Lambda Legal Declares Victory in Housing Discrimination Case on Behalf of Two Gay Men in Florida

(Boca Raton, September 30, 2003)—Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund announced today that a favorable settlement agreement has been reach in an anti-gay housing discrimination case in Boca Raton, Florida.

The agreement requires Royal Colonial Apartments to post a nondiscrimination statement in their office and on housing application forms. The statement makes it clear that Royal Colonial will not discriminate against gay and lesbian individuals or couples.

In addition to the nondiscrimination policy, the housing complex will pay $75,000 in damages and legal fees.

“Housing discrimination against gay people is a widespread problem that often goes unaddressed. This case shows that anti-gay discrimination won't be tolerated,” said Greg Nevins, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Atlanta office. “In places where gay people have protection from discrimination, like Palm Beach County, it is important to enforce those laws.”

Before showing Fred Sternbach several units in Royal Colonial Apartments, the property manager, Peggy Watson, asked him to complete and return a file card that asked, among other questions, how many people would live in the apartment and what their relationship to Sternbach was. Sternbach wrote that he would live with his partner. He was shown a number of available units and expressed interest in one of them. An hour after Sternbach left Royal Colonial Apartments, Watson called him to ask what “partner” meant and whether it was a wife or fiancé. Once Sternbach explained that partner did not mean wife or fiancé, she said that Royal Colonial Apartments would not be able to accommodate him because it only rents to couples who are married. Although Sternbach and his partner, Stephen Miller, have been together 16 years, there is no state, including Florida, where state officials will grant them a marriage license.

A Palm Beach County law prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and marital status. In Florida, four other counties (Broward, Leon, Miami-Dade and Okaloosa) and eight cities (Gainesville, Key West, Miami Beach, Orlando, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa and West Palm Beach) have similar ordinances prohibiting anti-gay discrimination in housing. Nationwide, more than 145 cities or counties have such laws.

Greg Nevins, Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal's Atlanta office is handling the case. He is joined by co-counsel Agnes Hollingshead of Agnes Hollingshead P.A. who was instrumental in litigating the case and securing the settlement.

Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgendered people, and people with HIV or AIDS through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Contact: Lisa Hardaway 212-809-8585 ext: 266; pager: 888-987-1971