When going through the tenant selection process, it is required to be non-discriminatory.  In other words, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to any particular application due to their race, religion, gender, age, or simply because they have children.  When this does occur, it is known as tenant discrimination and tenants are allowed to file a complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or file a lawsuit directly in a federal or state court.  If you think you are a victim of tenant discrimination, you should consult a real estate lawyer so that you know the process for filing a complaint or lawsuit, and what to expect in court.