I need a room mate. I am 53 years old. I have never even had one that I hadn't known. Advice?

In My Humble Opinion
21

Oh - in CA ar least, it is generally quite legal/certainly hoped, for to specify who you do or do not - including race/religion/sex/sexuality/hair style - want sharing YOUR living space - if there was a lockable door between the rental side and your space, the discrimination rules might kick in - but if you are sharing a toilet, you get to decide if you want one of “those” people using it.

22

Doesn’t sound right.

Good posts, I am writing a new ad that I will hopefully be able to run by you guys.

23

Because it’s not right. Craigslist specifically says that stating a discriminatory preference in a housing post is illegal, including in California. The exception for shared housing, like the OP is talking about, is stating a preference for gender.

People might post ads specifying who they do and do not want to be sharing their house with, but Craigslist asks that people flag the illegal ones.

24

But can’t you describe yourself so applicants can decide if they want to live with One of You?

25

I think so, but that Craigslist page gives me some pause. For example, they state that “postings describing the religion of current occupants of the complex or neighborhood” are discriminatory, and they give the example of “Jewish family seeks roommate.” I guess it’s considered discriminatory because the ad is implying that they are looking for someone else who’s Jewish? But I see ads on there all the time stating that the person posting the ad is gay, is black, is a churchgoer, doesn’t like pets, etc., so maybe Craigslist is really just concerned with stating preferences when it comes to the other person and gives self-description a pass.

26

Well, to me at least, there is a difference between an ad that is titled “Jewish family seeks roommate”, and a neutrally titled add that just mentions somewhere that current occupants are jewish. Hell, the latter might even be relevant - “we keep kosher in the house, so any roommate must be willing to respect the current set-up in the kitchen, and keep pork products in the separate mini-fridge in your room”. That sort of thing.