About

Introduction

2021 Founding President and Chairman Emeritus John Thorpe joins members of the Alliance’s Board of Directors, Sean Frank ’20-’23, Jackie Garber ’20-’23, Octavius Smiley Humphries ’20-’23), and Founding National Treasurer, Scott Armstrong ’20-’21.

The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance was launched in June 2020 by leading members of the real estate industry. Influential real estate professionals and allies joined with other members of the LGBTQ+ community to create a new voice in real estate. 

The Alliance began accepting members from a wide range of professionals in the real estate and housing industries starting October 2020. There are currently more than 3,100 active people on the organization’s Facebook page.

Founded as a Minnesota non-profit corporation, The Alliance received its 501(c)6 IRS approval on June 23, 2020.  The Alliance is dedicated to enhancing the professional lives of our members while providing consumers with the proper resources to assist in buying, selling, and enjoying their home.

Because sexual orientation and gender identity exist on a spectrum, it’s impossible to characterize it briefly. LGBTQ+ stands for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities. The “Plus” encompasses all the identities that are not covered in the acronym. including Allies.

The traditional colors of the rainbow typically represent the lesbian, gay and bisexual communities. Our logo includes blue and pink which represent the transgender community. The black and brown colors represent the Black community, Indigenous people and people of color (BIPOC).

For any minority group, the support of allies are critical. Allies are the people that do not fit into the LGBTQ+ identity, but support the equal rights of those within the community.

Allies can include individuals and even companies like our Corporate Partners. 

The law allows discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in 31 states 

This single fact is the why our mission and the services of LGBTQ+ real estate practitioners are so vital to the community.

Although LGBTQ+ people are protected in some states and municipalities, federal Fair Housing Laws do not include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes. This allows legal discrimination in 27 states which can cause barriers to homeownership, obtaining a loan, renting, and more.* 

The LGBTQ homeownership rate is 49%, far below the homeownership rate of 64% for the general population. Fear of any type of discrimination in the future home buying process is a concern for 46% renters.*

Vision

To create a world free of housing discrimination.​

Mission

Advocate. Elevate. Celebrate.
Advocate for fair housing for all and promote LGBTQ+ homeownership. Elevate professionalism in the industry through education and networking. Celebrate diversity and inclusion in our members and allied partners.

Values

Community
Collaboration
Equality + Equity
Inclusion
Transparency
Pride

Core Belief

We believe in accountable leadership to the members of the organization, as well as the practice of transparency from all members, in all things. We will be an organization that hears every voice and will reflect the values and ethics of its members.

Leadership

The Alliance is governed by a system of organizational checks and balances.  We have an elected corporate Board of Directors over the 501(c)6 organization, Elected Officers and a Chapter Delegate Board to lead the National Membership Program, and a Corporate Advisory Board to provide industry insight.  Additionally, we are proud to employ a staff dedicated to the management of the organization. 

This structure is unlike any LGBTQ+ organization in the industry. 

National Officers

John Thorpe
National President + Chair of the Board

Alex Cruz
National Vice President

Patrick Ruble
National Secretary 

Scott Armstrong
National Treasurer (Interm)

Tim Garvey
Parliamentarian 

Board of Directors

Sean Frank 

Dave Gervase

Jackie Garber

Austin Rowe

Val Scinto

Octavius Smiley-Humphries

John Thorpe

Staff

Ryan Weyandt
Chief Executive Officer

Mary Mancera
VP, Business + Relationship Management

David Siroty
VP, Communications + PR

Councils

Commercial Advisory Council
Zach Krasman and Mark Rosenberg, Co-Chairs

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council
Octavius Smiley-Humphires, Chair

Mortgage Advisory Council
Valerie Saunders and Kimber White, Co-Chairs

Policy + Advocacy Council
Christopher Suranna and Tim Garvey, Co-Chairs

Alliance Resource Groups (ARGs)

International Ambassadors 
Guy Parker, Chair

PRISM: Professionals of Color
Kimberly Davis, Chair

Veteran & Military Advisory Group
Togasii Peko, Chair

Women’s Network
TBA

Thank You

The organization was conceptualized by and created at the direction of a 53-person Steering Committee, led by an 11-person Executive Board headed by Chairperson Ryan Weyandt. Ryan was nominated and elected to this role by the members of the Steering Committee.

Together, these volunteers combined their passion, knowledge and expertise to guide the development of critical assets including bylaws, mission + vision statements, a website, naming, branding, and chapter development. 

We also greatly appreciate the financial support of our Founding Contributors who helped fund the establishment of our organization. Without these individuals, our organization would not be where it is today.

Listed alphabetically by first name.

 

Alex Cruz

Joshua Baumgardner

Amelia Robinette

Julie Nelson

Amy Adams

Kenneth Osborn

Anthony Hitt

Kimber and Grady White

Anthony Vulin

Lauren Feher

Brandon Jordan

Lydiana Navarro

Brian Maguire

Marcus Saitschenko

Brian Tiffany

Mark S. Rosenberg

Bruce Williams

Martin Scott

Christopher Suranna

Mary Mancera

Chuck Garrett

Michael Jewer

Darryl Hunt

Michael Tessaro

Dave Gervase

Michael Ussery

David Ferrando

Mj Moss

Dennis Gorman

Monty D Smith

Ellen Grubert

Nada Djomehri

Eric Axelson

Octavius Smiley-Humphries

Eric Wyse

Portia Ryan

Erin Morrison

Rodney Mason

Geoff Hamill

Ron Crouse

Guy Parker

Ryan Weyandt

Jackie Garber

Sandy & Jeff Naragon

Jay Feldman

Scott Poe

Jeffrey Lines

Shannon Brien

Jeff Little

Skip Kirst

Jen Haggard

Spencer L Eiseman

Jim Meyer

Timothy Garvey

John Harper

Tracie Mayo

John Thorpe

Valeria Scinto

John Westfall-Kwong

Zachary Krasman

National Chapter Program

 

NOW OPEN: 50+ Chapters in 30+ States

Delegates in more than 30 states launched more than 50 chapters in 2020. Our initial plan began with the introduction of Alliance chapters in Austin, Atlanta, Orlando, Baltimore, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles in early Q4 2020.  Due to their success, and demand, the program has quickly grown with ambitions of international expansion coming in 2021 based on current demand in Canada and Europe.

The mission of the Alliance Chapter Program is to provide local gathering points for LGBTQ+ and allied real estate and housing industry practitioners. We want to enrich members’ lives through education and networking opportunities that cultivate and grow their businesses and enhance their professional lives.  We also aim to deliver rich advocacy and philanthropic platforms.

Our quest is to build the scope and influence of chapters at the local level through partnerships with local nonprofits and through programming that integrates LGBTQ+ groups like NGLCC, PFLAG, NFHA, and state and local real estate associations. We seek to increase the awareness and understanding of issues and challenges that confront LGBTQ+ customers.

The colors above depict the 13 Chapter Delegate Regions.

Meet Our Chapter Leaders

Corporate Partners

According to our friends at NGLCC*, the LGBTQ+ community has an annual purchase power of over $1 trillion in the U.S. and an estimated $3.7 trillion globally. The community is a huge consumer force that votes with its dollars. 72% of LGBTQ+ people have made a conscious decision to make a purchase over the past 12 months partially due to a company’s LGBTQ-inclusion.*

This equates to opportunity for companies that want to tap into the power and influence of LGBTQ+ real estate practitioners who sway the choices of LGBTQ+ customer. 80% of LGBTQ+ agreed that companies that support LGBTQ+ equality will get more of their business this year.*

Through its partnership offerings, the Alliance strives to be a partner that listens to your feedback, enriches your business plans, educates your workforce about LGBTQ+ and increases your business by approaching LGBTQ+ issues as a business opportunity and value-add.

Meet our Founding Partners

Corporate Partner Presentation Cover


Learn about Corporate Partnership Opportunities


For a copy of the Alliance 2021 Corporate Partnership Program, email Mary Mancera

Contact

General Contact

[email protected]

PO Box 18491
Saint Paul, MN 55118

Media Inquiries

[email protected]

 

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Organized by your local LGBTQ+ leaders

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