A single, gay, African-American parent with four kids is turned away from a property because the landlord does not want the kids to destroy the property. Which protected characteristic of discrimination most likely fits this case?

In this scenario, the characteristic that most accurately fits the case is familial status. The refusal of the landlord to rent to the single parent with four kids is primarily based on the presence of children, which specifically relates to familial status discrimination. The Fair Housing Act protects against discrimination in housing based on familial status, which includes individuals with children under the age of 18.

While race is a significant factor in the situation, as the individual is an African-American parent, the landlord's reason for denial—concern over children damaging the property—clearly indicates a discriminatory attitude towards having children rather than the parent's race. Similarly, gender and religion do not appear to influence the landlord's decision in this case; the rejection is based on the assumption that children will cause damage, thus directly targeting the familial status of this applicant.