Senior Living Apartment Says No to the Bible But Yes to Karaoke

Senior living apartment complexes should be places of community, connection, and mutual respect – not places where you pay hefty rent payments only to battle for your religious liberty. And certainly, they should not be places where religious expression is shut down and discriminated against. Only when brave residents stand up and challenge this type of conduct are these unlawful practices ever challenged and changed. Our client is one such brave resident at a California senior apartment complex.

Last month, our client approached the management of the complex with a simple request: a space to host a weekly Bible study with fellow residents. The regional manager and community director initially welcomed the idea and permitted our client the opportunity to hold one Bible study, but they told him they would have to check with the owners to ensure that the study could take place weekly.

That welcome was short-lived. On the day of the next Bible study, just five minutes before the event was set to begin, the residents were told by management that they could not mention “God” because it might offend others. Imagine trying to study the Bible without referencing God!

Two days later, during a community meeting, management announced that the property owners would no longer allow political or religious events in the clubhouse. Following the community meeting, our client was explicitly told that religious events were prohibited because the owners did not want anyone to be offended by religion. The unequal treatment of religion becomes clear when you consider the other events permitted in the clubhouse. For instance, a two-hour karaoke night was allowed, while a peaceful Bible study was shut down. This is discrimination, and it violates federal law.

As soon as we became aware of this egregious conduct, we responded with a demand letter to the complex’s management company.

In our demand letter we explained that the Fair Housing Act protects against religious discrimination by HOAs, apartment complexes, condominiums, and the like. Federal courts have explained this protection from discrimination extends far beyond the simple act of buying or renting a home or apartment. As the Department of Justice (DOJ) has emphasized, residents of apartment complexes have a right to engage in private religious speech and other activities in common areas and meeting rooms. Specifically, the DOJ makes it crystal clear:

No one may be discriminated against in the sale, rental or enjoyment of housing because of their religious beliefs. This includes equal access to all the benefits of housing: someone could not, for example, be excluded from reserving a common room for a prayer meeting [or Bible study] when the room may be reserved for various comparable secular uses. (Emphasis added.)

Here, the building management’s rule that no religious events be allowed in the clubhouse suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of federal law. When a complex allows residents to gather for various events in a community room, it must allow religious events. Moreover, a voluntary resident-led Bible study does not impose religion on others any more than a karaoke night imposes singing on its participants.

If the complex fails to provide a favorable response, we are prepared to take further legal action. We are dedicated and committed to defending the religious liberties protected by the Fair Housing Act and ensuring that these religious protections are not left at the doorstep of these complexes.

If you have experienced similar discrimination, please contact us at ACLJ.org/HELP.