In what many consider a win for freedom of speech, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) just changed their “hate speech” rule.

The change comes after a high-profile case involving Virginia pastor and realtor Wilson Fauber, who faced backlash during his 2023 Staunton City Council campaign for sharing Bible verses and sermons on sexuality on his personal social media accounts, some dating back to 2015. In 2024, two unfamiliar realtors filed ethics complaints against him, alleging “hate speech.”

In December 2024, the Virginia Association of Realtors ruled Fauber’s posts violated the NAR’s ethics code, which barred “harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs” based on protected characteristics like religion, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Despite appeals, the violation was upheld until February 2025.

On Thursday, the NAR announced a pivotal amendment to Standard of Practice 10-5, as reported by The Christian Post: “In the amendment to Standard of Practice 10-5 … the NAR clarified that the rule can only regulate a realtor’s speech that is made in their professional capacity in furtherance of their real estate practice.” Previously, the 2020 rule applied to both professional and personal speech, creating a chilling effect on realtors’ private expression. This revision ensures realtors can voice personal or religious beliefs outside their professional roles without risking sanctions.

Fauber hailed the change, declaring, “This is a massive victory for free speech and religious freedom not just for me, but for all 1.5 million members of the National Association of Realtors.” He credited his looming lawsuit against the NAR and advocacy in state legislatures, like Texas, for driving the reform, stating, “It’s clear that my imminent lawsuit against them and our work in state legislatures like Texas to push back played a pivotal role in bringing about this monumental change.”

Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation and its legal arm, Founding Freedoms Law Center, praised the NAR for “swiftly” correcting “their disastrous ‘hate speech’ policy that has had the effect of punishing even pastors like our client from speaking in their personal capacity.” She called on the Virginia Association of Realtors to “compensate [Fauber] for the losses to his business and reputation” caused by the ordeal.

NAR Senior Counsel Matt Troiani emphasized the amendment’s intent, noting it is designed “to ensure that the standard of practice is clearer but also more sustainable and defensible as far as enforcement goes.”

Not everyone welcomed the change. Real Estate News highlighted opposition from North Carolina realtor Christine Asbury, who argued the revision undermines progress, stating, “[the] proposal wants us to rewind … progress and say, ‘Relax, it only counts if you’re on the job.’” She warned that the change “creates a system where the local associations dealing with complaints are going to be operating under a ‘half-baked system.’”

In contrast, Arielle Del Turco, director of Family Research Council’s Center for Religious Liberty, told The Washington Stand the revision is a step forward. “It is totally inappropriate for a professional association to punish its members for expressing their sincerely held religious beliefs in their private capacity,” she asserted. “Quoting the Bible or sharing a quote from Franklin Graham on social media isn’t ‘hate speech.’ They are simple expressions of faith that should be respected by our culture and protected by law.”

The NAR’s policy shift seems to mark a critical recalibration, balancing professional standards with constitutional protections for free speech and religious liberty. It may set a precedent for other professional organizations grappling with similar issues. Ultimately, Del Turco concluded, “It’s good to see the National Association of Realtors reverse course and decide to respect their members’ personal speech.”