NAR votes YES to amend NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation

11/8/10 – During the 2010 National Association of Realtors (NAR) annual meeting in New Orleans, NAR’s delegate body voted to amend the NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation as a protected class. The proposal was originally brought forward by the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP), and the Wisconsin Realtor Association. The historic change passed with 93% of NAR’s delegate body in favor of the amendment.

A protected class had not been added to the NAR Code of Ethics since 1998, and it is the first time NAR has recognized in their code a protected class before the federal government has.  In 1988 federal fair housing law changed to include people with handicaps and families with children and the NAR Code was amended to match the federal law.

After the vote, NAGLREP founder Jeff Berger talked with the 2010 NAR President Vicki Cox Golder.   Jeff says ” Mrs. Vicki Cox Golder has been so supportive of the effort, is a wonderful woman, and she left behind an amazing legacy.  Congratulations to her!”

For a brief background leading to the historic vote, see

http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/diversity/coe_amend_2010

Here is the amended language of Article 10 (additions are underlined):

REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.  

REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.

REALTORS®, in their real estate employment practices, shall not discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.

A related recommendation amending Standard of Practice 10-3 was approved as well:

REALTORS® shall not print, display or circulate any statement or advertisement with respect to selling or renting of a property that indicates any preference, limitations or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or sexual orientation.

Gay Realtor Advocacy Call For Action – NAR Code of Ethics/Sexual Orientation Amendment

On November 8th during the NAR annual meetings in New Orleans, NAR’s delegate body will make the final vote on the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) proposal along with the Wisconsin Realtor Association to amend the NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation as a protected class.  As we know, the proposal has already been unanimously approved by NAR’s Professional Standards Committee, and the amendment has also been approved by NAR’s Board of Directors.
For a quick refresh of the topic, see  http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/diversity/coe_amend_2010

NAGLREP Board of Directors recently convened via conference call, and our final plan for the best results for the delegate vote is as follows:

We are requesting all NAGLREP members and their Gay & Gay Friendly Realtor friends contact their local and state REALTOR Association Presidents and find out if they will be participating in the delegate vote during the NAR Convention in New Orleans, as it is one of the last Convention events on Monday November 8, and not everyone stays for it. If they are attending and if you are comfortable reaching out to this individual and believe he/she will be receptive, let him/her know you support the Article 10 amendment, express why, and request they vote positively on November 8th in New Orleans. If they do not intend to stay, the Association can authorize another Association member to vote for the Association.

Once you have contacted your local and state Realtor Association President, please email us via naglrep@gmail.com their name, telephone number, and a brief summary of your contact.  It is important for us to know who has been contacted.

Here is a map of states that already include sexual orientation and both sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes.  If you are located in a state referenced on this map, a strong speaking point will be to reference the fact http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/issue_maps/non_discrimination_7_09_color.pdf

Other talking points are:

Why local and state REALTOR® Associations should support the Article 10 amendment:
1. REALTORS® hold themselves to higher professional standards. The Code of Ethics represents a “criterion of excellence.” If we hold ourselves to the highest level of professional conduct we should not tolerate discrimination against any person seeking our assistance as they look for a place to live.

2. It is good business. It benefits REALTORS® to provide fair and equal real estate services to everyone because we increase our number of transactions and enhance the success of our brokerage companies. Can we afford to exclude anybody?

3. NAR, as the national voice of real estate, should lead the way in opposing discrimination based upon sexual orientation.

4. As REALTORS® we have the fiduciary responsibility to our clients and customers to provide the highest quality of professional service and that doesn’t happen when REALTORS® close doors or exclude anyone as a potential buyer, renter or seller.

5. It is time for REALTORS® to stand up and say it is unethical to discriminate based on sexual orientation.

You may forward this link to other LGBT and gay friendly Realtors who are friends of ours asking for their support in completing the same task.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.  If you should have any questions, please email or call us at 561-865-6117.  NAGLREP is located in Delray Beach, FL on EST.

GREEN Eco-Friendly Modular Homes by NAGLREP member Dianne Vernon

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Custom Modular 05/24/10

Modular homes have been highlighted on HGTV, New Old House, The Washington Post, The History Channel, and many more.  Last Sunday one of our primary suppliers, Palm Harbor Homes, was featured on the hit network TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s 2010 Season Finale.  This is the first time that a modular home has ever been featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The house is built by Palm Harbor Homes / Nationwide Homes, the parent company of Discovery Custom Homes which we feature on our web-site. Cutting Edge Homes has supported this project as much as we were able since before the show was filmed.  We made an initial donation to help pay for appliances in the Williams home and a second donation that contributed to paying off the entire debt that the Williams family had on their demolished old home. The home is made of 12 modules trucked to the home site and crane-lifted into position. It has 4,151 sf under roof, and 3,700 square feet of heated area. This home is Certified Gold under the National Green Building (NAHB) program and is ADA compliant to accommodate the father who suffers from ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease and the son who is a paraplegic from Spina Bifida. A full solar energy array was donated by Atlantic Service and Supply to help keep cost of living down after the move-in. The time required to set the home and weather it in, was one full day. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition aired on Sunday night at 8:00 PM on ABC. If you have a family member, a friend, or real estate agent who thinks that a modular home is the same as a manufactured home, make sure they watch the show…those misconceptions are about to be shattered forever!!! Here are several other articles about modular homes that we hope you will find interesting: You can read the Bob Villa article titled Modular Homes Make Sense by clicking this link. The HGTV Pro article titled Building Off-Site can be read here. Jennifer Openshaw is a noted columnist, financial adviser, and author, she has also noted the value of modular in her article titled Factory Direct To You which is an excellent read. The Washington Post article titled Mansions Go Modular addresses the higher-end of the market. After reading these articles, please email us and let us know if they have been helpful to you. Additionally, we are very interested in hearing what you think of the show.  After you see the beautiful Williams house installed on TV, please take a few minutes to let us know your thoughts by emailing us at info@cuttingedgehomes.net Feel free to call or email to get your questions answered. Thanks, I look forward to your call. Dianne Vernon Cutting Edge Homes Inc. 1-877-630-7732 Diannevernon@sbcglobal.net P.S.  Here is a sneak preview of the pictures from the construction of the Williams family home, and you can also see the Williams Family floor plan.

NAR votes unanimously on proposal to amend NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation

May 15, 2010 – The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Professional Standards Committee convened 5/13/10 during the NAR midyear meetings in Washington, DC and voted unanimously on a proposal to amend the NAR Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation as a protected class. The unanimous vote was followed by joyous applause. As of 5/15, the motion has been approved by NAR’s Board of Directors, and will go before NAR’s delegate body during their annual meeting this November 2010 in New Orleans for final review. If final review is passed, the change in code will take effect January 1, 2011.

The National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) works closely with NAR’s Equal Opportunity – Cultural Diversity Committee (EOC), and originally brought the idea for amendment forward in March of 2009 via NAGLREP CEO Jeff Berger and Director Eric Kodner. Kodner serves as a 2010 Director of NAR’s EOC, and also serves the Wisconsin Realtor Association’s (WRA) Madison EOC. Kodner suggested the amendment during the WRA’s Madison EOC March 2009 meeting. We are very thankful to WRA members Eric kodner, lead counsel Debbi Conrad, Kevin King, Char Glocke and the entire WRA who worked so hard to prepare and present the WRA’s proposal before NAR.

You may view a video of the Professional Standards historic vote here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeFblqnItvg

MP3 of OutImpact.com Teleseminar Featuring NAGLREP

If you were unable to attend last nights teleseminar by OutImpact.com featuring the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals , please click here to listen to the MP3 of the event.   We are very thankful to Bambi Weavil of OutImpact.com for supporting our cause.

Thank you,
NAGLREP

NAR EOC Forms Subcommittee to Focus on LGBT Issues

The National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals is proud to announce The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Equal Opportunity – Cultural Diversity Committee (EOC) has formed a subcommittee to focus on LGBT issues.  This is a very exciting time as LGBT issues have never before formally been on the agenda of NAR.  NAGLREP has been working closely with NAR’s EOC committee, and NAGLREP director Eric Kodner has been a driving force of our mission.

Eric Kodner serves as a board member of NAR’s EOC committee, was influential in the formation of the subcommittee, and will attend a conference call for the subcommittee’s first meeting early next week.   The subcommittee will also meet in 3 weeks during the NAR midyear meetings in Washington, DC May 11-15.  If you would like to propose any topics for the subcommittee’s future agenda, please email naglrep@gmail.com

Thank you

Gay Realtor Association NAGLREP Says “Meet Us in DC May 11-13″

The National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) is proud to announce our invitation by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to participate in the forum Tomorrow’s Leaders: Engaging the Next Generation: Equal Opportunity-Cultural Diversity Forum during the NAR Midyear meetings in Washington, DC.  The forum is scheduled for May 11, from 12-2pm and the location is soon to be announced.

The forum interactive dialogue  includes Rock the Vote’s CEO and facilitators for round table discussion from the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, the Young Professionals Network, and the Asian Real Estate Association of America.   Participants in the forum are encouraged to interact, and take away a new appreciation for the value of reaching out, encouraging and recognizing new leaders.

This is the first time a gay real estate organization has been invited to discuss LGBT issues during a NAR meeting, and it is exciting.  NAGLREP will host a cocktail party May 11th from 5-8pm for members and guests to celebrate at Mova Lounge.   Please attend the forum if you are available, and RSVP to naglrep@gmail.com if you would like to attend the cocktail party.

On May 12th, NAGLREP will attend a second Equal Opportunity – Cultural Diversity Committee (EOC) meeting from 10-12pm, and later that day visit Capitol Hill for NAR’s “Hill Day” to discuss with legislators our goal to add LGBT protections to federal fair housing laws.

The final day of our visit to DC on Thursday May 13th is highlighted with two special events.  From 10-12pm NAGLREP members will meet privately with NAR staff member Fred Underwood of the EOC committee.   Then from 1-5:30pm during NAR’s Professional Standards Committee meeting, a final vote will decide our proposal (via the Wisconsin Realtor Association) to amend the NAR Code of Ethics, also known as Rule #10, to prohibit REALTOR discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Meet us in DC!

NAGLREP sponsors OutImpact.com 3 Year Anniversary Cruise out of Carolina Beach, NC

The week flew by with our efforts progressing to better equal housing opportunity for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) community.   Gay Realtor & NAGLREP member Denny Horner of Washington, DC was interviewed by the Washington Post  for the article  Hud to Study Housing Discrimination Towards Gays.

NAGLREP also is proud to announce our sponsorship of the OutImpact.com Three Year Anniversary Cruise June 6th, boarding in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.   Out Impact is proud to announce entertainment aboard the night cruise is American Music Award Winner and Multi-Platinum Artist Randy Jones (also known as Original Village People Cowboy).  NAGLREP founder Jeff Berger says “It is a great opportunity for NAGLREP to show our support to both Out Impact and to our many members in North Carolina.”

Out Impact is a national online magazine for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender persons with a strong focus on making a positive impact in the glbt community.

Gay Real Estate / GLBT Discrimination in Housing Study

The gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community has long been a topic of interest when discussing equal housing opportunity.  Gay Realtors of the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, NAGLREP provide a sensitive understanding of the specific needs of GLBT home buyers, sellers, and renters.   As gay realtors, and gay friendly realtors, NAGLREP members pride ourselves in working with the GLBT community, but not all realtors share the same feelings. GLBT  housing discrimination exists, and we are determined to change equal housing opportunity laws within both the National Association of Realtors (NAR) policy, and Federal Fair Housing Laws.

NAGLREP members see a wind of change for GLBT rights sweeping through the real estate community.  Most notably is the policy change in November 2009 by NAR to add sexual orientation as a protected class to NAR’s policy on equal housing opportunity.

On 3/14/10, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a new webpage for their study on housing discrimination against the GLBT community relating to the sale and rental of housing.  NAGLREP founder Jeff Berger corresponded last week with HUD’s Assistant Secretary Raphael Bostick, the leader of the HUD study.  Mr. Bostic described the GLBT housing discrimination study as a four year study with four phases, the first to be completed by the summer of 2011 with data released.  NAGLREP was also invited to reach out to HUD to describe the most often types of discrimination encountered by our members.

HUD is also seeking feedback on ideas to better their study.  If you would like to contribute suggestions to  HUD’s study, please visit their page http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/LGBT_Discrimination_Study

Gay Realtors Progress on Amending the NAR Code of Ethics to Include Sexual Orientation

Since early 2008, gay, lesbian, and gay friendly realtors of  NAGLREP have been lobbying the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to amend the NAR Code of Ethics, also known as Rule #10, to prohibit REALTOR discrimination based on sexual orientation.  NAGLREP director Eric Kodner originally brought the proposal on our behalf to his local Equal Opportunity – Cultural Diversity Committee (EOC) committee of the Madison Wisconsin Realtor Association (WRA).  It all started at that meeting and the WRA loved the idea.

In November 2009, during the NAR annual meetings in San Diego, NAGLREP and the WRA successfully lobbied NAR  to amend  NAR’s policy on equal housing opportunity to include sexual orientation as a protected class.

Today 3/14/10 NAGLREP directors were notified by the WRA’s lead council Debbi Conrad that our efforts have taken a great step forward.  Debbi expressed clearly.. it is a 2 step program with the first step behind us.  Today the WRA’s proposal was approved by NAR’s Interpretation & Procedures Subcommittee. The next hurdle is getting the Professional Standards Committee to approve the amendment in DC this May 13th during the NAR midyear meetings.

NAGLREP members had already planned to meet in Washington, DC during the National Association of Realtors midyear meetings to attend a forum May 11-12 hosted by NAR’s Equal Opportunity – Cultural Diversity Committee (EOC).  NAGLREP will also host a cocktail party the evening of May 11th.

We offer a special thanks to WRA legal counselors Debbi Conrad, and Kevin King.  In addition we are thankful to other committee members Eric Kodner, Char Glocke, and the entire WRA.