June is Pride Month! We work to support the LGBTQ+ community in real estate, fight discrimination and encourage equal and Fair Housing for everyone.
Learn the in-depth history of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the U.S., courtesy of the History Channel, here.
Also, connect with your peers and support a local establishment at our D77 Meetup on Thursday, June 18th. We’re getting together at Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar, an LGBTQ+-owned restaurant!
Join Us At the 360° Summit This June!
On Thursday, June 13th, join us as we host our third annual 360° Summit: Leading with Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. During this event, we’ll explore new ways to be champions for diversity, equity and inclusion in our communities and learn from DEI leaders across the country. RSVP today!
Complete The Ally Certificate Program
Our Industry Partner, the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, offers and Ally Certificate Course! Virtual classes are taking place on June 27. Register to save your seat!
LGBTQ+ Protections In Real Estate
In addition to sexual orientation and gender identity being protected classes in Chicago and Cook County, Article 10, mandated by the NAR’s Code of Ethics states:
“REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.“
However, the law still allows discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in 27 states. This allows legal discrimination which can cause barriers to homeownership, obtaining a loan, renting, and more.
Pride & Policy
- “The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits sex discrimination by most landlords and, as the Supreme Court held in 2020 (Bostock v. Clayton County), discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is sex discrimination. Thus, The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity” (learn more on the ACLU’s Know Your LGBT Rights resource page).
- The state of Illinois and Cook County law also state it is illegal to discriminate against any individual based on gender identity and sexual orientation. If you or your client experience any discrimination, make sure to report the incident to the Commission of Human Relations.
- As recently as January 20, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13988, “Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.” This order expands the discrimination protections previously offered solely on the basis of sex into the categories of gender identity and sexual orientation.
- Read the Discrimination and Its Impact On LGBTQ+ Community: Real Estate Professionals and Consumers Report from the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills
There has been an explosion of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state houses across the nation with more than 320 bills that have been introduced in 2024 alone. Discriminatory anti- LGBTQ+ bills equated to 340 in 2023 and approximately 191 in 2021.
Your Guide To Pride Celebrations Around Town
- The Big Gay 5K (Virtual): June 1 – July 5
- Chicago Pride Fest: June 22 – 23
- 2024 Chicago Pride Parade: June 30
- Back Lot Bash: June 29 – 30
- Navy Pier Pride: June 29
Visit Choose Chicago for a full list of Pride events.
History Of Northalsted Neighborhood In Chicago
In seeking to recognize the neighborhood as an epicenter of LGBTQ+ culture, Chicago’s former mayor Richard M. Daley designated the neighborhood as America’s first officially recognized gay village in 1997.
In 1970, Chicago hosted its first-ever Pride parade and the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago also began opening its first health centers, community centers and bars during this time, increasingly coalescing around the area.
Today, Northalsted is one of the country’s most inclusive LGBTQ+ communities and the oldest officially recognized gay neighborhood in the entire country. In 2020, the neighborhood changed its name from Boystown to Northalsted.
Learn more about the history of the Northalsted neighborhood here and check out businesses and things to do around the Northalsted neighborhood here.
Visit The Legacy Walk
The Legacy Walk is an outdoor LGBTQ+ history exhibit in the city. This walk, which spans from 3245-3707 North Halsted Street, features 10 pairs of 25′-tall decorative steel “Rainbow Pylons” that define the nexus of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community.
As both the only installation and the largest LGBTQ+ site of its kind, the Legacy Walk was declared a Historic Landmark in 2019! Learn more and schedule a tour here.
The LGBTQ+ Journey To Homeownership
This information was gathered from the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance’s 2023 LGBTQ+ Journey to Homeownership Report.
The top ways discrimination is seen in the real estate market are:
- Landlord/leasing agent discriminated against a prospective tenant
- Legal forms needing signatures that do not adequately represent the life experiences of potential homebuyers
- Seller discrimination
- Real estate professionals discriminated against a prospective tenant
Top reasons that LGBTQ+ renters continue renting, according to LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance members:
- Belief that home prices are beyond their means
- Trouble saving for a down payment
- Need for more homebuying education
LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance members said the top barriers of entry for potential LGBTQ+ homebuyers are:
- Home prices
- Lack of downpayment funds
- Lack of understanding of homebuying
- Short-term financial concerns
LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance members said the top reasons their clients purchase a home are:
- Long-term financial investment
- Affordability
- Didn’t want to pay someone else’s mortgage
Learn More About Our Industry Partner, The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance
The LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance advocates for fair housing for all and promotes LGBTQ+ homeownership. It elevates professionalism in the industry through education and networking and celebrates diversity and inclusion in our members and allied partners.
