people want to claim there is a First Amendment issue in these cases, but there is no state action involved.

 

[vulgar_newcomer]

I agree with how you handled it.
Pick your fights if you have a chance to it.
Pros and cons and what you can win or lose
The moving thing isn't easy and no matter if rents are lower, moving is a hassle and always a expense.
Besides the results may not be better than where you are, they may in fact be worse on many factors which could dwarf a rainbow flag crusade to move.

 

[LilBit]

Actually LilBit, let me alleviate your fear of possible discrimination. There is no automatic right to display a flag in an apartment. In order for there to be a right it would have to be in the rules/regulations/by-laws. This question has come up all over the country, but usually it concerns the US flag. Attorneys for property owners usually counsel their clients to basically ban everything to avoid having to fight over every little thing. It would be different if your bldg allowed only some flags.

And some people want to claim there is a First Amendment issue in these cases, but there is no state action involved.

I'm not concerned about First Amendment rights. It's a privately-owned complex, and the landlord has the right to set rules. My concern is that he's enforcing the rules inconsistently, and it's making his prejudices all too painfully clear. Like I said, I wasn't evicted or fined or otherwise punished, so I know I can't take legal action. I just wish that I could confront him about his bigotry without any negative repercussions.

I didn't do it for that reason.

I know. I was being silly. I forgot to put a smiley to indicate that. Sorry.

 

[seven_sins]

Do as the bastard says. Being a busy grad student, you shouldn't be wasting your time with some turd blossom who doesn't like rainbow flags. My advice is to move ahead and concentrate on getting your degree.

 

[The_Reaper]

Well, here in Canada, campaign signs are a right of the owner to put up. Usually, they can be displayed in the windows, provided they are put on outside railing or such.

No clue about whether or not a rainbow flag would be a problem. As long as it was inside your unit, I suppose it's your right to put it up...But again, I really don't know.

 

[Kulindahr]

id go out and buy material in every colour and make raindbow curtains

You can get rainbow flags in just about every size imaginable, so all you need to do is measure your windows and go looking. Hang them as curtains, then take pics so your rainbow curtains are visible with other people's curtains, for the record.

This is actually one of the most progressive towns in the South. I know that town employees get domestic partner benefits. I don't know about housing discrimination. Given that I wasn't fined or evicted or anything, though, I doubt it would be worth it to pursue the matter.

Some cities have ways you can file a statement with whatever agency would deal with this, where future potential renters can look when they're hunting for housing. If there's such a thing available, document this and give it to them. It stays confidential till you move, then it's open for anyone to see.

That's why I'd do the rainbow curtains and document it. Some cities also have internet sites where you can post reviews -- sounds like you've referred to that.

Tell your landlord if he disapproves of the rainbow as a symbol to take it up with God.

Hey!

Get one of those big arched rainbow hanging decorations that has a cutesie Noah's Ark under it. Hang it there, and after a couple of days sort of 'break' the Ark part.....


Honestly, I like the curtains idea best.