Not accepting a homosexual as a roommate. Discrimination/Homophobic?

tunedout · 06-03-2013 06:34PM #1

I got in trouble on another forum about this but I think the opinion may have been a bit biased there. Basically, there was a story of a lad who got turned down from moving into an apartment because he text them and told them he was a homosexual.

Now everyone on the website was saying it was discrimination and homophobic etc.

I gave my opinion that I wouldn't be comfortable living with a homosexual , and not allowing a homosexual live with you was no more discrimination than a group of girls looking for a girl only to move in. Or a bunch of young people, looking for a young person to move in.

A bunch of straight people looking for a straight person to move in, I see no difference.

So maybe there would be a less biased opinion here, do you think it is discrimination and homophobic to not leave someone who is homosexual move in with you?

RacoonQueen · 06-03-2013 06:36PM

It's not discrimination. If you wouldn't be comfortable living with them why should you let them move in?

06-03-2013 06:36PM

I think you should be entitled to choose anyone you like to move in. It's your home, after all. I don't think 'discrimination' really applies when it comes to housemates. I'm sure many/most will disagree.

Pushtrak · 06-03-2013 06:36PM

I wouldn't give a crap one way or the other, but I presume if a person cared so much about the person they are living with not being homosexual, then the feelings would be mutual. As in, the homosexual would no more want to live with them than vice versa.

humbert · 06-03-2013 06:36PM

I could understand not wanting to live with a camp person but just on the basis of which gender they are attracted to seems a bit off.

Stheno · 06-03-2013 06:37PM

Yep it's discrimination

And what's with the leave instead of allow/accept?

My name is URL · 06-03-2013 06:37PM

It might not be homophobic but it's clearly discrimination. Even if there's no bad intent.

Where To · 06-03-2013 06:37PM

tunedout wrote: »

do you think it is discrimination and homophobic to not leave someone who is homosexual move in with you?

YES

tunedout · 06-03-2013 06:38PM

Stheno wrote: »

Yep it's discrimination

And what's with the leave instead of allow/accept?

Fixed. Thanks.

stimpson · 06-03-2013 06:39PM

tunedout wrote: »

So maybe there would be a less biased opinion here, do you think it is discrimination and homophobic to not leave someone who is homosexual move in with you?

Surely that's the definition of homophobia.

Do you think it's not racist if you don't want to share with coloured people?

kiffer · 06-03-2013 06:40PM

Gets popcorn...

Also... yes, the housemates are free to decide who they want to let move in...
Yes, if they liked him untill he said he was gay they are being homophobic...

No gays! = homophobic.
No blacks/Asians/whites/cherokee/whatever = racist.
No men/women = sexist (some obvious exceptions... like twin rooms)

Simple and straightforward.

Why would you be uncomfortable with a gay person in the house?

tunedout · 06-03-2013 06:40PM

stimpson wrote: »

Do you think it's not racist if you don't want to share with coloured people?

Are a bunch of lads who are looking for a 3rd/4th lad to move in with them sexist?

brummytom · 06-03-2013 06:40PM

When I moved to uni, I was put in a room with two Egyptian, very very devout, Muslims. They didn't drink, didn't smoke, didn't eat bacon (which was the last straw).

I moved rooms, not because they were Muslim/Egyptian per se, but because we had absolutely nothing in common and I didn't want to spend a year sharing with people I'd struggle to say more than a few words to.

Basically, no, I don't think it's a problem. People constantly look to find offence in something. If you don't feel comfortable living with someone, why should you?

Jimoslimos · 06-03-2013 06:42PM

Choosing a room/house mate is a discriminatory process anyway. I've seen it applied the other way in Sydney - ads looking for gay/lesbian housemates. People want to live with others they feel comfortable with, doesn't bother me either way so long as its not in a professional capacity (workplace, customers, etc)

Micky Dolenz · 06-03-2013 06:43PM

Sounds like you have some repressed issue you need to address OP.

Want to chat over drinks?

awec · 06-03-2013 06:43PM

Of course it's not homophobic or discriminatory. You are free to decide who you want to live with ffs.

The King of Moo · 06-03-2013 06:43PM

It is discrimination in a literal sense, in that you're choosing not to accept them based on a particular criterion.

But it's not legal discrimination, in that you're entitled to choose whomever you want to be a housemate.

I personally don't see why anyone would be uncomfortable living with someone of a different sexuality though.

Seachmall · 06-03-2013 06:45PM

I like the comparison with girls not wanting a guy to move in.

That's generally accepted as being a "safe" decision but it's still discrimination (and a bit of an absurd generalisation).

At the end of the day they are allowed to choose to live with someone they feel comfortable around.

ballsymchugh · 06-03-2013 06:45PM

there was an ad in daft a few years ago when i was looking for a place in dublin where some fella was renting a room in rathgar. at the end of the ad, he asked for gay people only. the room was still advertised for about 6 months, so his discrimination towards straight people may have cost him a whack of money.
discrimination goes both ways.

IM0 · 06-03-2013 06:45PM

stimpson wrote: »

Surely that's the definition of homophobia.

Do you think it's not racist if you don't want to share with coloured people?

its racist to call non causasian [aka 'white'] people coloured. full stop

the world you are looking for is black

Penn · 06-03-2013 06:45PM

I think it is discrimination and homophobic. You're not letting that person move in based solely on their sexual preference rather than their own merits (going by your OP anyway).

But at the same time, if you feel like you're not going to get along with them based on anything (in this case, their sexuality), then it's best for all parties concerned that you don't let them move in.

krudler · 06-03-2013 06:46PM

I don't really see why someone's sexual preferences would make them any harder to live with but unless they're throwing gay orgies and walking around in assless leather chapps, which I hear is what gheys are prone to do,then I guess its ok.

IM0 · 06-03-2013 06:47PM

Seachmall wrote: »

I like the comparison with girls not wanting a guy to move in.

That's generally accepted as being a "safe" decision but it's still discrimination (and a bit of an absurd generalisation).

At the end of the day they are allowed to choose to live with someone they feel comfortable around.

safe in the sense of?

awec · 06-03-2013 06:47PM

ballsymchugh wrote: »

there was an ad in daft a few years ago when i was looking for a place in dublin where some fella was renting a room in rathgar. at the end of the ad, he asked for gay people only. the room was still advertised for about 6 months, so his discrimination towards straight people may have cost him a whack of money.
discrimination goes both ways.

I've seen a few of those ads.

Presumably the people in question just feel more comfortable living with gay people.

Fair enough. I'm not offended by that, they are free to choose who they want to live with.

Seachmall · 06-03-2013 06:47PM

IM0 wrote: »

safe in the sense of?

Rape.

tunedout · 06-03-2013 06:49PM

krudler wrote: »

I don't really see why someone's sexual preferences would make them any harder to live with

Can you see why someone's sex, age, race, religion would make them any harder to live with?

IM0 · 06-03-2013 06:49PM

krudler wrote: »

I don't really see why someone's sexual preferences would make them any harder to live with but unless they're throwing gay orgies and walking around in assless leather chapps, which I hear is what gheys are prone to do,then I guess its ok.

maybe you dont want to hear two guys going at it, on the other side of your accommodations thin plasterboard [usually] wall

orestes · 06-03-2013 06:49PM

You're not looking for a less biased opinion, you're looking for people to back up your bullsh1t.

tunedout · 06-03-2013 06:49PM

awec wrote: »

I've seen a few of those ads.

Presumably the people in question just feel more comfortable living with gay people.

Fair enough. I'm not offended by that, they are free to choose who they want to live with.

So isn't it fine to say that some straight people might be more comfortable living with straight people aswell?
Have you any issue with that?

IM0 · 06-03-2013 06:50PM

Seachmall wrote: »

Rape.

your having a laugh! but that is what I thought you were eluding to though :rolleyes:

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 06-03-2013 06:51PM

My name is URL wrote: »

It might not be homophobic but it's clearly discrimination. Even if there's no bad intent.

I'd go the othe way around.

Not accepting a homosexual as a roommate. Discrimination/Homophobic?

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