Tag: Fair Housing Act

DOJ sues Texas RV park for violation of Fair Housing Act (evicting transwoman)

Eric Holder has filed a lawsuit putting the federal government behind the discrimination claim of a transwoman against a Texas RV park.

On October 3 the suit was filed in the Eastern District of Texas (Tyler Division) against George Toone and his company, In Toone Services.  In Toone Services owns Texas RV Park in Athens, TX.

Roxanne Joganik filed a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development in June 2012, alleging that Toone discriminated against her on the basis of sex, violating the federal Fair Housing Act.  Joganik and her roommate, Darlina Anthony, moved into the park on a month-to-month lease in April of 2011.  In Toone Services acquired the property in May of 2012, 5 days after Joganik had paid her rent through the month of June.  Joganik informed Toone that she was transgender and asked him if he would have a problem with her wearing female clothing in the common areas of the RV park.  Toone said it would be a problem because “there are children around the pool.”  So Joganik refrained from doing so.

A week later Toone distributed copies of the new park rules, requiring residents to sign them along with their service agreements.  The rules said that management “reserved the right to refuse entrance to anyone for any reason other than ‘race, religion, handicapped (sic), color or national origin.'”  The new rules did not include sex or family status, which are protected classes under the FHA.  So Joganik refused to sign the rules.