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2024 was a captivating 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 business 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 a result of it looks like on daily basis there may be one other assault on the transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary (collectively often known as TGX) neighborhood and our rights, I’ve acquired tons of of emails, texts and calls to verify I’m OK. Please know I’m.
As I’m going about my day, I don’t personally expertise hate from common of us out in the neighborhood. Positive, some folks could glare at me as I stand over 6 toes in heels, however nobody calls me out, yells at me or has yanked me from a toilet.
However this isn’t nearly me. I worry that too many actual property professionals assume solely the TGX neighborhood is underneath assault. Though it’s true that I, and the 0.6 p.c of TGX Individuals who’re merely attempting to stay our lives, have develop into 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 right now.
Impression on LGBTQ+ actual property professionals
As you possibly can think about, these are anxious occasions for members of the Alliance, together with the almost 25 p.c who’re allies.
Clearly, we’ve got TGX members who want our help. We even have TGX buddies and shoppers, together with these households with a TGX little one, attempting to determine if they need to primarily develop into 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 going through uncertainty and questioning if the progress we made can or will likely be reversed. Many have solely identified marriage equality, the flexibility to have kids and a chance 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 rise 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 stay their lives and never be discriminated towards.
- An 84 p.c supermajority of non-LGBTQ Individuals help equal rights for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
- 76 p.c of non-LGBTQ+ adults are comfy having a transgender and/or nonbinary particular person at their place of worship.
- 75 p.c of non-LGBTQ+ adults are comfy studying a member of the family is homosexual, lesbian or bisexual.
Why this issues to you
Chances are you’ll be questioning what any of this has to do with you, the actual property skilled. Permit me to say that it has every little thing to do with you.
First, the Alliance estimates conservatively that 150,000 Realtors have an LGBTQ+ little one. All of us need our society to welcome your little one 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 tons of of hundreds of actual property professionals who love and help a relative, buddy and/or colleague who identifies as a part of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. We want you — our allies — to know our issues and stand by us.
The ultimate group is the most important. It’s everybody who makes a dwelling working in and round this actual property business. 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 contains the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
LGBTQ+ homebuying: On the rise
We have gotten a extra seen and important a part of the actual property market. In keeping with Zillow’s 2024 Purchaser Housing Tendencies Report, 11 p.c of homebuyers in 2024 recognized as LGBTQ+, a leap from 7 p.c in 2019. It is a massive 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 keeping with NAR.
The U.S. Census Bureau experiences 1.2 million same-sex {couples} stay 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 shoppers, our members and our buddies.
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 prior to now yr, in keeping with the Middle for American Progress.
Moreover, the Alliance’s 2024-member survey discovered that 27.1 p.c of respondents imagine discrimination towards 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 might be much more extreme. AARP discovered that 45 p.c of LGBTQ+ adults 45 and over worry age-based discrimination at work. That is an apparent obstacle to monetary safety and the potential for homeownership.
And, as an vital reminder, in keeping with 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+ shoppers throughout 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 on the lookout for a spot to develop. LGBTQ+ individuals are human beings, plain and easy. Like all Individuals, I and all LGBTQ+ folks deserve the best 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 business that’s actually inclusive. By advocating for truthful housing, educating ourselves and treating each former, present or future consumer with respect, we will 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 consumer base. Join along with her on Fb.
