In Ontario, Canada, Tatiana Dias and her partner Katie were denied a viewing of a basement apartment in Bradford on January 29th by a devout Christian landlord. The couple, who had previously informed the landlord of their relationship, was shocked when the landlord told them to leave the property. The couple is now warning others of the discrimination same-sex couples can face while searching for housing.
According to Tatiana, the landlord was confused about their relationship and repeatedly asked if they were sisters. When Tatiana informed the landlord that they were a couple, the landlord’s expression changed and she said “I don’t think this is going to work.” The landlord added “I’m a very devout Christian and when you told me you were a couple I thought you were a straight couple.” The couple was then told to leave the property.
Katie, who is also a Christian, described the experience as “really backward and like a punch in the guts.” The couple shared the incident on Twitter, which has since received more than two million views, with messages from other people who faced similar discrimination. According to a survey published last year, marginalized groups in Ontario, including the LGBTQ+ community, face disproportionate discrimination when seeking housing. Two out of 10 tenants say they have been treated unfairly because of their identity, with LGBTQ+ and people of color more likely to report such treatment.