Distraction: LGBTQ rights, like marriage equality, are just social issues. We only focus on property rights.

Fact: Marriage is a property rights issue. Spouses share legal rights to property owned before, acquired or sold during, and inherited after death. Attacking marriage equality is an attack on core property rights.

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The Convenient Excuse

When REALTORS® raise concerns about LGBTQ rights, a common reply is:
“That’s just a social issue. We only focus on property rights.”

But this is a false divide. Marriage equality isn’t a “side” issue — it’s woven into the very foundation of property rights.

Why Marriage = Property Rights

• Ownership Before Marriage
  Spouses have clear legal claims to assets and liabilities brought into the marriage. Without equal marriage rights, LGBTQ partners can be left vulnerable and unprotected.
• Property Acquired During Marriage
  Homes purchased together, businesses built together, or real estate investments made during the marriage are shared property. Without marriage equality, LGBTQ couples face barriers to joint ownership, financing, and protections.
• Inheritance After Death
  Spousal inheritance rights — the right to stay in your home, to inherit without punitive taxation, to carry on family assets — are inseparable from marriage. Without legal recognition, LGBTQ partners are treated as strangers in the eyes of the law.

This isn’t abstract. These are the day-to-day realities of how property ownership works in America.

Article 10 Demands Higher Standards

The REALTOR® Code of Ethics is clear: discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is prohibited.

So when candidates and lawmakers attack marriage equality, they aren’t engaging in “just social issues” — they’re striking at the very heart of property rights, undermining fairness, security, and stability for millions of families.

The REALTOR® Role

• Protect Homeownership for All. REALTORS® exist to expand, not restrict, access to property ownership.
• Defend Against Discrimination. Article 10 isn’t optional. It’s a mandate that applies to every endorsement and every political dollar.
• Stand on Principles, Not Excuses. We cannot dismiss marriage equality as “someone else’s issue.” It is our issue — because it is a property rights issue.

The Bottom Line

Marriage equality isn’t a “social debate.” It’s a question of whether every American family has the same legal protections for buying, owning, and passing on property.

If we claim to stand for property rights, then we must also stand for marriage equality. Anything less is a betrayal of our Code of Ethics and our profession.