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.