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Why Gay Marriage is Good for Real Estate

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Howard Hanna Rand Realty License # 49FA1074963

This might be a sensitive subject to some. However, I feel that my thoughts need to be expressed and our industry should be a leader and not a passive observer. I view gay marriage as an equal housing issue, and therefore something that should be supported by licensees.

The building bloc of society is people coupling up as families. Families buy real estate; single people are more prone to rent. To cut to the chase, legal gay marriage will attract more couples who will buy houses, period. The ripple effect will be considerable, because homeowners pay taxes, buy cars, washing machines, fences, new roofs, lawnmowers, and many other things that circulate money. If gay people wish to couple up and buy houses, we should support that. We should enthusiastically broker those deals. Many of us have already worked with gay clients (whether we knew it or not). But without the legal status that comes with marriage, those numbers will be suppressed.

Some might find it ironic that a straight, relatively conservative Roman Catholic would support gay marriage, but I find it more ironic that millions more of us think gay people are good enough to watch on TV in makeover or redecoration shows but not good enough for us to stick out our necks. Simply put, we should support gay marriage as real estate professionals. I am not on a soapbox advocating radical social change. As a matter of fact, mainstreaming gay marriage is actually a rather fiscally conservative, libertarian notion. To me, its very prohibition is antithetical to freedom and equality.

The United States has long been a nation where legal agreements between consenting people, so long as they do not harm others, should be respected and free from fear. Secular, non-religious covenants should not be offensive to religious precepts. Religion, which seems to be the biggest opponent, does not have to sanction, support or recognize any practice it does not sponsor, but do you ever see nuns picketing a civil wedding, which is also not recognized by the Church? Of course not. The gay things spooks people.

Let me tell you about the gay thing, and if you have a gay friend or loved one you'll know what I mean.  As a New York agent, home of the original melting pot, I can confidently state that gay people are no more a big deal than you or I. Hollywood has let gay people down. The media, especially the news outlets, has just hammered gay people. Here in North Jersey, an Indian American opened fire in a church and murdered two people. It was news for about a day. Elsewhere, some gay protesters disrupted a  church service and it was in the talkshow fodder for WEEKS. Consequently, you have the uninformed harboring outlandish generalities about gay people. Do we in the 21st century tolerate other stereotypes? Why are gays, then, the last victims of Jim Crow?

 I have never understood how gay people being married hurts the institution of marriage or our nation's moral fiber. I am not trying to be relativist, either, although I know some straight marriages that don't exactly edify marriage either. I do know this: since the fall of the iron curtain, Europe, which has far more tolerant attitudes about gays, has experienced unprecedented peace and prosperity. I seriously doubt that gay rights in Europe have undermined the EU's progress. It has in many ways probably helped.

Most minds will not be changed by my one commentary, and this is not the end justifying the means if your opinion is still not open to allowing gay marriage. If you think the gay lifestyle is immoral, don't practice it. However, if you think that by assisting gay couples who wish to buy real estate that you are sanctioning immorality, you are skating on very thin ice from an equal housing perspective. Jack Daniel's whiskey is produced in a dry county. No one views that as hypocritical, nor should they. The same principle applies to our industry and support of gay marriage. It is good for our industry and morally ambiguous to us personally.

If you are undecided or ambivalent, I encourage you to join me in sticking your neck out. Benign neglect is not enough. There is an under-serviced market out there, the service of which is mutually exclusive to puritanical mores. Separate your morality from equality. America is a nation where people who would be mortal enemies abroad engage in amicable and peaceful commerce. And, regardless of our personal prejudices, where there is commerce and prosperity, there is peace and harmony.

It is in our interest to extend a hand to gay and lesbian Americans and vocally offer them our best. I assert that it is best for the nation as a whole as well.

 

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Quad Cities My RealTeam (Mel Foster Co.)
Keith Allen Allborty - Davenport, IA

I doesn't matter who you are or why you're buying, my job is to find you the right home.  Whether it's two men, two women, a man and a woman, a widow, a single person, or a divorcee it doesn't matter treat people fair and respect their choices whether you agree or not.

Dec 31, 2008 05:14 AM
Mark MacKenzie
Phoenix, AZ

Great response from the Quad cities.

I don't know enough about the gay community to know if a ban on gay marriages is indeed deterring gay couples from buying a home together - this would surprise and saden me if this is the case.

 

 

Dec 31, 2008 06:46 AM
Bill Brannon
Beach Bum Productions - Hilton Head Island, SC

You are sure not afraid to swim in the deep in.  Good post.

Dec 31, 2008 06:48 AM
Linda Mae Croom
Topock, AZ
(928) 768-3040

"I have never understood how gay people being married hurts the institution of marriage or our nation's moral fiber."

J. Phillip, Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. If only everyone could view the world this way we would indeed be a much happier peaceful nation. I am in complete agreement with you as a Christian Real Estate Professional.

For now we have so called well meaning Christians ranting and raving against the right for Gay's to Marry and tens of thousands of Gay's then in turn spend countless days in the streets and in front of the media protesting the Christian's need to take this right away.

In effect, the Christians are bringing far more attention to this dilemma. They think they are protecting their children's and the world's morality climate when what they are doing is pushing the natural need in our youth to rebel further from their self righteous beliefs.

I believe it is my God given duty to LOVE EVERYONE and LET GOD BE OUR JUDGE AND JURY.

"It is in our interest to extend a hand to gay and lesbian Americans and vocally offer them our best. I assert that it is best for the nation as a whole as well."

Amen, God Bless and Happy New Year.

 

 

 

 

Dec 31, 2008 06:58 AM
Judi Bryan
Executive Realty Group - Bloomingdale, IL
Your Chicagoland Connection

J Phillip - Outstanding post!!!  And some very thoughtful responses to it as well!  I remember as a young mother (it was during the very early days of the "gay plague" as AIDS was referred to at that time, having the thought "what if it were MY CHILDREN" who were gay?  What would I feel?  How would I want them treated?  What could I do to make their life easier? What would it do to mine?

Personally, I've never believed that being "gay" was a choice...any more than being tall or short, white or black or brown.  It breaks my heart that so many in this country seem so bent on treating the gay population as something "less than" everyone else...or trying to fix them, cure them, reform them.  Zealots always seem to wear the face of the noble and pure and righteous, while casting stones with vigor!  There's something radically wrong with that picture! 

Thank you for shining a thoughtful, well-reasoned light on this subject!

Dec 31, 2008 01:55 PM
Gayle Balaban
The Best Spot Realty/Waterfront Real Estate/Ooltewah Real E - Chattanooga, TN
E. TN Waterfront Real Estate

Thank you for being willing to support people having a right to be.  I am not sure why it even needs to be called "gay" marriage, why not just marrigae!

Dec 31, 2008 11:45 PM
Robert Lani
Keller Williams - Seattle, WA

J Phillip, - Kudos for your insightful post.  I agree with the previous post that is should be just marriage not "gay" marriage.  As a gay person who is in a realationship I appreciate your support and writing about this controversial subject.

Jan 02, 2009 11:16 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

J. Phillip, WONDERFUL post.  Very well written and absolutely true.  Thank you so much for sharing it.

Jan 03, 2009 05:19 AM
Fran Gatti
RE/MAX Integrity - Medford, OR
Managing Principal Broker - RE/MAX Integrity

J. Phillip,

I appreciate that you are not afraid to take a stand. I think I will do likewise.

Jan 19, 2009 04:06 PM
Morgan Evans
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

Very impreseive and eloquent post, Phil.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts to our community.

Mar 23, 2010 02:18 AM
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