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

https://www.wra.org/WREM/Dec10/Article10/

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.

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!

Gay Real Estate Advocacy and Equal Housing Opportunity

Gay Realtors and gay friendly real estate agents of NAGLREP are proud to be involved in a great movement of advocacy for LGBT rights pertaining to equal housing opportunity.  In early 2007, the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) was founded by Jeff Berger with a primary mission to advocate on behalf of the rights of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) community as it relates to local and federal housing and discrimination laws.  Jeff says “Our gay real estate trade organization is governed by a board of directors, and it is exciting to see glbt and gay friendly members of NAGLREP making progress within the National Association of Realtors (NAR) organization, and with federal legislators.”

During the November 2009 annual meetings of NAR in San Diego, NAGLREP, with help of the Wisconsin Realtor Association (WRA), successfully lobbied NAR to amend  NAR’s policy on equal housing opportunity to include sexual orientation as a protected class.  It was an exciting time, and NAGLREP members shared dinner during our 2nd annual meeting to celebrate the success for our community.   Dick Gaylord, a NAGLREP member and 2008 NAR president was a guest speaker at our annual meeting.  Dick discussed an array of issues including our recent accomplishment, and the work we have ahead of us.  Confirmation of NAR’s policy change is posted on their website.

NAGLREP, with the Wisconsin Realtor Association (WRA) is also currently lobbying NAR to amend the NAR Code of Ethics, also known as rule #10,  to include sexual orientation and gender identity as a protected class.   This advocacy effort actively started in early 2008 and continues to be a work in progress.

According to article 10 in the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, Realtors can’t deny equal professional services or discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.  The current code does not mention sexual orientation or gender identity, and NAGLREP expects a final vote on our proposal by the NAR Professional Standards Committee this November in New Orleans during the NAR 2010 annual meetings.  Recently NAR director Bob Hunt wrote an article in Realty Times speculating the change in NAR policy in San Diego during the NAR annual meetings in November 2009 will help expand the anti-discrimination policy.

In January 2010, NAGLREP director Eric Kodner was appointed to the board of the  National Association of Realtors Equal Opportunity – Cultural Diversity Committee (EOC).  It is exciting as NAGLREP has since been invited by NAR to participate in a forum of the EOC during the NAR midyear meetings this May in Washington, DC.  We will also join the EOC on ‘Hill Day” when we’ll visit Capitol Hill to speak with legislators about GLBT rights and amending the federal equal housing opportunity laws to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

In February 2010, Kodner received his certification by the National Association of Realtors to teach their “At Home With Diversity” Course.  Kodner joins a select group of fewer than two hundred NAR-Certified instructors in North America who are approved to teach the coursework for the At Home With Diversity certification. The course addresses issues of diversity, fair housing and cultural differences.

NAGLREP will celebrate our 3rd annual meeting during the 2010 NAR annual meetings this November in New Orleans. During the 2010 NAR annual meetings, NAGLREP has been invited by 2010 NAR President Vicki Cox Golder to speak with her in a private meeting  to discuss equal housing opportunity for the GLBT community.  It surely is an exciting time.