RPAC-FUNDED LEGISLATORS HAVE SPONSORED 322 ANTI-LGBTQ+ BILLS ALREADY IN 2024; RPACs COMBINED TO DONATE $3.3 MILLION TO ANTI-LGBTQ+ POLITICIANS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS
St. Paul, Minn. (March 14, 2024) –The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance is calling all Realtor® Political Action Committees (RPACs) to refrain from endorsing and funding elected officials and candidates who openly engage in discriminatory behavior against the LGBTQ+ community. The Alliance has unveiled a webpage that tracks RPACs and their support of those who are openly discriminatory against the LGBTQ+ community. Over the last six years, which covers all of the most recent elections, RPACs around the nation have combined to award approximately $3.3 million to those who have taken the lead in anti-LGBTQ+ political activity. Those same funded legislators have introduced 322 anti-LGBTQ+ bills already in 2024 led by Oklahoma, Tennessee and Missouri RPACs which have supported 46, 29 and 25 elected officials, respectively, who have sponsored anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year.
“We are working with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and using services from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), to empower real estate professionals to bring about change,” said LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance President Anita Blue. “I live in Texas and am an agent with eXp Realty. I love working in real estate and know how important it is to fund pro-housing politicians. But too often, as our new site shows, RPACs are supporting those who are also anti-LGBTQ+. We launched the site to hopefully bring a needed discussion about changing the system on who receives RPAC funds. Housing and community go hand-in-hand and therefore those who divide us should not be supported.”
The new real estate industry tool cross-references those who author anti-LGBTQ+ bills from the ACLU with those who receive funding from RPACs from FollowtheMoney.org donation records.
The Alliance, with more than 4,000 members, previously proposed an “Article 10 Rule” that calls for RPACs to refrain from funding discriminatory officials even if they support legislation favorable to real estate professionals. The idea has been supported by Realtor® associations in Washington State, Washington D.C., Reno, and Palm Springs with several others considering it for adoption.
Article 10 of National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics reads in part:
Realtors® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. 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, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
“The Alliance has a responsibility to advocate on behalf of our LGBTQ+ members, along with current and potential LGBTQ+ homebuyers and sellers,” said Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. “There are already more than 320 bills sponsored in 2024 by RPAC-funded legislators. This needs to change. Thankfully we have so many allies standing with us including those who have taken the Stop Hate in Real Estate pledge. It is shameful that leaders of the real estate industry continue to have a blind eye towards those who blatantly discriminate against people who are different. Laws and bills that are discriminatory are a housing issue. They force people to consider and re-consider where they live. Real estate leaders and professionals can do better. We can use our power for good and hopefully, by pulling funding, make candidates reconsider their views. If Realtors must abide by the code of ethics, clearly those we support should be held to similar standards.”
A year ago, the Alliance called on Texas Realtors® and its Texas Realtors® Political Action Committee (TREPAC) to refrain from funding several state Senators and Representatives, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton who have authored or supported multiple discriminatory bills against the LGBTQ+ community. It also asked Florida Realtors® and Florida Realtors® PAC to pull its 2022 endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis based on his repeated discriminatory actions towards diverse groups including the LGBTQ+ community.
