A fellow REALTOR® has posted racist content on social media. Is there a process in place for me to lodge a complaint?
Texas REALTORS® and all levels of the REALTOR® association are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Code of Ethics, however, only applies to real estate-related activities. If the posts you describe are real estate related—for example, about clients or transactions—you may file an ethics complaint through normal channels.
Racially offensive posts that are not related to real estate activities may fall under local association bylaws and membership duties. For example, according to a local association bylaws provision required by NAR, members must “promote the standards, interests, and welfare of the association and the real estate profession.”
If the racially offensive posts are not tied to real estate activities, you can contact the member’s local association for potential processing under that association’s complaint procedures.
TAR should go after any racist remark made by a licensee, regardless of whether or not it has anything to do w/ real estate
The problem is determining what is racist these days. The term has been bastardized to the point where virtually any disagreement over any topic now results in one party calling the other racist. This is a slippery slope and no professional association has the right to limit free speech unless if violates law or professional standards. No local association wants to go to court over one party’s hurt feelings…there must be clear and convincing evidence of a violation that does not trample on 1st amendment rights of any party.
I agree. Unfortunately some claims of racism are at best in a gray area. I have no tolerance for genuine racism, but a solely political dispute does not rise to that level. Hopefully we never get to the point of limiting free speech. Also, in today’s society anyone spouting off truly racist ideas on social media will quickly find their business gone.
Social Media is not the real world. We are blessed to live in a great nation filled with good and decent people. We’re completely committed to standing for social justice and racial equality and that’s been the case going back decades. The American culture will reject racially offensive posts.