Everyone deserves to own a home. That includes LGBTQ+ Americans
For decades, the real estate industry has believed in a simple promise: Everyone deserves the opportunity to find a home and build a life in the community of their choosing.
Today, that promise is under pressure.
A new national survey from the Human Rights Campaign examines the first year of the current presidential administration and paints a troubling picture for LGBTQ+ Americans, a picture our industry cannot afford to ignore. Nor can the estimated 65,000 Realtors who have an LGBTQ+ child.
Under political pressure, many companies have shifted away from longstanding diversity, equity and inclusion practices creating uncertainty for LGBTQ+ employees. When workers are unclear where their company stands and feel unsafe, there are consequences: In this case, LGBTQ+ Americans are going back into the closet.
This is a trend that has a direct connection to future housing purchases.
According to Pew Research, 23 percent of Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+, nearly a quarter of the next generation of homebuyers. This is not a niche market. This is the future of housing demand.
Can we afford to leave that many people behind?
A community pulling back
One of the report’s most striking findings: Nearly half of LGBTQ+ adults (47.5 percent) say they are less “out” than they were a year ago.
- 26.5 percent are less open at work
- 25.4 percent in healthcare settings
- 28.3 percent in public spaces
This is more than a statistic; it’s a sign.
After decades of progress, LGBTQ+ Americans are retreating, making daily calculations about safety and visibility. When people feel less safe, they make different decisions about where they live, work and raise their families.
This is something I can speak to personally, having lived most of my corporate career in the closet. When you don’t live authentically, you live half a life. You don’t “invest” in your life in the same way
Ultimately, those decisions shape housing markets.
When policy shapes housing behavior
Public policy and political climate are not abstracts when they directly influence where people choose to live.
Research shows LGBTQ+ Americans are already:
- Turning down jobs
- Relocating to more inclusive regions
- Avoiding states or communities perceived as hostile
For the real estate industry, the implications are immediate:
- Population shifts between states
- Talent migration impacts local economies
- Demand changes in housing markets
- Community fragmentation and inequality
The report also finds LGBTQ+ adults are nearly twice as likely as non-LGBTQ+ adults to say their financial situation and health have worsened over the past year.
For an industry built around wealth creation through homeownership, this should be a wake-up call. Homeownership remains the single most powerful driver of generational wealth in America. When an entire community experiences economic strain, it translates directly into fewer home purchases, less equity creation and reduced long-term market growth.
For LGBTQ+ Americans, many of whom already face disparities in family support, healthcare costs and discrimination, these pressures compound the existing affordability and “wealth gap” concerns.
Why Realtors cannot stay silent
Let’s be real: Real estate does not operate in a vacuum. Our profession is shaped by the very forces influencing our clients’ lives.
Three realities are clear:
- Housing markets follow social climate. People live where they feel safe.
- Inclusion drives growth. Communities that welcome diversity attract talent, investment and sustained demand.
- Fair housing is foundational. It is not optional; it defines our credibility as an industry.
Ignoring these realities doesn’t make them disappear. It only leaves our industry unprepared for the changes already underway.
Our responsibility as industry leaders
The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance and our 3,000-plus members work every day to ensure that LGBTQ+ homebuyers, sellers and professionals are treated with dignity and respect. But this is bigger than any one organization.
It requires industrywide leadership.
That means:
- Defending and strengthening fair housing protections
- Supporting inclusive workplace policies
- Recognizing the direct link between public policy and housing access
- Ensuring LGBTQ+ clients feel safe and respected in every transaction
The real estate industry has enormous influence. How we use it matters.
The stakes for housing
Housing is more than a financial transaction. It is where safety, stability and belonging take root.
When nearly half of LGBTQ+ Americans feel less safe being visible, it should concern anyone who understands what healthy housing markets require: trust, stability and inclusion.
The real estate industry has always been about opportunity.
If we want that opportunity to remain real for everyone, we must pay attention to what these findings are telling us and act accordingly.
Because the future of housing in America depends on whether everyone truly has a place to call home.
Mary Mancera is interim CEO at the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance.
Additional Info
Source : https://www.inman.com/2026/03/23/everyone-deserves-to-own-a-home-that-includes-lgbtq-americans/