Lesbian Senior Sues Retirement Home for Failing to Stop Homophobic Abuse
August 29, 2018A lesbian senior in Niles, Illinois has won an appeal to sue the owners of her retirement home for failing to prevent homophobic abuse, The Chicago Tribune reports.
Marsha Wetzelalleges she suffered verbal and physical abuse from other residents of Glen St. Andrew Living Community, a retirement home she moved into in 2014 after the death of her long-time partner.
Wetzel says that when the other residents learnt of her sexual orientation she became the target of bullying; she was pushed out of a mobility scooter and struck on the head, as well as taunted.
Wetzel notified the owners of the home about her abuse and they failed to do anything about it.
In 2016, Lambda Legal helped her file a lawsuit against the home, claiming her discrimination projections were violated under the Fair Housing Act. The lawsuit was dismissed in a lower court, but her appeal was granted today by the7th Circuit.
“This is a tremendous victory for Marsha,” said Karen Loewy, Lambda Legal senior counsel and seniors strategist, in a statement. “She, just like all people living in rental housing, whether LGBT or not, should be assured that they will at least be safe from discriminatory harassment in their own homes. What happened to Marsha was illegal and unconscionable, and the Court has now put all landlords on notice that they have an obligation to take action to stop known harassment.”
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