Discrimination against Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence
Have You Faced Discrimination Because You Experienced Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Harassment or Assault, or Stalking?
Survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment or assault, and stalking can face problems with their housing, jobs, schools, and in other situations because of the abuse they have experienced.
For example:
•Some landlords have chosen to evict survivors based on noise or property damage caused by the abuser, even when the abuser did not live in the home.
•Some cities or police departments are pressuring landlords to evict tenants whenever criminal activity, including domestic violence, occurs at a property.
•Some tenants feel like they cannot call the police to report domestic violence because they face eviction if they call too many times.
•Some employers have fired victims because they needed to take time off to go to court to get an order of protection.
•Some schools have failed to respond adequately when a student complains that he or she has been sexually assaulted.
This kind of conduct may violate federal and state laws.
The ACLU is engaged in advocacy and litigation on behalf of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment or assault, and stalking who experience discrimination because they have been subjected to violence and abuse. For more information and resources, click here.
We would like to hear from you if you have faced or are facing discrimination because you experienced domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment or assault, or stalking. We are particularly interested in housing and employment discrimination but would also like to hear about other situations. The information you provide in this questionnaire will be kept confidential unless we contact you and obtain your permission to share it with others. Please provide detailed responses where necessary. Thank you.