As a realtor, would you take on gay clients?

[fix]

So if two men approached the realtor he should assume they are homosexual?

Wouldn’t that be like assuming every man in a monastery is homosexual?

JJ

From the OP:

I have two friends who are gay and they are married to each other. They asked me the other day if I would recommend my realtor.

No assumption necessary.

 

[Uncle_Norbert]

We should love gays and try to help their problem. However I think the question is, if the realtor takes this gay couple on ,would he be “confirming” and supporting somebodys sins because he is helping them buy a house together that they will be co-habiting together in(living in sin). In this way the realtor could be partly responsible and could be a mortal sin for himself(because he is helping a sinful relationship)

I do feel bad for the gay “couple” because they might feel rejected if they realtor decides not to go with them, and thus they might get a bad distorted view of christianity which may effect their potential conversion later on in life…So it really is a hard situation because theres a good chance the realtor will be commiting a mortal(or at least a great venial) sin by helping this couple…

The realtor has an obligation to his employer, whether it be to the firm, franchise, whatever. You can’t withhold services unrelated to their lifestyle based on their sexual preference. Remember “Planks and Specks”.

When I am called to service a home heating unit, I don’t accept or deny the customers service request based on their sexual orientation/preference. They are asking for their heat to be fixed, not for me to preside over their ceremony or lifestyle.

 

[CapaxDei]

I put “married” so that you can understand the laws we have in Canada and that according to the Crown, they are granted the right to be called married.

The “Crown.” How quaint. That would be the same crown that persecuted Catholics in England and Ireland, wouldn’t it?

 

[Sina]

Pretty much if you want to go that far back through Colonialism.

 

[Julianna]

The realtor has an obligation to his employer, whether it be to the firm, franchise, whatever. You can’t withhold services unrelated to their lifestyle based on their sexual preference. Remember “Planks and Specks”.

When I am called to service a home heating unit, I don’t accept or deny the customers service request based on their sexual orientation/preference. They are asking for their heat to be fixed, not for me to preside over their ceremony or lifestyle.

:tiphat: Makes perfect sense to me.

 

[blessedtoo]

When I am called to service a home heating unit, I don’t accept or deny the customers service request based on their sexual orientation/preference. They are asking for their heat to be fixed, not for me to preside over their ceremony or lifestyle.

However, assisting someone in buying a home together is slightly different. There are some situations that may require more discernment.

I had to undergo some treatments for a medical problem and the physical therapist who helped me was a lovely young women of whom I grew quite fond. We talked about many things, including my pastry business and her farm on the Island. After many months of therapy and exchanges of personal information, she asked me if I would bake her “Wedding” Cake for her “marriage” to her girlfriend. I could not do it as I felt that by participating, even in this “professional” capacity, I would be compromising my committment to the truth of my Catholic faith.

Selling homes to couples/families is also a very personal thing. I do believe you learn alot about the client and their desires and needs. I would feel hypocritical for feigning joy and happiness in a situation that I feel so strongly opposed to.

 

[fix]

However, assisting someone in buying a home together is slightly different. There are some situations that may require more discernment.

Exactly. These scenarios can become complicated quickly. Take a builder of offices and a person who works for a refuse company. Would it be the same moral weight if the builder agreed to build an abortion clinic for a client as the guy who works for a corporation that picks up the garbage at every business on that street?

Just the like the OP case there is a difference between actually assisting such a couple to purchase a house knowing the intent is to publicly live as man and wife and providing some service that is futher away from the moral issue like repairs.

 

[Em_in_FL]

By law, if you are a Realtor, you are not allowed to discriminate against “familial status” (which is where this would fall under, I believe)…

You can, of course, skirt the issue by saying you have too many clients, etc… but unless you have proof of that in court, you may be liable if a prospect feels discriminated.

Like any business… it’s a tough issue!

Here’s the link to the code of ethics for Realtors… Article 10 discusses this.

I am thinking (unfortunately) that they need to pick up the lastest copy of the gay newspaper in the area and look for realtors whose ad’s show up in the paper there…

Actually you can’t even do that…

Standard of Practice 10-3​

  REALTORS® shall not print, display or circulate any statement or advertisement with respect to selling or renting of a property that indicates any preference, limitations or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. (Adopted 1/94, Renumbered 1/05 and 1/06)

 

[dddave]

I think cooperating with another’s sin is a really bad idea.

So you think being born Gay is a sin? Sounds like God messed up some genes to me.

 

[He_Man]

Depends on the commision.

 

[fix]

So you think being born Gay is a sin?

Nope.

Sounds like God messed up some genes to me.

Is every inclination we each have good to act on?

 

[Sina]

I don’t think anyone was saying being born gay is a sin ( and some people believe that you chose to be gay, but I personally don’t believe that ).

You DO chose to follow through on your same sex attraction and get married. That is what this discussion is about.

I don’t think there is any reason why a Realtor wouldn’t help a single gay person find a home. Whether you know if that person is engaging in same sex relations is not the question because we don’t generally ask other people how their sex lives are. But marriage is an outward sign of a love union. The sex is assumed

 

[Exalt]

I have a question:

In other threads, underage drinking has been discussed. In those threads, the general Catholic consensus was that you ought to follow the law. “Give to ceasar what is ceasar” kinda thing. Now, whether or not you can get *away *with discriminating against gay people seems totally contrary to the point that Catholics were talking about in the other forum. It’s against the law. You shouldn’t do it. Right?

 

[TMC]

yes no business person is required to accept all clients who approach him, he simply says I am not able to help you, without giving a reason, and refers them to someone else. where you get in trouble with discrimination laws is giving a reason, where the reason is against the law.

While you are probably right in practice, technically I think that where you get in trouble is in having a reason that is against the law. Proving that you have reason that is against the law maybe another matter. But for realtors this would be very risky, their license (and more) is on the line and (at least in the US) the gov’t can prove discrimination by sending test couples to the realtor and see which get rejected. They don’t really need direct proof of intent.

I think that fix has it right in post #19. I also think that if someone does not feel they could offer these kinds of services to gay people, unmarried couples, or whatever, that is their choice and they should follow their conscience, but they probably need to find a new line of work.

For the OP - can’t you just ask the realtor if he/she would like to take these people as clients?

 

[fix]

I have a question:

In other threads, underage drinking has been discussed. In those threads, the general Catholic consensus was that you ought to follow the law. “Give to ceasar what is ceasar” kinda thing. Now, whether or not you can get *away *with discriminating against gay people seems totally contrary to the point that Catholics were talking about in the other forum. It’s against the law. You shouldn’t do it. Right?

If it is a just law then it should be followed. The Vatican has said:

1. “Sexual orientation” does not constitute a quality comparable to race, ethnic background, etc. in respect to non-discrimination. Unlike these, homosexual orientation is an objective disorder (cf. “Letter,” No. 3) and evokes moral concern.

1. There are areas in which it is not unjust discrimination to take sexual orientation into account, for example, in the placement of children for adoption or foster care, in employment of teachers or athletic coaches, and in military recruitment.

1. Including “homosexual orientation” among the considerations on the basis of which it is illegal to discriminate can easily lead to regarding homosexuality as a positive source of human rights, for example, in respect to so-called affirmative action or preferential treatment in hiring practices. This is all the more deleterious since there is no right to homosexuality (cf. No. 10) which therefore should not form the basis for judicial claims…

 

[Sina]

I have a question:

In other threads, underage drinking has been discussed. In those threads, the general Catholic consensus was that you ought to follow the law. “Give to ceasar what is ceasar” kinda thing. Now, whether or not you can get *away *with discriminating against gay people seems totally contrary to the point that Catholics were talking about in the other forum. It’s against the law. You shouldn’t do it. Right?

I have wondered that too.

 

[Sina]

For the OP - can’t you just ask the realtor if he/she would like to take these people as clients?

To be honest, I feel uncomfortable asking my realtor. I am still working with him on purchasing a home. I would rather do it after our deal is over, because I would sort of be a bit narked at him if he said he doesn’t deal with gay couples. I can’t help it.

I would rather have him and my gay friends deal with each other on their own. But I guess I DID provide the reference. My gay friends are looking around anyways and aren’t 100% serious about buying another house right now… so there is no urgency.

 

[Polaris]

If it is a just law then it should be followed. The Vatican has said:

I just think this was odd to leave out 12 when you are discussing this issue, so I thought I would post it. You might want to include what you are refering to

SOME CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING THE RESPONSE TO LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS ON THE NON-DISCRIMINATION OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

1. Homosexual persons, as human persons, have the same rights as all persons including the right of not being treated in a manner which offends their personal dignity (cf. No. 10). Among other rights, all persons have the right to work, to housing, etc. Nevertheless, these rights are not absolute. They can be legitimately limited for objectively disordered external conduct. This is sometimes not only licit but obligatory. This would obtain moreover not only in the case of culpable behavior but even in the case of actions of the physically or mentally ill. Thus it is accepted that the state may restrict the exercise of rights, for example, in the case of contagious or mentally ill persons, in order to protect the common good.

(I personally hate this paragraph because it can be used either way saying a gay man has a right to a house and I have heard it used to say that Gays should be placed in concentration camps to “protect the public”)

 

[Exalt]

If it is a just law then it should be followed. The Vatican has said:

Wow.

Well that’s cool. I know the church has produced some controversial stuff… But yeah. Is this “definative” or whatever? Or is it kinda like the Vatican’s position on the death penalty?

 

[Renton405]

By law, if you are a Realtor, you are not allowed to discriminate against “familial status” (which is where this would fall under, I believe)…

You can, of course, skirt the issue by saying you have too many clients, etc… but unless you have proof of that in court, you may be liable if a prospect feels discriminated.

Like any business… it’s a tough issue!

Here’s the link to the code of ethics for Realtors… Article 10 discusses this.

Actually you can’t even do that…

But if you told them you had “too many clients” when you didn’t, you would be lying which would constitute another mortal sin…How does one get out of this situation? maybe just ignore it and hope it blows off??

And I agree, changing a heater is alot different than helping somone buy a house…

I do believe however, that a person shouldn’t be forced to work with someone who he feels would be putting him in dangerous mortal sin…