The Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR), long a bastion of regional semi-conservatism, has gone woke.
A November 15 CARR “Inclusivity & Celebration” event is actually a “Drag Show” and “Fireside Chat” masquerading as a “Fair Housing Symposium.”
Sponsored by CAAR’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, the unusual gathering is described as follows:
This event will spotlight housing discrimination, particularly affecting individuals who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer/Questing (LGBTQ+). Attendees will gain insights into the Fair Housing Act, hear from a local LGBTQ+ activist, participate in educational segments on the LGBTQ+ community (i.e., pronouns, creating a safe environment, understanding the Stop Hate in Real Estate Pledge, etc.), and engage in a dialog with the performers who will share their own housing discrimination experiences. This event will create opportunities for REALTORS to actively listen, deepen their understanding of the LBGTQ+ community, and build relationships that positively impact both our industry and the communities we serve.
Drag Show performers include Miss Continental Plus, Miss Capital Pride, and Miss Gay Harrisonburg. According to registration information, the event is restricted to age 21 and older, and “Tips are encouraged for the performers.”
Notably, CAAR’s Drag Show and Fireside Chat is funded in part by a National Association of Realtors “Fair Housing Grant.”
