MOR’s Reinstatement of Pastor Brandon Huber Underscores NAR’s Weakened Code of Ethics
The Missoula Organization of Realtors (MOR) reinstatement of Pastor Brandon Huber’s REALTOR license is a result of controversial changes made to S.O.P. 10-5 of the REALTORS® Code of Ethics last June by the National Association of REALTORS Board of Directors. The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance still maintains that discriminatory behavior in any aspect of a REALTOR’s life also constitutes as being discriminatory in their real estate business. In this case, if Pastor Huber ever offered real estate counsel, got a lead referral and/or any direct business from members of his congregation, his role as a pastor coincided with his role as a REALTOR. Therefore, any discriminatory behavior in that role also is discriminatory in his role as a REALTOR.
The amended changes to REALTOR Code of Ethics S.O.P 10-5 reads:
Realtors, in their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estate-related activities, shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
As used in this Code of Ethics, harassment is unwelcome behavior directed at an individual or group based on one or more of the above protected characteristics where the purpose or effect of the behavior is to create a hostile, abusive, or intimidating environment which adversely affects their ability to access equal professional services or employment opportunity.
We maintain that REALTORS have a unique role in the markets they serve and routinely engage with members of the public and generate business in almost every aspect of their lives. This includes visits to the supermarket, social media, philanthropy work, second jobs, and even their children’s school, arts and sporting events or, in Huber’s case, as a local church leader. Our “real estate-related” activities are woven into all facets of our lives.
It is therefore impossible to distinguish how a person’s openly discriminatory actions made in their private lives would not be subject to a violation of the REALTOR Code of Ethics.