Pennsylvania Lawmaker Seeks to Close Whites-Only Community’s Housing Discrimination “Loophole”
Pennsylvania State Representative Ben Waxman introduced a bill to ensure that discriminatory housing developments, such as the whites-only community Return to the Land, are explicitly illegal in the state. The bill is a response to Return to the Land’s efforts to revive segregated housing, which, according to some legal experts, may violate the Fair Housing Act. Waxman’s bill aims to prevent any ambiguity by clarifying that the “private club” exemption does not apply to organizations that discriminate based on race, color, national origin, or ancestry, thereby closing potential loopholes. While current law prohibits racial discrimination in housing, the legislation seeks to reinforce this and eliminate any room for misinterpretation.
John Q. Hosedrinker