A Virginia realtor and pastor is at risk of losing his real estate license after he was found "guilty" for posting a Bible verse on Facebook in 2015 stating that homosexuality is a sin. On December 11, The Virginia Association of Realtors ruled that Wilson Fauber of Staunton violated the ethics code that prohibits realtors from "certain religious expressions." The violation in question is centered on a 2015 Facebook post in which Fauber had reposted a scripture from evangelist Franklin Graham which stated that homosexual sex is a sin, based on Leviticus 18:22.
Fauber had reposted the Scripture last year prior to him announcing that he would run for Staunton City Council. The post, however, sparked backlash from two Staunton realtors, including an openly gay man, resulting in a complaint with the Virginia Association of Realtors accusing Fauber of "hate speech."
When asked why the ordeal is taking place in 2024, Fauber explained, "Because the National Association of Realtors is woke. The leadership of the National Association of Realtors has made it very clear about their involvement in endorsing and approving of the LGBTQ community, and just recently, just a few weeks ago actually, in Charlottesville, Virginia, the National Association of Realtors provided funding for a Drag Queen Show."
In November, the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors hosted a Drag Show called a "Fair Housing Symposium," which was reportedly funded in part by the National Association of Realtors' "fair housing grant."
Fauber's attorney accused the N.A.R. of a double standard because they used realtor money to fund drag shows, but Fauber couldn't post Scripture on his Facebook page.
That's the position that's being suggested, correct," Michael Sylvester with Founding Freedoms Law Center told CBN News.
He noted that Fauber's Facebook was made five years before the N.A.R. adopted a rule prohibiting "hate speech" against protected classes, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in 2020.
"He (Fauber) simply was presenting his religious views about marriage that should not qualify for a hate speech charge," Sylvester said.
If the guilty verdict stands, Fauber could face fines up to $15,000 as well as having his real estate license revoked. Fauber, however, is currently attempting to repeal the charge.
"Christians don't have rights, and this is just totally wrong. And the National Association of Realtors being the largest trade organization in America, they have set a precedent by adopting this policy. If I'm guilty because I post my religious beliefs in a meme or a Scripture on my Facebook or social media accounts, and if that's guilty of "hate speech,"… there are millions and millions of Christians that agree with my position and we don't have a voice," Fauber said.
Related Article: What Are Non-Crime Hate Incidents, and How Should Christians Respond to Them?
WATCH: Virginia Realtor Found Guilty of 'Hate Speech' for Sharing Bible Verse in 2015
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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.