The fair housing ordinance has been in effect for more than a year, but State College Borough staff members have not found any hard evidence proving that less housing discrimination exists.

Last March, the State College Borough Council voted to enact a fair housing ordinance preventing renters from being discriminated against based on certain factors.

The fair housing ordinance prohibits rental discrimination by landlords based on sexual orientation and marital status, as well as traditional factors such as race and religion.

The passage of the ordinance was a highly controversial topic and remains a touchy issue with residents and council members.

"I'm really interested in not dredging this up again," said council member Ruth Lavin. "Most of us just don't want to talk about it anymore."

In 1989, the council passed a version of the housing ordinance that did not include sexual orientation and marital status as protected clauses. But former State College Mayor Arnold Addison vetoed the ordinance, calling it less than inclusive. A student status clause was later considered as part of the ordinance but dropped before the revised ordinance was enacted.

The 4 1/2-year-old fair housing battle ended on March 1 last year when the council voted 5-2 to enact the ordinance. Council members Lavin and Jerry Wettstone voted against the ordinance because of its sexual orientation and marital status clauses.

Lavin said she still has not seen proof that discrimination exists. She said her opinion about the ordinance has not changed since she voted against it last year.

"I'm very annoyed about the whole thing," she said. "I didn't see the need for it."

Lavin said she has proof the community did not want the ordinance to be enacted. The fact that she and Wettstone were elected by a landslide in the November election proves that many residents agree with their position on the issue, Lavin said.

Lavin added that she does not think borough staff members have received any complaints of discrimination.

"As far as I know, there's been nobody accused," Lavin said.

Planning Director Carl Hess said Borough Manager Peter Marshall asked the planning department to handle all the housing complaints. Hess said his office has handled two complaints of discrimination in the last year.

Hess said one case dealt with gender and the other with gender, national origin and race. Both cases involved discrimination in obtaining rental housing. Hess's office investigated the cases but neither resulted in court actions, he said.

Hess said the ordinance may be cutting down on the number of landlords who might discriminate.

"Given the limited number of complaints, it shows that most people are complying with the law," Hess said. "People are aware of what's what with respect to fair housing."

Hess said the planning department wrote the ordinance and is the most familiar with it. The department is involved with all the complaints that fall under the ordinance.

Hess said he does not know if less discrimination exists after the enactment of the ordinance.

"There's probably not much discrimination," Hess said, adding that there is no evidence to prove that less discrimination exists.

Holly Bemiss, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Student Alliance political co-director, said the passage of the ordinance was important because discrimination was made illegal.

"It was a big deal for us to have that in paper," she said. "It was a very positive thing for (the lesbian, gay and bisexual) community."

Bemiss said she has not heard of any blatant discrimination.