Roommates.com operated a website designed to match people renting spare rooms with those looking for a place to live. Before subscribers could search listings or post housing opportunities on Roommate’s website, they had to create profiles, a process that required them to answer a series of questions that included the subscriber’s sex, sexual orientation, and whether he would bring children to a household. The site also encouraged subscribers to provide “Additional Comments,” describing themselves and their desired roommate in an open-ended essay. Here are some typical ads:
• “I am not looking for Muslims.”
• “Not acceptable: freaks, geeks, prostitutes (male or female), druggies, pet cobras, drama queens, or mortgage brokers.”
• “Must be a black gay male!”
• We are 3 Christian females who Love our Lord Jesus Christ.. We have weekly bible studies and bi-weekly times of fellowship.”
Many of the ads violated the Fair Housing Act. Is Roommates.com liable?