Will Connecticut Landlords Pay Attention?

Face it we face discrimination everywhere including in housing even through it is banned by law. But they are now getting stung by an angry bee.

Most transgender renters see discrimination
Boston Globe
By Kay Lazar
March 28, 2017

One prospective renter was offered a steep discount on an apartment security deposit, from $2,000 to $500. But there was no reduction for a second applicant.

The difference between the renters? The one who got inferior treatment was transgender. The other was not.

Transgender people frequently encounter disparate treatment while apartment hunting in Greater Boston — even though Massachusetts law prohibits such discrimination, according to a study from Suffolk University Law School that outside analysts said is among the largest projects documenting such bias.

The Suffolk team found evidence of discrimination in more than 60 percent of the apartment shopping encounters studied.

The discrimination is wide spread,

Transgender renters and those who are gender nonconforming — whose behavior or appearance does not match their gender of birth — were 21 percent less likely to be offered a financial incentive, compared with those who are not transgender, according to the study.

Similarly, the transgender and gender nonconforming renters were 27 percent less likely to be shown additional areas of an apartment complex, compared with the other study participants. And they were 9 percent more likely to be quoted a higher rental price.

How did the sting work?

Each pair of prospective renters would respond to a randomly selected ad for an apartment. One would meet with the rental agent, then the other. Transgender participants were trained to let the agent know, in as natural a manner as possible, about their gender orientation.

For example, they would ask whether a credit or background check would be conducted. If so, they were trained to say that a credit check would reveal a different legal name because the person is transgender and uses a different name.
[…]
Anzalota [Director of the Boston’s Office of Fair Housing and Equity] said transgender people who call her office about discrimination have been reluctant to file a formal complaint, fearing retaliation and further discrimination. She said her office is working to encourage more trust from the community, and to educate people in the real estate market about discrimination laws

Does that happen here in Connecticut most likely. We know that there is discrimination against us here in Connecticut but we need people to come forward, but it is hard especially for someone who is marginalized in fear of being blackballed by other landlords.

I know that there is a non-profit that works with those who have been discriminated against in housing and they are all primed to do a sting on landlords who discriminate against trans people.