Craigslist is a special website, especially here in New York. Where else can you go on-line and post a search like "Bi Man for LTR with Bi/Lesbian Woman - 35?" The same unique aspects apply to the housing search in New York, which everyone knows is the biggest bitch ever.

Whether you are in need of a room, or have one to rent, Craigslist lets you put your requirements out there for the type of person you want to live with. But now, everyone wants to get all PC about it, and a fair housing group in Chicago has sued the site. Bringing on accusations that CL violates the Fair Housing Act of 1968 by publishing "discriminatory advertisements," this housing group wants the site to follow newspaper rules for publishing.

The ads the housing group said it spotted on Craigslist contained language like "African-Americans and Arabians tend to clash with me" and "No kids allowed." Other ads the group flagged gave requirements like "single occupancy only" or "no minorities."

So what about artists looking to live with other artists? Or Jews who prefer to live with other Jews? Should they not be allowed to specifically search for that type of roommate? (Plus, if somebody doesn't want to live with a minority, and you're a minority, wouldn't you want to know that before trekking your ass all over the city?)

Come on, it's only a given that every listing from now on is going to include "no drum makers who use African hides." That's not discrimination, it's just common sense.

Craigslist Is Accused of Bias in Housing Ads [New York Times]