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2024 was an enchanting yr for me for lots of causes. I obtained my actual property dealer’s license, and I left the nice and cozy cocoon of Coldwell Banker D’Ann Harper, the place I had first joined the trade in 2017 as the primary overtly transgender actual property skilled in Texas, and began my very own brokerage, Jewel Actual Property.
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As I’m going about my day, I don’t personally expertise hate from common of us out locally. Positive, some folks might glare at me as I stand over 6 ft in heels, however nobody calls me out, yells at me or has yanked me from a rest room.
However this isn’t nearly me. I concern that too many actual property professionals suppose solely the TGX neighborhood is below assault. Though it’s true that I, and the 0.6 p.c of TGX Individuals who’re merely attempting to reside our lives, have turn out to be cultural and political lightning rods, the assaults on us are additionally impacting all within the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. We’re all involved about what is happening as we speak.
Affect on LGBTQ+ actual property professionals
As you’ll be able to think about, these are disturbing instances for members of the Alliance, together with the practically 25 p.c who’re allies.
Clearly, we have now TGX members who want our assist. We even have TGX associates and purchasers, together with these households with a TGX youngster, attempting to determine if they need to primarily turn out to be political refugees and flee for extra welcoming states and communities. The identical holds true for a lot of nervous LGBTQ+ folks exterior of the TGX neighborhood.
We’re additionally speaking to our youthful members who, for the primary time of their lives, are dealing with uncertainty and questioning if the progress we made can or will likely be reversed. Many have solely recognized marriage equality, the power to have kids and a possibility to succeed in school and work, like anybody else. These younger individuals are scared.
We’re deeply involved that, regardless of our hopes of dwelling in a welcoming society, there are those that will attempt to remove our bigger LGBTQ+ wins, whereas they demonize the TGX neighborhood. We are able to’t let that occur, and we hope the individuals who shared their constructive views of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood with GLADD earlier final yr in its “Accelerating Acceptance 2024” report will get up and converse out.
That is what the report confirmed:
A 91 p.c supermajority of non-LGBTQ Individuals agree that LGBTQ+ folks ought to have the liberty to reside their lives and never be discriminated in opposition to.
An 84 p.c supermajority of non-LGBTQ Individuals assist equal rights for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
76 p.c of non-LGBTQ+ adults are snug having a transgender and/or nonbinary particular person at their place of worship.
75 p.c of non-LGBTQ+ adults are snug studying a member of the family is homosexual, lesbian or bisexual.
Why this issues to you
You might be questioning what any of this has to do with you, the actual property skilled. Permit me to say that it has all the pieces to do with you.
First, the Alliance estimates conservatively that 150,000 Realtors have an LGBTQ+ youngster. All of us need our society to welcome your youngster and permit them a pathway to pleasure and prosperity, together with homeownership. It gained’t occur if we stand on the sidelines.
Subsequent are the a whole lot of 1000’s of actual property professionals who love and assist a relative, good friend and/or colleague who identifies as a part of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. We’d like you — our allies — to know our issues and stand by us.
The ultimate group is the biggest. It’s everybody who makes a dwelling working in and round this actual property trade. Every of us is answerable for supporting each particular person’s proper to an actual property shopping for and promoting expertise, free from discrimination. This consists of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
LGBTQ+ homebuying: On the rise
We have gotten a extra seen and important a part of the actual property market. In response to Zillow’s 2024 Purchaser Housing Developments Report, 11 p.c of homebuyers in 2024 recognized as LGBTQ+, a soar from 7 p.c in 2019. This can be a large quantity. To place it in perspective, it’s the similar because the variety of single males who not too long ago bought a house, in response to NAR.
The U.S. Census Bureau experiences 1.2 million same-sex {couples} reside within the U.S. and same-sex marriages have elevated by 70 p.c because the 2015 legalization of same-sex marriage. On the similar time, UCLA’s Williams Institute famous that 18 p.c of LGBTQ+ folks and 18 p.c of married same-sex {couples} have kids. These are our purchasers, our members and our associates.
Amid progress, challenges nonetheless stay
Regardless of this progress, discrimination stays a harsh actuality for a lot of. Almost 30 p.c of LGBTQ+ people have confronted harassment or discrimination in housing settings up to now yr, in response to the Middle for American Progress.
Moreover, the Alliance’s 2024-member survey discovered that 27.1 p.c of respondents imagine discrimination in opposition to LGBTQ+ potential homebuyers has elevated over the previous three years. This elevated from 21 p.c a yr in the past and 17.9 p.c in 2022.
For older LGBTQ+ adults, the challenges may be much more extreme. AARP discovered that 45 p.c of LGBTQ+ adults 45 and over concern age-based discrimination at work. That is an apparent obstacle to monetary safety and the potential for homeownership.
And, as an necessary reminder, in response to an LGBTQ+ Actual Property Alliance survey, our members imagine that actual property professionals stay a number one offender of the place discrimination is seen to LGBTQ+ purchasers in the course of the shopping for and promoting course of.
Main the cost
Whereas I’ve shared some stats and numbers concerning the LGBTQ+ neighborhood, I’m actually speaking about folks constructing their futures, dreaming of their first dwelling, and households searching for a spot to develop. LGBTQ+ individuals are human beings, plain and easy. Like all Individuals, I and all LGBTQ+ folks deserve the precise to thrive, not simply exist.
The LGBTQ+ Actual Property Alliance will proceed to steer the cost, however we will’t do it alone. It takes all of us to maintain constructing an trade that’s really inclusive. By advocating for honest housing, educating ourselves and treating each former, present or future shopper with respect, we may help extra folks obtain the American dream of homeownership.
Jamie Zapata is a Realtor and LGBTQ+ advocate primarily based in San Antonio, Texas, the place she focuses on serving the wants of a various shopper base. Join together with her on Fb.
