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A landlord in Rio Rancho owns a single-family home that she rents out. She refuses to rent to a gay applicant, stating that her religious beliefs prevent her from doing so. The applicant files a complaint under the New Mexico Human Rights Act. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the legal outcome under New Mexico law?

Correct Answer

A) The landlord's refusal likely constitutes illegal discrimination because sexual orientation is a protected class under the New Mexico Human Rights Act, and no blanket religious belief exemption exists for individual landlords.

The New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMSA 1978, Chapter 28, Article 1) protects sexual orientation as a class in housing. Unlike the federal Fair Housing Act, which provides certain exemptions for religious organizations and owner-occupied small buildings, New Mexico law does not provide a blanket religious belief exemption for individual landlords who discriminate based on sexual orientation. The landlord's refusal is therefore likely illegal under state law.

Answer Options
A
The landlord's refusal likely constitutes illegal discrimination because sexual orientation is a protected class under the New Mexico Human Rights Act, and no blanket religious belief exemption exists for individual landlords.
B
The landlord is exempt because New Mexico law defers to the federal Fair Housing Act, which does not list sexual orientation as a protected class.
C
The landlord is exempt because the federal Fair Housing Act's religious organization exemption applies to individual landlords with sincerely held beliefs.
D
The landlord is exempt because single-family homes rented without a broker are excluded from the New Mexico Human Rights Act.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

fair_housingstate_protected_classessexual_orientationhuman_rights_actexemptionsreligious_belief

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