Friendship Village also asserted that they don't inquire about the religious beliefs of housing applicants -- though they also require all of their residents to adhere to a belief in "the union of one man and one woman, as marriage is understood in the Bible."
Sadly, a federal judge ruled against the lesbians, essentially arguing that there's no sex discrimination here, only sexual orientation discrimination. Which makes it A-OK.
The lesbians' attorney was not pleased with this verdict, or the judge's assertion that there was no sex discrimination here:
“Planning for senior housing is a big decision, and Mary and Bev chose Friendship Village because it is in their community, they have friends there and it offers services that would allow them to stay together there for the rest of their lives,” attorney Julie Wilensky of the National Center for Lesbian Rights said. “The discrimination they experienced was very hurtful. If Mary were a man married to Bev, instead of a woman married to Bev, Friendship Village would not have turned them away.” Zarembka added: “Friendship Village’s denial of housing to Mary and Bev because they are two women, and not a man and a woman, is discrimination ‘because of sex’ in the most literal sense. That Mary and Bev are lesbians doesn’t change this analysis. We disagree with the district court’s decision and are considering next steps.”So it's possible that they will appeal this decision.
Meanwhile, Friendship Village is keeping quiet. I haven't seen them comment anywhere about the verdict.