Tag Archives: Housing

Chile: prosecutors investigate sustained threats and harassment against lesbian and her mother by neighbours

Natalí fears for her life and that of her mother. They live together in an apartment in the northern area [of La Florida] and she is certain that her neighbors want to evict them for her being lesbian. She has reported them for harassment and threats in court. For a month she has had a panic button that, she says, she has used on several occasions. “They physically and verbally assaulted us. They tell us that they want the apartment and that we must leave here,” she said.

Her 64-year-old mother was one of the first residents of the La Florida monoblock apartments and Natalí has ​​lived there since she was born 35 years ago. According to her, in 2019 the harassment began. The final straw which resulted in her seeking justice was a neighbour threatening her with a firearm. “I got to my house and a neighbor came out, verbally abused me and told me I had to go. He pulled a gun from his waistband and put it to my head. My mum heard noises and opened the door. I took advantage of his distraction to escape and enter my house,” she recalled.

(Translated)

Natalí teme por su vida y la de su madre. Viven juntas en un departamento de zona norte y asegura que sus vecinos las quieren echar por lesbiana. Los denunció por hostigamiento y amenazas en la Justicia y desde hace un mes tiene un botón antipánico que, asegura, usó en varias oportunidades. “Nos agredieron física y verbalmente. Nos dicen que quieren el departamento y que nos vayamos de acá”, contó.

Su madre, de 64 años, fue una de las primeras adjudicatarias de los departamentos del monoblock de La Florida y Natalí vive ahí desde que nació, hace 35 años. Según contó, en 2019 empezaron los hostigamientos. El límite que la llevó a la Justicia fue la amenaza con un arma de fuego de parte de un vecino. “Llegué a mi casa y un vecino salió, me insultó y me dijo me tenía que ir. Saco un arma de su cintura y me la puso en la cabeza. Mi mamá escuchó ruidos y abrió la puerta. Yo aproveché su distracción para escapar y entrar”, recordó.

(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.elciudadanoweb.com/denuncio-que-sus-vecinos-la-amenazan-y-quieren-echarla-por-lesbiana/ (Source)

Spain: lesbian journalist attacked at home

A few days ago, on December 13 [2020], the journalist Irantzu Varela suffered a lesbophobic attack at the hands of some neighbors  This is how it was explained by Pikara Magazine, the media outlet at which she works: “They were annoyed with Varela for having left some cardboard to recycle next to the door of her apartment. At night, the couple rang her doorbell and entered her house showing their anger and throwing various objects in the journalists house to the ground.

In addition to punching her several times in the face, they called her a “fucking lesbian,” “degenerate,” and “tomboy.” Varela denounced the attack on the Ertzaintza. However, it is not the first time that she has had to do this: as a feminist activist, she has been subjected to harassment and abuse on social media for years. Beyond social media and in the premises shared with the editorial staff of Pikara Magazine, she has also dealt with fascist graffiti repeatedly in the last year.
(Translated)

Hace algunos días, el 13 de diciembre, la periodista Irantzu Varela sufrió una agresión lesbófoba por parte de unos vecinos. Así lo explicaban desde Pikara Magazine, medio de comunicación del que es colaboradora: «Estaban molestos con Varela por haber dejado unos cartones para reciclar junto a la puerta del piso de esta. Por la noche, la pareja llamó a su timbre y entraron en su casa mostrando su enfado y tirando al suelo varios objetos de la casa de la comunicadora».

Además de propinarle varios puñetazos en la cara, le llamaron «lesbiana de mierda», «degenerada» y «marimacho». Varela denunció la agresión a la Ertzaintza. Sin embargo, no es la primera vez que lo hace: como activista feminista, lleva años recibiendo acoso y violencia en redes sociales. Fuera de ellas, y en el local que compartía con la redacción de Pikara Magazine, también ha lidiado con pintadas fascistas, episodios que se han ido repitiendo desde el año pasado.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.lamarea.com/2020/12/21/la-agresion-a-irantzu-varela-es-el-colmo-mujeres-con-presencia-publica-piden-que-la-violencia-que-sufren-se-considere-tortura/ (Source)

Poland: Man sentenced to community service for harassment of lesbian couple

The man who stuck the sticker “Stop Sexual Deviants” on the door of a lesbian couple’s apartment has been sentenced. … The District Court for Poznań – Nowe Miasto i Wilda sentenced the man to eight months of restriction of liberty and 30 hours of community service a month. The perpetrator must also apologize in writing to the women he insulted.
(Translated)

Mężczyzna, który nalepił naklejkę “Stop dewiantom seksualnym” na drzwi mieszkania homoseksualnej pary – ukarany. … Sąd Rejonowy Poznań – Nowe Miasto i Wilda skazał mężczyznę na osiem miesięcy ograniczenia wolności i 30 godzin prac społecznych miesięcznie. Sprawca musi też przeprosić kobiety, które znieważył – i to na piśmie.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.voxfm.pl/poznan/poznaniak-zniewazyl-lesbijki-zostal-skazany-na-240-godzin-prac-spolecznych-aa-VAcw-DzGw-URYv.html (Source)

Update: lesbian couple settle housing discrimination suit

Image courtesy of Sarah Ward

Mary Walsh and Beverly Nance sued Friendship Village for sex discrimination in July 2018, after the faith-based facility rejected their housing application, citing its cohabitation policy that defines marriage as between “one man and one woman, as marriage is understood in the Bible.”

The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Lesbian Rights — which filed the case on the couple’s behalf, along with St. Louis attorney Arlene Zarembka and civil rights law firm Relman Colfax — announced Tuesday evening [8 December 2020] that the lawsuit had been resolved.

“Housing is essential for everyone and can be a huge source of stress as we age,” National Center for Lesbian Rights senior staff attorney Julie Wilensky said in a statement. “No one should have to fear being turned away from a retirement community because they are LGBTQ.”

The women at the center of the landmark legal case, Walsh, 74, and Nance, 70, have been partners for more than four decades and were married in 2009.

Walsh and Nance appealed the decision — and in June, the U.S. Supreme Court jump-started the case, when it ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ employees from sex discrimination. The Supreme Court decision allowed the lawsuit against Friendship Village to be reinstated in District Court, where the two parties were able to reach a confidential settlement.

Continue reading at: https://news.stlpublicradio.org/government-politics-issues/2020-12-09/same-sex-couple-settle-housing-discrimination-lawsuit-against-st-louis-retirement-community (Source)

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Germany: Lesbian family faces housing discrimination

Evelyn Yasemine Arslan

After the birth of the youngest child last November, a larger apartment was needed, the couple told queer.de. With the current housing shortage in Germany it was certainly not an easy task to find one, but nevertheless not impossible. Yasemine and Evelyn Arslan looked at first as if they had found a suitable apartment in Mainaschaff for their small family.

When she finally wanted to sign the lease at the end of January, however, there was a problem. When asked about Evelyn’s husband, the two came out and told the landlord that they were married. The latter replied that he could not reconcile this with his religious views and the rental opportunity was gone.

What Yasemine and Evelyn Arslan experienced is not an isolated case. Again and again, queer tenants with experience of discrimination turn to the federal anti-discrimination agency. In principle, the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) prohibits sexuality based housing discrimination, but there are restrictions, such as when the landlord has fewer than 50 apartments. Those affected can theoretically file a claim for damages and compensation in court, but proving the case is often difficult. A case of discrimination against a homosexual tenant has not yet been brought to justice in Germany.
(Translated)
Nach der Geburt des jüngsten Kindes im vergangenen November musste eine größere Wohnung her, berichtete das Paar gegenüber queer.de. Bei der aktuellen Wohnungsknappheit in Deutschland sicherlich keine leichte Aufgabe, aber dennoch nicht unmöglich. Auch bei Yasemine und Evelyn Arslan sah es erst einmal so aus, als hätten sie eine passende Wohnung in Mainaschaff für ihre kleine Familie gefunden.

Als sie Ende Januar dann endlich den Mietvertrag unterschreiben wollte, kommt es jedoch zum Eklat. Auf die Nachfrage nach Evelyns Ehemann outeten sich die beiden und erklärten dem Vermieter, sie seien miteinander verheiratet. Dieser entgegnete, das könne er nicht mit seinen religiösen Ansichten vereinbaren. Die Vermietung war geplatzt.

Was Yasemine und Evelyn Arslan erleben musste, ist kein Einzelfall. Immer wieder wenden sich queere Mieter mit Diskriminierungserfahrungen an die Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes. Grundsätzlich verbietet das Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz (AGG) Diskriminierung beim Zugang zu Wohnraum wegen der sexuellen Identität, allerdings gibt es Einschränkungen, etwa wenn der Vermieter unter 50 Wohnungen besitzt. Betroffene können theoretisch vor Gericht auf Schadensersatz und Entschädigung klagen, oft ist der Nachweis jedoch schwierig. Ein Diskriminierungsfall eines homosexuellen Mieters landete in Deutschland bislang nicht vor Gericht.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.queer.de/detail.php?article_id=35605 (Source)

Italy: Lesbian couple’s car vandalised at home

civitavecchia lesbophobia

Pantano area, Civitavecchia (in the province of Rome). When they woke, Monica and Romina discovered that their car had been vandalised in the night, with two homophobic phrases. Monica and Romina are a lesbian couple, who were born and raised in Civitavecchia, and it is in their city that they decided to live together. They have been in a relationship for over 10 years, and together with their 3 children, they are a beautiful rainbow family. But tonight someone decided to have fun writing two highly offensive phrases about their car.

“Lecca vongole” [clam lickers] is clearly written. The second sentence is written in Romanian, reports Fabrizio Marrazzo, spokesman for the Gay Centre. These two slang terms are commonly used to refer [pejoratively] to lesbian women.
(Translated)

Zona Pantano, Civitavecchia (in provincia di Roma). Monica e Romina, al loro risveglio, hanno scoperto che nella notte la loro auto è stata vandalizzata, con due scritte omofobe. Monica e Romina sono una coppia lesbica, che sono nate e cresciute a Civitavecchia. Ed è proprio nella loro città che hanno deciso di vivere assieme. Portano avanti una relazione da oltre 10 anni, e assieme ai loro 3 figli, sono una bellissima famiglia arcobaleno. Ma stanotte qualcuno ha ben pensato di divertirsi, scrivendo due frasi altamente offensive sulla loro auto.

“Lecca vongole” si legge chiaramente. La seconda frase, invece, dovrebbe essere scritta in lingua romena, riporta Fabrizio Marrazzo, portavoce di Gay Center. In gergo, questi due termini vengono utilizzati volgarmente per riferirsi a una donna lesbica.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.gay.it/attualita/news/omofobia-coppia-lesbica-civitavecchia (Source)

Chile: graffiti identifies lesbian family home

Maipu Lesbophobia

Aqui viven lesbianas – lesbians live here

The Homosexual Integration and Liberation Movement (Movilh) denounced that on Sunday a lesboparental couple was the victim of an attack in the commune of Maipú, after the gate of their house was newly graffitied with the phrase “here live lesbians”.

In this regard, the spokeswoman for Movilh, Daniela Andrade, explained that the victims “have lived at the same address for two years without  any discrimination problems with neighbours.”

“It is precisely this situation that has the family very frightened. They have no idea who could be responsible for this attack which leaves them very vulnerable and frightened because it is clear that there are people who have been watching.
(Translated)

El Movimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh) denunció que el día domingo una pareja lesboparental fue víctima de un ataque en la comuna de Maipú, luego de que el portón de su casa amaneciera rayado con la frase “aquí viven lesbianas”.

Al respecto, la vocera del Movilh, Daniela Andrade, detalló que las afectadas “viven hace dos años en el mismo domicilio, pero jamás han tenido un problema de discriminación con vecinos”.

“Justamente esta situación es la que tiene a la familia muy atemorizada. No tienen la menor idea de quiénes podrían ser los responsables de este ataque que las deja en gran vulnerabilidad y con mucho miedo, pues es claro que hay personas que las han estado observando.
(Original)
Continue reading at: https://www.eldinamo.cl/nacional/2019/10/07/movilh-maipu-ataque-familia-lesboparental/ (Source)

Turin, Italy: Lesbians targeted for months with swastikas inside their apartment building

L2L Italy

The swastika with a cross, the inscription “lesbians” and the initials of the two women.
A real persecution against Daniela and Cristina. Insults and threats engraved on the landing of the condominium where they live, in the Lingotto area in Turin.

After months of desperation, the couple decided to install cameras in front of the apartment to feel safer but the situation has not improved.
At the end of April, the couple turned to the Arcigay Torino circle “Ottavio Mai” and to the core of the Carabinieri of Torino Borgata. Together with the Councillor for the Rights of the City of Turin Marco Giusta, they contacted the administrator to request the removal of the writings and the installation of a sign to make the graffiti authors stop, threatening sanctions. Even this attempt, despite the support of the administrator and the condominiums, has not been useful.
(Translated)

La svastica con una croce, la scritta “lesbiche” e le iniziali delle due donne.
Una vera persecuzione nei confronti di Daniela e Cristina. Insulti e minacce incise sul proprio pianerottolo di casa del condominio dove abitano, in zona Lingotto a Torino.

Dopo mesi di disperazione la coppia ha deciso di installare delle telecamere davanti all’appartamento per sentirsi più al sicuro ma la situazione non è migliorata.
A fine aprile la coppia si è rivolta al circolo Arcigay Torino “Ottavio Mai” e al nucleo dei carabinieri di Torino Borgata. Insieme con l’assessore ai Diritti della Città di Torino Marco Giusta ha contattato l’amministratore per chiedere la cancellazione delle scritte e l’installazione di un cartello per far desistere gli autori a continuare, minacciando sanzioni. Anche questo tentativo, nonostante il sostegno dell’amministratore e dei condomini, non è servito.
(Original)

Continue reading at: http://www.gaypost.it/torino-perseguitate-nel-proprio-palazzo-coppia-lesbica-e-costretta-alla-telesorveglianza (Source)

Update: Lesbian retirement community discrimination lawsuit dismissed

mary walsh bev nance

A federal lawsuit filed by a married lesbian couple alleging they were discriminated against by a Sunset Hills retirement community that declined to let them move in together has been dismissed, according to a decision filed on Wednesday.

The Fair Housing Act does not protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the decision by U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton concludes.

Continue reading at: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/judge-dismisses-lesbian-couple-s-lawsuit-alleging-discrimination-by-sunset/article_e3afa21a-b3a9-5f71-a4b4-2b504598a15d.html (Source)

Original Article: U.S: Lesbian couple denied housing in Sunset Hills senior living community, lawsuit claims

Update: December 2020 – Update: lesbian couple settle housing discrimination suit/

U.S: Lesbian couple denied housing in Sunset Hills senior living community, lawsuit claims

nursingh.jpg

A St. Louis County senior community has denied housing to a married lesbian couple who have been together for nearly four decades because of the couple’s sexual orientation, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.

Mary Walsh, 72, and Bev Nance, 68, both of Shrewsbury, say the Friendship Village senior living community, which has locations in Sunset Hills and Chesterfield, denied occupancy to them to live at the Sunset Hills community in 2016 because their relationship violated its cohabitation policy that defines marriage as “the union of one man and one woman, as marriage is understood in the Bible,” according to the lawsuit.

Continue reading at: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/
crime-and-courts/lesbian-couple-denied-housing-in-sunset-hills-senior-living-community/
(source)

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