Gilbert Carrillo thinks tattoos are an artform. He’s been to tattoo conventions and one of his tattoos was featured in a magazine. “Ever since I was 18, to now, 25, bit by bit, covering up here, covering up there.”

But last month, Carrillo’s tattoos kept him and his wife, Melissa, from moving into an apartment complex called the Villas at Medical Center. “We liked the apartment, we brought them a check for the deposit and a check for the application fee,” says Melissa.

Later, Gilbert went by to look at the apartment wearing a short sleeve shirt. The next day, the Carrillos were told they didn’t qualify to live there, because the tattoos on Gilbert’s arms violated the policy on personal appearance.

Very interesting there was no problem with considering renting to these people when the tattoos weren’t visible, but as soon as they were … hell no, no apartment for you guys! As it turns out it is perfectly legal to discriminate against renters based on appearance which is not race-related. Who knew?

The appearance clause at these apartments is as follows:

If you have tattoos that are 40% visible on the neck or head, 40% visible on the upper/lower arm, eyebrow piercing, tongue piercing, more than one stud or nose ring, more than five earrings, or “grillz” on your teeth, you won’t be renting from them.

Naturally, most of the comments on the linked story consist of people insisting that people with piercings and tattoos are thugs, and you wouldn’t want to rent to them. Funny that I know several wealthy professionals that wouldn’t be able to rent there who aren’t thugs, and I know one other class of people who would likely be turned away as well: military veterans. Have you ever seen some of the military tattoos those guys have on their arms? Yeah, makes them thugs, doesn’t it? :rolleyes:

I guess if we ever get our garage with apartment built and decide to rent it out, I will be able to decide who to rent to based on superficial appearances as well. You can bet my rules are going to be a little bit different, such as … you MUST have at least one tattoo or piercing, you MUST NOT wear shiny lycra clothing, and don’t you DARE think you will rent from me if you have Texas-style big hair. Those chicks with big hair are nothing but trouble.

It’s a pretty ridicuous world we live in, isn’t it?