§ 3.07.62. Unlawful discriminatory practices.

(A)

Discrimination in employment. It shall be unlawful:

(1)

For any employer, because of the race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age or disability or of any person to refuse to hire or otherwise discriminate against him/her with respect to hire, tenure, conditions, or privileges of employment, or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment.

(2)

For any labor organization to discriminate against any person or limit his/her employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his/her status as an employee as to his/her wages, hours, employment conditions because of his/her race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability of any prospective employee.

(3)

For any person providing employment to publish or cause to be published any advertisement which specifies or in any manner indicates or expresses a limitation or preference as to the race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability of any prospective employee.

(B)

Discrimination in public accommodation. It shall be unlawful for any proprietor or his/her employer, keeper, or manager in a place of public accommodation to deny any person, except for reasons applicable alike to all persons, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability the full enjoyment of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges thereof:

(C)

Discrimination in housing. It shall be unlawful:

(1)

For an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, real estate broker, real estate salesperson, managing agent of, or other person having the right to sell, rent, lease, sublease, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of a housing accommodation, or any agent of these, to refuse to sell, to refuse to rent, lease, sublease, assign, transfer, or otherwise deny to or withhold from any person or group of persons such housing accommodations or represent that such housing accommodations are not available, because of the race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability of such person or persons, or discriminate against or segregate any person because of his/her race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability in the terms, conditions, or privileges of the sale, rental, lease, sublease, assignment, transfer, or other disposition of any such housing accommodations or to do any other thing or engage in conduct which would otherwise make unavailable equal housing opportunities.

(2)

For a person to publish, circulate, issue, or display, or cause to be published, circulated, issued, or displayed, any communication, notice, advertisement, or sign of any kind relating to the sale, rental, lease, sublease, assignment, transfer, or listing of a housing accommodation or accommodations which indicates any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability.

(3)

For a person, bank, banking organization, mortgage company, insurance company, or other financial institutions of lenders, or agent or employee thereof, to whom application is made for financial assistance for the purchase, lease, acquisition, construction, rehabilitation, repair, or maintenance of any housing accommodation to discriminate against any person or group of persons because of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability of such person or group of persons or of the prospective occupants or tenants of such real property in the granting, withholding, extending, modifying, or renewing, or in the rates, terms, conditions, or privileges of, any such financial assistance or in the extensions of services in connection thereof.

(4)

For an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, real estate broker, real estate salesperson, managing agent of, or other person having the right to sell, rent, lease, sublease, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of a housing accommodation, or any agent of any of these to discriminate against any person by refusing to negotiate, making false representations on the availability of the housing unit, or withdrawing from the market a housing unit which is for sale, lease, sublease, or rental.

(5)

For an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, real estate broker, real estate salesperson, managing agent of, or other person having the right to sell, rent, lease, sublease, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of a housing accommodation, or any agent of any of these to include in the terms, conditions, or privileges of any sale, lease, sublease, rental, assignment, or other transfer of any housing, any clause, condition, or restrictions discriminating against any person in the use or occupancy of such housing.

(6)

For an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, real estate broker, real estate salesperson, managing agent of, or other person having the right to sell, rent, lease, sublease, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of a housing accommodation, or any agent of any of these to discriminate in the furnishing of any facilities, repairs, improvements, or services or in the terms, conditions, or privileges or tenure of occupancy of any person.

(7)

For any real estate agent or other individual:

(a)

To induce or attempt to induce a sale, transfer of interest, or listing for sale of any housing by making representations regarding the existing or potential proximity of real property owned, used, or occupied by any person of any particular race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability, by direct or indirect methods.

(b)

To make any representations to any prospective purchaser, or lessee that any housing in a particular block, neighborhood, or area may undergo, is undergoing, or has undergone a change with respect to race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability of such block, neighborhood, or area.

(c)

To induce or attempt to induce a sale or listing for sale of any housing by representation that the presence or anticipated presence of persons of any particular race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, religious belief, age, or disability in the area will or may result in:

(1)

The lowering of property values.

(2)

A change in racial, color, religious, nationality, or ethnic composition of the block, neighborhood, or area in which the property is located.

(3)

An increase in criminal or antisocial behavior in the area.

(4)

A decline in the quality of the schools serving the area.

(D)

Aiding and abetting discrimination. It shall be unlawful for a person to assist, aid, abet, entice, incite, or coerce another person to commit an act for or engage in any practices forbidden by this section.

(E)

The provisions of this chapter as it pertains to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression shall not apply to religious schools, churches engaged in religious activities and owner-occupied residences with not more than three unrelated renters.

(Ord. No. 0-77-10, § I, 7-19-2010; Ord. No. 0-129-13, § I, 12-2-2013)

Note— Section II of Ord. No. 0-129-13, adopted Dec. 2, 2013, states "All new and replacement signage in the City of Athens that refers to a facility or parking space that accommodates a person(s) with a disability must refer to that facility or parking space as "accessible."