RPAC Funding, Ethics, and the Violation of Article 10 - The video provides a critical examination of the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) and its affiliated groups, arguing that their funding practices violate Article 10 of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. The author contends that RPAC's adherence to the unwritten "Friendly Incumbent Rule" frequently results in the endorsement and financial support of candidates who hold discriminatory positions against marginalized communities. Furthermore, the text highlights a significant lack of transparency and consent regarding member contributions, noting that mandatory fees and pre-checked boxes on renewal forms obscure political subsidization. The source also raises … (2 comments)
DISTRACTION: “National doesn’t control endorsements, the local committee does.” FACT: While local committees initiate endorsements, National RPAC holds veto power. If National objects, the endorsement is canceled and the result is neutrality. By refusing to negate endorsements of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-diversity candidates, NAR effectively approves them. One of the most common defenses REALTORS® hear is: “Don’t blame NAR — endorsements are made locally.” That’s only half the story. Yes, state and local RPAC committees screen and recommend candidates, but those endorsements don’t stand alone. For congressional and federal races, National RPAC must approve, and National has the ability to stop endorsements when candidates clearly violate our values and ethics. Here’s how it works: … (1 comments)
Also, can you tell me if it's the same in your state as it is in Texas. Every meeting of a board, committee, etc includes a TREPAC donation moment where members are reminded and drummed into giving to the PAC. In Education classes, if you were caught with your phone out, you were given a "citation" and had to pay $35 to TREPAC. On every board renewal and MLS dues payment there's an automatic PAC donation item added that we have to … (1 comments)
trepac: LGBTQ+ RE ALLIANCE CALLS ON NAR & RPAC TO STOP FUNDING ANTI-LGBTQ+
- 07/07/22 05:52 PM
June 29, 2022 President Leslie Rouda Smith Realtor® Party Director Hagan Stone National Association of REALTORS® 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW Washington DC 20001-2020 Dear President Smith and Director Stone, On behalf of LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance President and Chairman Dave Gervase, our 2022 Officers and Board of Directors, and our more than 2,500 members, and with endorsement of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) which represents close to 2 million LGBT business owners, I am writing to appeal to your ethical sense of duty in asking that the REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) cease funding any local, state or nationally elected officials or candidates who vote for … (1 comments)
trepac: Roe v Wade & LGBTQIA Realtors & Clients
- 05/02/22 10:00 PM
For many years I have blogged about how LGBTQIA rights hung by 5/4 court decisions predicated on the rights of the 14th Amendment. I have been asking that REALTOR PACs, especially TREPAC (Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee), abide by Article 10 of the Code of Ethics when deciding whom to endorse. Don't endorse bigoted, homophobic, transphobic, misogynist candidates. Insist that the people we back believe how we believe. Otherwise, why are we giving them our backing? I have been laughed at, blackballed, spoken to, spoken down to, ignored, and (they thought) contained. They've had the "good gays" dog my posts and swear … (2 comments)
trepac: Texas Association of Realtors Replies - LGBT Property Rights
- 06/29/15 10:10 AM
The other day I wrote another letter to the leadership of the Texas Association of Realtors and the Texas Political Action Committee asking them to defend the property rights of LGBT Citizens. After years of inaction I wantd to know if TAR would defend the property rights that come with marriage. Today I received a response that was not a response. _____________________ Bob - Thank you for your email. Please know that we appreciate your communication with the REALTOR organization, leadership and staff on equality of marriage and property rights. You and I have shared conversation and emails on TAR's public policy positions which … (10 comments)
trepac: It's Time to Stand Up For Property Rights for All Texans
- 06/26/15 06:26 AM
Dear TREPAC and Texas Association of REALTORS® The United States Supreme Court today granted Marriage Rights to all citizens across the United States. Along with Marriage comes PROPERTY RIGHTS which LGBT citizens can finally enjoy. Many of the Texas Politicians whom you have endorsed and to whom you have donated funds have a long history of using homophobia for votes and power.
Gov Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have ordered State employees to not honor the Supreme Court ruling and to continue denying same sex couples the rights of Property that come with Marriage. For two years I have written … (0 comments)
trepac: Denied Our Property Rights By Legislators We Endorse
- 05/07/15 04:48 PM
Marriage Equality is a Property Rights issue. There can be no debate that when people are legally married they have rights to the real property owned by their spouse prior to marriage. Both spouses have to sign when purchasing or selling any property they own during the marriage. There are also specific inheritance rights that married people enjoy the moment they say "I DO". Marriage Equality is a property rights issue.
The National Assocation of Realtors seems to be on track with supporting Marriage Eqality and protecting LGBT clients from discrimination via "Religious Freedom" bills. Yet in Texas, our politicians, endorsed by TREPAC … (0 comments)
On Monday, 63 Texas state officials signed a court brief claiming that Same Sex Marriage was the same as "bigamy, incest, pedophilia, and group marriage". They are asking the appeals court to not overturn the state ban on same sex marriage. But marriage equality is also property rights equality. And the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) should be supporting that aim. Sadly, out of those 63 state officials who signed the brief, most of them are recipients of TAR endorsements and TREPAC funds. In Texas, it appears that homophobic … (2 comments)
trepac: Policy Statement of Texas LGBT Realtors
- 05/02/14 06:14 AM
Policy Statement of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Gay & Lesbian Real Estate Professionals Whereas the Texas Association of Realtors (TAR), through its Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee (TREPAC), endorses candidates in local and state-wide elections * and Whereas TAR and TREPAC pride themselves on a "proven track record of protecting private-property rights, preserving the dream of homeownership, and supporting the vitality of the real estate industry." * and Whereas the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Code of Ethics Article 10 codifies that "REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, … (0 comments)
trepac: Separate and Unequal - Property Rights Are Important to All
- 04/30/14 02:34 PM
For many weeks I've been blogging about Marriage Equality and how it applies to Property Rights. There are many real property laws that kick in via marriage, particularly with a community property state such as Texas. * If one spouse owns a property, that property belongs to BOTH spouses regardless of who’s name is on the title. * If I bought a house completely in my name, it would still belong 50/50 to my spouse. That is not the case if you are not able to marry. * Furthermore, the laws of intestacy (dying without a Will) are greatly affected as … (1 comments)
trepac: From the President of the National Association of REALTORS®
- 04/12/14 02:25 PM
This evening I received a call from Steve Brown, President of the National Association of Realtors. He was between flights but wanted to reach out to me personally and let me know my blogs, conversations and posts about the "Religious Freedom" bills which promote discrimination have been on target. He wanted to personally read me a statement released from the National Association of Realtors to all state level association presidents concerning these bills:
I am very proud of the National Association of REALTORS® for taking this very brave and public stand against discrimination. This statement was reviewed by NAR's Professional Standards Committee … (37 comments)
trepac: Code of Ethics Under Attack by RPAC Endorsed Candidates (Updated)
- 04/02/14 04:55 AM
Discrimination is a REALTOR issue. Article 10 of the Code of Ethics requires Realtors to serve everyone equally. Our endorsed candidates should uphold these ethics, but currently no one is watching as RPAC and TREPAC endorsed candidates who pass laws that allow open discrimination. The new "Religious Freedom" Bills open the door for agents and other professionals discriminate against anyone with whom they have a "deeply held religious belief", even in violation of Fair Housing and the Realtor Code of Ethics. And brokers would be powerless to discipline or fire the agent.
Mississippi is the latest state to pass a … (8 comments)
trepac: Would you sell a home to these couples? You may not have to soon!
- 03/14/14 06:28 PM
A couple walks into your suburban real estate brokerage and wants to look at homes today. They have new jobs in your city and need a house near good schools. They need to move quickly and have a pre-qualification worth gold. Do you sign them up, put them in your car and go?
Well, if the new Religious Freedom bills circulating though many state legislatures are passed, you won't have to, and Article 10 of our REALTOR CODE OF ETHICS would be greatly affected.
These bills state that anyone with a "Deeply Held Religious Belief" can not be compelled … (0 comments)
trepac: Property Rights are REALTOR Issues. Our Candidates Should Agree
- 03/14/14 05:43 PM
In August 1996 I met Warren. We would spend 15 years together building a family and life. Over years we raised two great kids and bought several properties. We had mostly normal suburban lives with shopping, homework, jobs and family.
Because we lived in Texas, we knew our relationship would not be recognized by the state. We drew up wills to cover each other in case the worst happened, but we also knew that conservative judges would have to probate those wills. In 2003 Texas passed the Defense of Marriage Act and in 2005 the State voters passed an … (46 comments)
trepac: The REALTOR Party, human rights & the Code of Ethics
- 02/07/14 03:27 PM
Here's a Real Estate fact: * LGBT couples and individuals buy homes, pay taxes and are protected by the Code of Ethics under (Article 10). * Texas is ranked second in the nation by population for LGBT citizens, behind only California. Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth & Austin have well-organized communities and advocacy groups. I also suspect there are a large number of LGBT Realtors & Brokers out there too. We are your clients and your colleagues and the candidates our Texas PAC endorses over and over use our families as fodder for voters. It's insulting and discriminatory and at some point it must stop. … (7 comments)
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