Today, the United States celebrates the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose work as a civil rights leader led to the passage of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, also known as the Fair Housing Act (FHA). President Lyndon Johnson signed the Act into law on April 11, 1968, one week after Dr. King's assassination.
As originally passed, the FHA banned discrimination based on four protected classes — race, color, religion, and national origin. The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 added sex to the list, and the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 brought the number of protected classes to seven, with the addition of familial status and handicap (more commonly referred to as "disability").
For the past roughly 22 years, the number of protected classes under the FHA has remained at seven. Will the FHA ever be amended again to add more protected classes? If so, which ones, and when? Should the FHA be amended?
What do you think?
1 comment:
Fortunately, many states and local jurisdictions have added to those seven over the years. Unfortunately, the issue has not been re-visited by the Federal government. If you took omly the lnes that were consistent on the local levels and made them a part of the Federal regs - it would probably expand to at least 15. A few to include would be victim of domestic violence, source of income, sexual orientation, etc.
Post a Comment