It is been an exciting time for the LGBT Real Estate Community. Founded in 2007 by REALTOR Jeff Berger, NAGLREP is a trade organization with a mission of advocacy and business.
NAGLREP is best known for assisting the LGBT and all communities locate LGBT & Gay Friendly REALTORS and for their work in helping amend the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation as a protected class. Prior to sexual orientation being included to the NAR Code of Ethics in January 2011, sexual orientation in housing discrimination was more or less an unspoken topic within the REALTOR community. Prior to the change, if an LGBT person was discriminated against by a REALTOR for their sexual orientation there was no action taken because there were no rules to act upon at NAR. The most recent changes are bringing awareness to the topic and setting a new standard for fair housing and employment non discrimination. HUD soon after in 2011 announced similar policy including sexual orientation and gender identity non discrimination. Thankfully the number of complaints since the change has been limited but it is important to note that there have been recorded incidents of discrimination.
The NAR code of ethics includes both REALTOR to customer conduct and employment conduct. We have been asked why this matters so much and it is our belief that the change will have even a larger impact than fair housing. NAR is the largest trade organization in he United States with over 1 million members. NAGLREP feels the recent change will set a precedent when Congress looks at ENDA, the employment non discrimination act. Congress will clearly see NAR as an example of how other trade organizations and businesses administer policy.
NAGLREP also feels confident that gender identity will also be added to the NAR Code of Ethics by January 2014. NAGLREP introduced the proposal to NAR in 2011 and already the concern has received a unanimous vote in 2012 by the NAR Diversity Committee, NAR Professional Standards Committee, and the NAR Board of Directors. The next and final vote will be by the NAR Delegate Body this November 2013 during the NAR annual meetings in San Francisco.
Jeff Berger is soft spoken and says “Overnight success takes ten years. NAGLREP just celebrated our 5th annual meeting and we look forward to the next 5 years and thereafter.”
Jeff Berger is a REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty serving East Boca Raton & East Delray Beach, FL, serves as the CEO of NAGLREP, is a member of the 2013 NAR Housing Opportunity Committee, and is a member of the 2013 Florida REALTORS Diversity Committee. He can be reached via email berger.jeff@gmail.com and via phone 561-865-6117.
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