Last week, the Virginia Association of Realtors convicted a Christian member of “hate speech” for posting a Bible verse on Facebook opposing homosexuality and same-sex “marriage.” You could potentially lose thousands of dollars or even your career to a man.
“On Dec. 11, the group ruled that Wilson Fauver of Stanton violated a code of ethics that prohibits real estate agents from using 'certain religious expressions,'” according to CBN News. Mr. Fauver maintains he did nothing wrong and plans to appeal.”
after the fact
Fauver's so-called hate speech primarily consisted of two Facebook posts made years before the National Association of Realtors (NAR) banned such comments from its members.
“In 2015, I posted a Bible quote on my personal Facebook page,” Fauver told The Federalist. “About the same time, Reverend Franklin Graham was making a post, so I reposted it with a few additions for emphasis.”
These posts concerned the Biblical definition of marriage (which was still the law of the land at the time the posts were made) and the Bible's assertion that homosexual acts are a sin.
Eight years later, Fauver decided to run for City Council. Opponents began digging dirt on the pastor and a 44-year veteran real estate agent they called a “hater.”
The New American reported last month:
“There were people who didn't like freedom of speech and freedom of religion, so they looked into my Facebook account and found posts from 2015. Then a local reporter met with me and said that the “I asked him if he still believed in the phrase,” Fauver said.
Following Fauver's positive response, opponents (according to the CBN, “two real estate agents in Stanton, including an openly gay man”) filed an ethics complaint with NAR in February. I filed a complaint. NAR revised its Code of Ethics in 2020. Currently, real estate agents are required to “avoid harassing behavior, hate speech, epithets, or slurs based on race, color, religion, gender, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or sexual orientation. ” is required. Gender identity. ” Fauver's allegedly harassing posts were made before the amendment was adopted. However, his 2023 comments published in the newspaper caused complaints. Additionally, according to the Richmond-based Establishment Freedom Law Center (FFLC), which is representing Fauver, the complaint states, The article cites a recent post in which Mr. Fauver criticized the state of affairs.” Upcoming hearings in NAR court.
LGBTQNAR
In a September press release, FFLC's Victoria Cobb said:
Apparently, just quoting a Biblical truth can trigger a formal ethics hearing that can ruin a real estate agent's career. In reality, “hate speech” is nothing more than an Orwellian device used to silence others. Ironically, such rules and regulations are put in place to hate and harm individuals who hold unfavorable viewpoints.
Fauver believes his views were targeted by the increasingly “woke” NAR. CBN writes:
When asked why he thinks everything will be revealed now in 2024, Fauver replied: “Because the National Association of Realtors is waking up. The leadership of the National Association of Realtors has been very clear about its commitment to support and recognition of the LGBTQ community, and just recently, in fact, just a few weeks ago, Drag Queen Show in Lottsville, funded by the National Association of Realtors.
The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors hosted a drag show in November called the Fair Housing Symposium, which was reportedly funded in part by the National Association of Realtors' Fair Housing Grants. are.
Fair housing? perhaps. A fair hearing? Good luck.
Of course, we may never know exactly what happened at the hearing, since NAR's membership rules prohibit disclosure of what is said during ethics hearings.
What we do know is that the court found Fauver guilty of violating the Code of Ethics. If Fauver's appeal is unsuccessful, he could be fined up to $15,000 and disqualified as a real estate agent. Although he will not be prohibited from acting as a real estate agent, he will be prohibited from accessing the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which real estate agents use to list and search properties.
“It's almost impossible to do real estate without an MLS,” Fauber told The Federalist.
While dragging through the mud
Fauver's attorney, Michael Sylvester of FFLC, told CBN that he sees a double standard in NAR's actions. On the one hand, NAR can spend Fauver's dues on drag shows, but on the other hand, Fauver is not allowed to express his opinions on such issues on his personal Facebook page. “That's the position being proposed, that's it,” he said.
Fauver told CBN that his case serves as a warning to other Christian professionals.
Christians have no rights, but this is completely wrong. And the National Association of Realtors, America's largest trade association, is setting a precedent by adopting this policy. If I am guilty of posting my religious beliefs in memes and scriptures on my Facebook and social media accounts, and it is a crime of “hate speech”…what Christian agrees with my position? There are millions of people. I have no voice.
Fortunately, organizations like FFLC still exist to defend Mr. Fauver's case. As Sylvester said, “If this can happen to Wilson, it can happen to anyone. If we don't stand together, no one will be there for us when it happens to us.” There may not be anyone.”
