Trade Me Listing For Wellington Flat Want 'No Heterosexuals'

Publish Date
Tuesday, 26 January 2016, 7:34AM
Photo: iStock

Photo: iStock

A Trade Me listing for a room in Wellington has received criticism and got the attention of the Human Rights Commission after specifying 'no heterosexuals' in their advertisement. 

The ad included the line: "We don't want to live with a couple, a heterosexual person, or someone who is loud at night, or drinks/does drugs/party[s] a lot."

The existing flatmates described themselves as a "queer, transgender, vegetarian household".

They said they are "feminist/politically switched on adults" and went to say they also did not want to live with anyone who is "racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, fatphobic [sic], hates sex workers, hates migrants or is otherwise a jerk".

"We want to live with someone who is relaxed, motivated, grown up, reliable, considerate, child friendly, LGBTQIA+ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex or asexual], pays the board on time with no stress, [is] vegetarian or vegan."

Reddit shared the listing, sparking a debate on whether it is discriminatory or not.

A spokeswoman for the Human Rights Commission said it was legal under the Human Rights Act to turn potential flatmates away on the basis of sexual orientation.

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