What does marital status protection refer to in fair housing statutes?

Marital status protection in fair housing statutes refers to the legal recognition of marital status as a class that is not protected under the federal Fair Housing Act. This means that, unlike protections based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, and disability, marital status does not have a similar level of protection. Therefore, landlords and housing providers can legally discriminate based on whether someone is single, married, divorced, or widowed.

The distinction is important because while some states or local jurisdictions might choose to include marital status as a protected class under their own fair housing laws, it is not recognized at the federal level. This lack of protection can impact individuals seeking housing, as they may face discrimination based specifically on their marital status rather than other protected characteristics. Thus, the correct understanding of marital status in the context of fair housing is that it is not protected by any fair housing statutes at the federal level.