A report documenting widespread and often illegal discrimination against unmarried people in Los Angeles--ranging from higher dues at health clubs to restrictions on visits to hospital bedsides--will be released today by a consumer task force convened by City Atty. James K. Hahn.
"Discrimination based on marital status is arbitrary, inappropriate, illegal and unfair--but it is also a pervasive national problem," said Thomas F. Coleman, chairman of the Consumer Task Force on Marital Status Discrimination and an adjunct professor at the USC Law Center.
"Our report represents the emergence of a new dimension of the consumer protection movement," he added. "Call it singles' rights."
The unmarried--those who are single, divorced, separated or widowed--make up 55% of people of marrying age in the city, Coleman said. The U.S. Census Bureau defines "marrying age" as 15 years or older, he said.
"A sleeping giant is awakening, and once it awakens there are going to be major changes in the way businesses and others interact with unmarried consumers," Coleman said.
Hahn, who called a press conference for this morning, declined to comment on the 126-page report, an advance copy of which was obtained by The Times. But in creating the task force last October, the city attorney said: "Most of us aren't living in traditional American families anymore, and the rights and privileges extended to a few should be extended to everyone."
The report details numerous instances of alleged discriminatory practices in a wide range of situations. Among them: landlords who refuse to rent to single people or unmarried couples; auto insurers who levy higher premiums or will not write policies for singles; credit unions that will not issue joint loans to members and their fiances; and airlines that restrict the use of frequent-flyer awards to spouses or blood relatives.
"Most of these practices are illegal in California," said Coleman, an expert on family law. In many areas, such as housing, singles and unmarried couples are already covered by fair-housing laws and regulations, the report noted. Where specific statutes are lacking, the report urged more vigorous enforcement of existing laws barring arbitrary discrimination or unfair business practices.
"Most consumer protection programs focus almost exclusively on consumer fraud and virtually ignore the issue of discrimination," the report charges.
