What It Means To Have A Place To Call Home

Throughout a person’s life, there are several intense changes that come along with the trials and tribulations of what it means to grow. One of these changes is finding a place to call home. 

For the LGBTQ+ community, this change can be especially difficult due to potential discrimination against them. This is where groups like the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance Minnesota chapter come in.

Sarah Rostance, the newest president of the Alliance Minnesota chapter, has been a part of the Alliance for the past three years. According to her, Alliance Minnesota is a “non-profit that advocates and educates for equal housing for the queer community.”

Rostance has switched her career a few times throughout her life before becoming a realtor three years ago. She said she is an open and personable person, which helps her connect with and help potential clients. 

People usually buy one or two houses throughout the course of their lives, according to Rostance, and the market may change from when people bought their first home to when they start looking for their next. To her, this job provides her with the opportunity to help people through their journey of finding the next place to call their own.

This journey isn’t always the easiest, though, for the LGBTQ+ community. When it comes to discrimination in housing, 15% of LGBTQ+ couples face discrimination compared to the 6% of heterosexual couples, according to the Alliance website. 

Rostance stressed the safety Alliance Minnesota can provide to people who may be moving to Minnesota from states that do not protect the LGBTQ+ community. She said if someone is looking for an LGBTQ+ friendly realtor, Alliance Minnesota is the place to go.

Minnesota, along with 19 other states in the U.S., have full LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections for those seeking housing. Two states have some with specific limitations, while 29 states do not have any protections for LGBTQ+ people, according to the Alliance website. 

The website also states that over the past three years, 21% of people believe discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community has increased.

One of the main goals of Alliance Minnesota is to limit discrimination in the housing world for the LGBTQ+ community as much as possible. 

“No matter who the person is, we are a neutral party and treat everybody the same,” Rostance said.

Alliance Minnesota is an all volunteer organization. All of the professionals who volunteer at the Alliance are either in the queer community or are allies of the community with professional jobs outside of the organization. 

“It’s a place where people can come and be around like-minded people who are fighting for the same kind of stuff,” Rostance said. 

Alliance Minnesota tries to host events once a month so the members of the group can get together and give back to the community. Whether it’s their quarterly “Lunch and Learn” events where they invite guest speakers in or their many volunteer opportunities, there is always something for the members to do to progress the organization. 

The Alliance is all about education around housing. For those who are interested, the Alliance offers a two hour training session titled the Ally Certification Course. When completed, a certification of completion and badge will appear on their website profile. 

For those interested in events, the Alliance has an annual convention for real estate and housing professionals to attend. The 2024 convention will be held in Las Vegas from Sept. 25-27. 

These events help those who are in the Alliance network with others and build upon the hard work that has already gone into the organization, Rostance said. 

Looking forward, Rostance hopes to use her presidency to expand the Alliance and get more members involved. As of now, there are about 65 to 75 members in the Minnesota chapter of the Alliance. One of the ways she plans to expand that number is having a booth at the Twin Cities Pride festival this summer. 

“We’re opening it up and welcoming people in, and I’m excited to get people that I have yet to meet involved in the Alliance and finding out what they expect from the Alliance,” Rostance said.

According to Rostance, everybody wants three basic things in their lives: a safe place to sleep at night, good food to eat and people to love. 

“If I can help with one of those three things in my life, then I feel like I will have succeeded,” Rostance said.

When it comes to the mission of Alliance Minnesota and what they hope to provide people, Rostance puts it simply. 

“Love is love,” Rostance said. “Everybody deserves a safe place to call home.”