The online
apartment-sharing Web site Roommates.com is being accused of
discrimination by the San Fernando Valley and San Diego fair
housing councils in California, Reuters reports.
The councils
allege the site violated the federal Fair Housing Act by
inquiring whether users would prefer a gay or straight
roommate, without providing other options. A U.S.
district court will decide whether the site did
anything wrong.
"By categorizing,
channeling, and limiting the distribution of users'
profiles, Roommate.com provides an additional layer of
information that it is 'responsible' at least 'in
part' for creating or developing," wrote Judge Alex
Kozinksi, a federal appeals court judge who referred the
case to the district court. "Whether these actions
ultimately violate the FHA is a question the district
court must decide in the first instance." (The
Advocate)