Even as foreclosure is imminent for some homes in Orlando's Rybolt's Reserve subdivision if their owners don't find people to move in, documents show the association's desire to "preserve the character" of its "family-oriented Community." Part of this character preservation appears to be through preventing "non-traditional" couples and single parents from entering the neighborhood, and making life difficult for those who do successfully move in.

"I believe they're prejudiced against renters," said neighborhood resident and renter Robert Hapka. The homeowners' association has removed renters' access codes from the call box at the gated entrance, he went on, and routinely refuses to give them coded keys to enter freely through the front gates.

If a homeowner is only allowed to rent to married couples to comply with the "family-oriented" covenants, Musashe lamented, "that pretty much eliminates...more than half of your market."

Orange County, Florida does have an ordinance in place to protect prospective home buyers based on sexual orientation, but does not currently offer the same protections for renters. On a federal level, the Fair Housing Act, as passed in 1968 and amended in 1988, provides protection to prospective buyers and renters based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, and familial status; specifically, the Act protects families with children. On a state level, Florida has a law closely matching its federal counterpart, protecting people as individuals on the same criteria, and family units, which it defines as one or more parents or legal guardians accompanied by a minor child.

Single-family houses owned by private individuals are exempt from these protections, provided the individual owns three or less.

Some Rybolt's Reserve homeowners have reportedly consulted attorneys.

Requests for comment from the Board of Directors and the property manager were not answered.

The accompanying video report was broadcast on WFTV on July 16, 2008: