2025 End of Year Newsletter
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT WEHRLE
As we close out 2025, let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible progress we’ve made together. Across the country, our chapters have been the heartbeat of this movement—hosting events, advocating for fairness, and creating spaces where every person can feel seen and valued. Through your leadership and commitment, the spirit of the Alliance is alive and thriving, making a difference in ways we may never fully realize. Your efforts ripple outward, touching lives and shaping communities far beyond our immediate reach.
There is strength in our unity. This year, we’ve witnessed allies stand up, communities come together, and voices rise in defense of equality. From Washington State to Palm Springs, from Reno to Phoenix, then Pennsylvania to Washington D.C., our advocacy has driven meaningful change. Associations have adopted Article 10 or supported its implementation in RPAC vetting processes, reinforcing the principle that you cannot claim to support fair housing while funding those who undermine it. Although the number so far is small, these victories prove that thoughtful advocacy and collaboration can and do create real change.
As we step into 2026, let us carry forward that spirit of resilience and optimism. Let’s continue to fight for fairness in housing, champion diversity in real estate, and ensure that every person regardless of who they love or how they identify, has the opportunity to live authentically and securely. Growing our membership means growing our voice, and our business. Now is the time to plan for the year ahead: your goals, your business strategy, and the difference your chapter will make in its community. Schedule yourself for the upcoming events the Alliance is offering to impact your business and/or how you can make a difference in your communities.
Even in challenging times, we’ve found ways to grow, support one another, and stand strong.
This morning a member reached out to me, sharing a huge set back in their advocacy. While they courageously stood up for fair housing, and Article 10.5, the result was a jarring blow, yet in the next moment, they were in action again.
That may be a part of this next year’s journey, we will have our successes, we will see alignment, and progress, while navigating through the roadblocks, and disappointments.
Let’s continue our drive forward, remaining advocates not just for ourselves, but for every member of our diverse community. Stepping boldly into the future with hope and strength.
I wish the very best for you and your Families. Please have a joy filled Holiday Season, making sure you take time to celebrate you too.
Be safe and healthy
Tommie Wehrle
2026 National President & Board Chair
ELEVATE SERIES KICKS OFF 2026
The Alliance will hold its 3rd annual Elevate Series on January 6-8. The virtual event begins each day at 1 p.m EST. with featured speakers addressing topics critically important to real estate professionals. The series is designed to help our members get ready for a successful year! We will benefit from forecasts about the economy and housing market, homebuyer behavior, business planning, effective use of AI and social media.
ALLIANCE NEWS YOU CAN USE
STARTING 2026 WITH A NEW, ROBUST WEBSITE
The Alliance will start the new year off with a big splash – the debut of our new website. We have been working hard with the team at GrowthZone, a company that serves the web needs of more than 300 real estate and other industry associations. The site will be MUCH EASIER to navigate with greater speed and access to our members!
As we transfer over to the new site we will ask our members to follow updates and recommended steps to ensure a smooth transition.
The plan currently calls for a mid-January launch. STAY TUNED!
ALLIANCE TO OFFER INTERNATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
The rumors are true. The buzz is real. Starting in January, the Alliance will begin accepting members in foreign markets. Thanks to the robust technology delivered in our new website powered by Growth Zone, the Alliance will be able to transact foreign memberships.
The Alliance will target growth in specific markets that interest LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. who want to move out of the country. This includes markets in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and Portugal.
Stay tuned for more details!
NEW WAYS FOR LOCAL BROKERAGES TO BECOME ALLIANCE MEMBERS
With the coming debut of the new LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance website, the Alliance will soon introduce new ways for local brokerages, along with local mortgage, title and other ancillary firms, to become partners.
If you think your company and/or others would be interested, please email Alliance interim CEO Mary Mancera with your name and details about our potential new partner.
Take a look at the opportunities and benefits:
Company listing in the Alliance member and consumer directory & mobile app
- Logo on the website
- 5 associate non-directory listings. These members do NOT appear in directory searches. These associates can upgrade to a professional membership for $125.
- Discounted group ticket rate for national events
- 15% discount on Alliance Certified Ally course for groups of 75 people or more
- Membership rate at chapter events
- Inclusion in the Hall of Allies on the Alliance website
- Exclusive Marketing Assets: to show a commitment to the LGBTQ+ community
MEMBER TOM WHEELER HONORED
Boise Regional REALTORS recently honored Alliance member and Alliance Idaho chapter President Tom Wheeler as its 2026 Good Neighbor Award winner. Along with leading the HomeFound Real Estate Group, the 2024 REALTOR Magazine 30-under-30 winner has fought some community resistance to successfully launch and grow the Canyon County Pride Festival.
LOOKING BACK AT 2025
There is no doubt this past year was a challenge for the Alliance and the LGBTQ+ community. But the Alliance persevered and continued our mission to serve the needs of our members and the LGBTQ+ community.
Did you know that the Alliance welcomed more than 500 new members in 2025? Did you know that the annual Alliance member survey showed that 31.9% of responding Alliance members generated at least $150,000 in gross revenue in 2024, while only 20% of all REALTORS achieved that mark.
Here is a look back at some of our accomplishments in 2025:
MEMBERSHIP
- The Alliance welcomed more than 500 new members in 2025!
- The annual Alliance member survey showed that 31.9% of responding Alliance members generated at least $150,000 in gross revenue in 2024, while only 20% of all REALTORS achieved that mark.
LEADERSHIP
Along with Mary Mancera named interim CEO, the Alliance was led this past year by President Justin Ziegler who was honored multiple times including being named a 2025 RISMedia Newsmaker along with earning a spot on the prestigious T3 Sixty SP 200 Watchlist as a leader in the brokerage/franchising, We recently welcomed Tommie Wehrle into the presidency role with Richard Woods as President-Elect.
PUBLICATIONS
- LGBTQ+ Real Estate Report found that 58.5% of LGBTQ+ respondents believe the current administration’s anti-TGX (transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming) policies will lead to more TGX people and families with a TGX child relocating. Additionally, compared to heterosexual respondents, LGBTQ+ people were 24.7% more likely to believe the policies will lead to more non-TGX LGBTQ+ individuals and their families relocating.
- The Alliance magazine – our second annual Pride Month publication featured such Alliance members as Jamie Zapata’sjourney from HIV diagnosis to advocating real estate star, Melissa Young and her fight to protect LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians, Jeanie Kendal’s support for queer youth and Michael Sochia who provides an easier path for TGX mortgage borrowers
EVENTS
- The Alliance Certified Ally course continued to change the lives of attendees who have gained great insight into the LGBTQ+ community with a focus on how unconscious bias impacts so many.
- LGBTQ+ Real Estate Housing Symposium at WorldPride focused on defending LGBTQ+ rights at a time of backlash along with the Alliance’s response to changes to the REALTOR Code of Ethics and potential impact on discrimination.
- The Alliance San Diego chapter was the first in Alliance history to host a multi-chapter event. Their Business and Networking Rally also generated $23,250 to support the San Diego LGBT Center.
LGBTQ+ REAL ESTATE TOP PRODUCERS
- 5th Annual LGBTQ+ Real Estate Top Producers list showed that Alliance members closed $3.94 billion in sales volume across 6,632.7 transaction sides in 2024. These results would position the Alliance at No. 51 in sales volume and No. 60 in transaction sides on the RealTrends Verified Top 500 brokerage rankings.
ADVOCACY
- The Ethics Resource Group, chaired by Alliance member Mead Summer and Director of Education Alex Cruz, was created to counsel members on how to take action against the discriminatory REALTORS. The committee was created after the NAR Board of Directors made amendments to Standard of Practice 10.5 in the REALTOR Code of Ethics despite Alliance concerns. The Alliance still maintains that because a REALTOR is public-facing and generates daily business activity outside of client interactions, any act of discrimination, no matter where or when, still violates Article 10 of the REALTOR Code of Ethics.
- TGX Moving Guide – support TGX people and families with a TGX child who feel the need to move based on the continued political and cultural attacks.
- Article 10 Rule support increased as the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS joined other REALTOR associations including Washington State, Washington D.C. Reno and Palm Springs in agreeing to include evidence of discrimination in their vetting processes on which candidates for elected office receive RPAC funding.
- Article 10 Rule Chapter Kit was created to provide local leaders with a step-by-step guide for how local Alliance leadership can impact change.
