LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance

Policy Resolution and Endorsement 042123.01

Resolution Endorsing REALTOR Association/Organization Implementation of Commitment to Equality and/or Statement of Principles

 

The Officers, Board, members, and staff of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, through our advocacy platform, advocate for fair housing for all and promote LGBTQ+ homeownership. As such, we have adopted a Commitment to Equality and ask you to join us in adopting a binding Statement of Principles for your organization.

You’ll find two examples below which are based off successful interpretations and implementation of the collection of principles which make the Realtor organization special. We invite you to utilize these examples as a starting point and/or template to adopt verbiage which fits the needs of your association’s membership, mission, vision, and principles. We strongly encourage consideration of enshrining the full spirit of fair and equal housing as a tool to create and sustain thriving communities. 

Thank you for your willingness to continue to enhance our housing industry and your commitment to advocacy on behalf of your members. Many of them are our members as well.

Sample Statements for Adoption:

 

Commitment to Equality and Potential Questions Whereas It Pertains to Political Candidate Endorsements

• Local/State Association Commitment to Equality: We do not support legislation, ordinances, law, or other restrictions, proposed or existing, which limit equal professional real estate services, housing, real property ownership, or the pursuit or equal opportunity to pursue these things, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

___ Support ___ Oppose ___ Undecided ___ Please explain:

 

• General Question to ask of all Political Candidates: Will you support any legislation/ordinance/law/etc. that may limit equal professional real estate services, housing, or real property ownership, or the pursuit or equal opportunity to pursue these things, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

___ Support ___ Oppose ___ Undecided ___ Please explain:

 

• Fair Housing Question: NAR opposes discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin. This policy is embodied in NAR’s Code of Ethics. Currently, only half of the country has state or local laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Would you support an amendment to the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity?

___ Support ___ Oppose ___ Undecided ___ Please explain:

                                               

Statement of Principles Whereas It Pertains to Political Candidate Endorsements

(Name of assn/org) REALTORS^® and by extension, (state)PAC, is firmly committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect, and to upholding the goals and spirit of the Fair Housing Act and statement of values housed withing National Association of Realtors governing doctrine. 

• We expect any candidate, campaign, PAC, organization, or entity that receives funds from the (state) RPAC to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects our most fundamental values.
• (state) RPAC does not align itself with any political party.
• (state) RPAC has historically supported candidates, public officeholders, and issues that promote or defend REALTOR^® policy and legislative goals, regardless of political party. We call this approach the “REALTOR^® Party” concept and we are firmly committed to it.
• In evaluating whether to provide financial support to a candidate, the (state) RPAC Trustees may consider the extent to which recipients have abided by principles of respect, dignity, and equality.
• Recipients of RPAC funds should not, through speech, writing, imagery, conduct or any other means use negative and or disparaging epithets, threats of (or encouragement of) physical violence, harassing speech, hate speech, or slurs based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.