NAR Letter to House Leadership Supporting H.R. 5 - "The Equality Act"
Issue Date: February 24, 2021
On February 24 NAR sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives.The letter expresses NAR’s support of H.R. 5 - “The Equality Act,” particularly its inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity as prohibited bases for discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. Discrimination in housing transactions limits the property rights of sellers and buyers and the ability of REALTORS® to conduct business. More fundamentally, housing discrimination is repugnant to our shared sense of fairness and decency. Our commitment to equal housing opportunity is enshrined in NAR’s Code of Ethics, which commits REALTORS® to provide equal professional service to all without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. REALTORS® celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision last June in Bostock v. Clayton County, in which it held that the prohibition on discrimination “because of sex” under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 included discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. By enacting the Equality Act, Congress can codify what is effectively the law of the land.