RE/MAX totally not on board with agent’s ‘homophobic’ flyers

The gay equality movement has had some big wins lately – what with the outpouring of support that followed Jason Collins becoming the first openly-gay athlete in a major sports league – it was really only a matter of time before it took a step backward.

So it perhaps came as no surprise when the Toronto Star reported on Thursday that a Mississauga real estate agent distributed a flyer that included a diatribe on homosexuality.

The Star reports that RE/MAX agent Andrew Ciastek sent the flyers to hundreds of homes that claimed, among other things, that “traditional family is the best for the future of the kids.” It pointed to research done by Texas sociologist Mark Regnerus. Regnerus suggests children of same-sex couples are more likely to be unemployed, depressed and get in trouble with the law.

[ Related: Jason Collins faces a big test after coming out: getting signed ]

What that has to do with selling houses is beyond me, but according to one upset resident it ran right alongside suggestions on how to manage your home air conditioner.

A spokesperson for RE/MAX told Yahoo! Canada News that they were as offended as the community at Ciastek’s decision to include the anti-gay document in his promotional flyer. Christine Martysiewicz said he has been told to apologize and make a donation to a local gay pride organization.

“One of our agents saw fit to distribute the homophobic flyers… we are assuring the community the views expressed in no way represent the company,” said Martysiewicz.

The whole issue calls back to a similar situation last summer, when a Brampton, Ont., real estate agent turned away a gay couple seeking to rent a basement apartment. Juliet Stewart told the Star that she shut down the transaction because she knew the landlord would not approve.

[ More Brew: Calgary real estate agent’s sexy billboard stirs controversy ]

Requests for comment have been made to Ciastek but so far have not been returned, so the reason he felt anti-gay information would appeal to his clientele is still unclear. But an aside included in a story by the Mississauga News should give some pause for thought.

A resident told the newsgroup that his gay neighbours threw the flyer out without bothering looking at it, only to learn later what it had contained.

So much for equality and gay rights. Attacks can come in any form. Even junk mail.