He was convicted of ‘hate speech.’
Wilson Fauber, a Virginia realtor and Christian minister, was found guilty by an ethics panel for sharing Bible verses on social media, leading to controversy over the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Code of Ethics. Fauber, who has been in the real estate business for over four decades, was cited for violating rules against “harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs” in relation to protected characteristics like religion and sexual orientation. The posts in question, dating back several years before NAR’s 2020 rule change, included Fauber’s Christian views on marriage and sexuality, which he shared in response to legal developments regarding same-sex marriage.
The issue gained traction during Fauber’s 2023 campaign for the Staunton City Council, when his past social media posts resurfaced. In one 2015 post, Fauber expressed his views on marriage based on Christian teachings, specifically in relation to the U.S. Supreme Court’s deliberations on same-sex marriage. These posts were later flagged in a complaint filed with the Virginia Association of Realtors (VAR), leading to an ethics investigation. Fauber’s attorney, Michael Sylvester, voiced disappointment with the VAR’s decision to pursue the case, stating that the application of the NAR’s rules sent a clear message that Christian realtors must remain silent about their faith.
The complaints were filed by two realtors who Fauber had never met, including one who identifies as gay. The VAR panel ultimately ruled that Fauber’s biblical expressions violated NAR’s ethics code, specifically Standard of Practice 10-5, which prohibits the use of hate speech. Fauber and his supporters, including his attorney and advocacy groups, argued that the decision amounted to anti-Christian bias in the real estate profession, potentially silencing religious speech among the over 1.5 million NAR members across the U.S.
Fauber, who is also an ordained minister, responded to the ruling, asserting that while religious views may not be shared in professional settings with clients, expressing faith on personal social media should not be restricted. He criticized the NAR policy for applying to his private life, suggesting it might extend to religious practices in church as well. Fauber’s critics, however, point to his posts as a violation of the NAR’s rules against speech that could be considered discriminatory.
In addition to the ethics panel’s ruling, Fauber expressed frustration over what he perceives as a broader cultural shift in the NAR towards endorsing LGBT rights, including the organization’s involvement in a drag show event in Charlottesville, Virginia. Fauber and his supporters view these actions as part of a larger push to impose a “woke” agenda within the real estate profession, leading to clashes over religious freedom and freedom of speech.