Roommate posting offensive stuff on refrigerator?

My roommate who is gay (im not) put some magnets that were blatantly sexual in nature (not pornographic, but semi nude, suggestive), and I found them offensive. We all use the refrigerator regularly. We argued about it and I got him to take one of them down. There are still some up there and ideally I would like them all down, but im wondering where my rights lie, legally if necessary. The landlord is impartial so far.

*edit* Horrible, horrible... assumption ridden and degenerate responses so far, with a few exceptions.... perhaps I wasn't clear enough about the situation but I think most of you are simply being antagonistic (as my question indicated a susceptability to).

You don't have a legal right to force him to take them down. It would be in his best interest if he did, for the sake of getting along with his roommate. But maybe he's aggravating you on purpose because he thinks you've been homophobic about other things. Not saying that you are, but that's certainly what I would do if I had a homophobic roommate :P

Don't ask your landlord to do anything about it. Since you've already talked to him about it, now it's time to just ignore it and don't let him know that it bothers you. If you build a healthier relationship with him, he'll probably respect you enough to take them down. If not, try to relax. They're just magnets.

You could also try being really nice and buying him something magnetic that could go in his room, like a magnetic memo board. Maybe he liked the magnets but has no other place to put them, so you could give him a more private place to put them.

Edit: I certainly hope you weren't referring to me in your edit. The bottom line is you need to find out *why* he insists on having them up despite your complaints before you'll be able to reasonably convince him to take them down. I was just trying to provide reasons he might still want them up and explore solutions to each scenario. If you throw them away yourself, you'll be the one with legal liability.

Two words: Roommate agreements.

Being a nightmare to live with isn't generally illegal (unless, of course, you're doing stuff that is actually illegal anyways).

Thus, it's usually a good idea to enter a contract with your roommate to develop some terms of cooperation before you sign a lease with the person.

(That said, I'm not sure that sexually suggestive fridge magnets are typically covered by such agreements...)

In any case, your only option now is to try to talk to him about it. (Or, failing that, to terminate your lease at the earliest legal opportunity if you really care that much about the magnets.)

Try telling your roommate that although you are okay with his being homosexual, you dont appreciate that kind of object right there in your kitchen. It bothers you so much if its not removed you or he might have to move out or find someone else to live with. Tell him he can use his room to decorate with whatever he wants thats his space but the kitchen should be kept clean of anything that either you or he find offensive.

I agree with the first poster - try to learn a little about the people you encounter in life - it will make your life so much more rewarding.

Your next roommate might be into something really weird - this guy just wants to put pics of guys with no shirt up, just like teenage girls do, and you are ready to argue about it?

You sure they aren't hitting a deep secret inside of you, because you sound like a lot of Republican Senators and Representatives :)

truth that's the kind of stuff that happens when you live with people... i had a similar situation with a good friend.. at the end of the day as long as he paying rent he'd entitled to so say in things... just calmly explain to him how you feel.. if you guys cant agree that ????? you know the answer move separately because stuff like this is bond to happen..

This is a matter for the two of you. Question: do you post anything in his sight that HE might find offensive?

Roommates need to get along. If you can't agree with such a trivial item, surely one of you needs to move. This is about mutual respect and accomodation.

Tell him to stop putting the stuff on the fridge. Offensive stuff is supposed to be posted online. See all the crap that that right wing posts. See they know how to do it right.

You have no rights here as long as his actions are not illegal (kiddie porn)

And the landlord certainly has no say in this. And don't call your mommy.

Either live wth it or move.

Lighten up a little.......you're sounding a little phobic. ;)

That's a nutty problem.

Take the darn things off yourself and throw them away. Screw it.

Or lighten up.

You have no legal rights. Take them down yourself if it really bothers you.

Take them down & throw them in the trash.

I agree with starczk