What a month. In October we packed a Chicago hotel with the brightest LGBTQ+ and allied real estate professionals in the country, and we're still riding the high. This issue is a love letter to Future Forward, a spotlight on our 2026 Chapter of the Year, and one very friendly (but very sincere) nudge about next week.

• A Message From President Richard Woods
• Future Forward 2026: You Had to Be There
• Where Should Future Forward Go Next? Cast Your Vote
• Chapter of the Year: Western Washington
• Welcome to the National Board: Melissa Young
• Yes, We're Saying It Again: Go Vote
• 35% Off at The CE Shop
• Welcome, New Members
• From Around the LGBTQ+ Community
• Chapter Events in November

WE ARE THE ALLIANCE

A New Chapter, Renewed Energy, and a Future Full of Possibilities

From the President and Chair of the Board of Directors

What a remarkable time to be part of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance!

Our 2026 Future Forward Business & Networking Conference in Chicago was an extraordinary success! The energy was off the charts as members, allies, sponsors, and industry partners came together to reconnect, celebrate, learn, and build relationships.

From outstanding main-stage presenters to engaging breakout sessions, Chicago reminded us why this organization matters. The enthusiasm was contagious, the connections were meaningful, and the momentum we created will carry us into 2027 and beyond.

This is what the Alliance is all about.

The day before Future Forward, our National Board of Directors gathered for an all-day Strategic Planning Meeting to chart our organization's course for the next three years. Our discussions focused on strengthening chapters, growing membership, developing future leaders, ensuring organizational sustainability, and advancing our mission of protecting fair housing and expanding homeownership opportunities for LGBTQ+ Americans.

We are building an Alliance that is stronger, more responsive, and prepared to advocate for our community for years to come.

Congratulations to our Western Washington Chapter, our 2026 Chapter of the Year!

Western Washington exemplifies what chapter success looks like. Through exceptional events, membership growth, meeting and exceeding chapter requirements, and a fantastic application video, this chapter demonstrated extraordinary commitment and creativity. Congratulations to its leadership, volunteers, and members. You have set an inspiring example for chapters nationwide!

As we celebrate these accomplishments, we also recognize that we stand on the eve of a consequential midterm election.

The decisions voters make will influence LGBTQ+ equality, fair housing protections, housing affordability, and access to homeownership.

The Alliance does not endorse specific candidates, but we encourage every member to understand where candidates stand on these important issues.

Be informed. Be engaged. And vote.

Housing affordability and housing equality cannot be separated. Making homes more affordable means little if someone still faces discrimination when trying to access them.

Regardless of election outcomes, our commitment remains unwavering. We will continue advocating for stronger protections, including the Equality Act, and policies that expand housing opportunities for everyone.

Political leadership may change. Our commitment to equality will not.

Looking ahead, we're already exploring exciting possibilities for Future Forward 2027, including Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Milwaukee, Nashville, and St. Louis, and we're asking YOU to weigh in the decision. Wherever we gather, one thing is certain: the Alliance's future is bright!

Six years after our founding, we're entering a new chapter of maturity, renewed purpose, and tremendous opportunity.

Our founders built the foundation. Our leaders helped us grow. Now our members will carry us forward.

Because the Alliance isn't a president, a board, or a national office.

It's YOU. It's US.

WE ARE THE ALLIANCE.

And together, we're just getting started!

If you were in Chicago October 13–14, you already know. If you weren't… we're so sorry, and we're about to make it worse.

For two days, voco Chicago Downtown-Riverwalk turned into the most electric room in real estate. Host Courtney DeMarco kept the energy sky-high from the first session to the last, and our speakers delivered the kind of ideas you scribble down, screenshot, and quote to your team for months.

But the sessions were only half of it. It was the hallway conversations that turned into referral partnerships. The reception where strangers became friends before the second drink. The moment you looked around and realized every person in the room gets it. That feeling doesn't come through a livestream. You have to be in the room.

To every attendee, speaker, sponsor, volunteer, and chapter leader who made the trip: thank you. You made Future Forward what it was. We can't wait to do it again.

Chicago set the bar high, and we’re already dreaming about what’s next. Help us pick the next stop for Future Forward! Tell us which city you’d most love to see us bring the energy to:

• Milwaukee
• St. Louis
• Denver
• Detroit
• Columbus
• Nashville

Quick note: this poll is about gauging interest. It won’t decide the final location on its own. Venue availability, cost, travel access and timing all factor in too. But your vote helps us understand where our community wants to gather, and we’d love to hear from you.

Every year we recognize one chapter that sets the bar for what an Alliance chapter can be. This year, that chapter is Western Washington.

Western Washington has built something every chapter can learn from. They built a home base for LGBTQ+ and allied real estate professionals across the region, and showed what's possible when a chapter shows up for its community all year long. From raising thousands of dollars for LGBTQ+ youth to showing up in force at Pride on both ends of Puget Sound, this is a chapter that puts its values into action.

Western Washington's signature fundraiser raised $11,600 at its last brunch for Lambert House, which provides housing and resources to displaced LGBTQ+ youth. That's our mission — safe, stable homes for our community — in action. And it's back: the 4th Annual Drag Brunch is Sunday, November 15 at Dreamland, once again benefiting Lambert House.

The chapter showed up at both Seattle Pride and Tacoma Pride this year, marching in the Seattle Pride Parade and putting the Alliance front and center for thousands of community members.

Congratulations to the entire Western Washington leadership team and every member who helped make this year unforgettable.

We know. You've seen the texts, the ads, the yard signs, and probably a few dozen reminders already. We're adding one more anyway, because it matters that much.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Housing policy, fair housing protections, property taxes, and local zoning are often decided on your ballot — sometimes much further down it than you'd expect. Make a plan, check your registration, and bring a friend.

Rules on early voting, mail ballots, ID, and deadlines vary by state, so check yours. These nonpartisan resources make it easy:

• Vote.gov — the official U.S. government site for registering and finding your state election office
• Can I Vote — from the nation's secretaries of state: check registration and find your polling place
• USA.gov: How to Vote — early voting, absentee ballots, and voter ID by state

Year-end is the perfect time to knock out your continuing education. Alliance members save 35% on The CE Shop's full catalog of real estate pre-licensing, CE, and professional development courses. Use code ALLIANCE at checkout.

• Gay congressman presses HUD Secretary Scott Turner over agency's retreat from LGBTQ+ housing protections — The Advocate
• Report lays out wealth, housing gaps facing LGBTQ+ Gen Z — HousingWire
• Gen Z views on homeownership should concern everyone in housing — Real Estate News
• 16 of the Best New LGBTQ Books Out in October 2026 — Book Riot