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Ontario Re/Max Real Estate Agent Promotes Anti-Gay Regnerus Study In Sales Flyer

Jon McDonald holding anti-gay Re/Max flyer
Photo by Rob Beintema, The Toronto Star

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO -- A local Re/Max real estate agent came under fire this week after distributing a flier that promotes so-called traditional families and cited the study by University of Texas researcher Mark Regnerus that criticizes families run by same-sex couples.

Andrew Ciastek, a sales representative for RE/MAX, distributed the flyers — which said “traditional family is the best for the future of the kids” — to hundreds of homes in this city in the western suburban area of Toronto.

A retired school teacher, Jon McDonald, who lives in the Lorne Park neighborhood told The Toronto Star that he was furious after reading the contents of the flyer which was distributed in a local paper Tuesday.

“My blood pressure went up 100 per cent. I read it and thought, ‘What does this have to do with selling houses?’ ” McDonald said.

Ciastek’s flyer cited a study conducted by Mark Regnerus, a Texas sociologist who claimed that children of homosexual parents are more likely to be unemployed. The study itself has been soundly discredited by leading experts in the field of sociology who criticised the methodology and research sampling approach utilised by Regnerus.

In his defence, Ciastek told the Star, “I didn’t want to offend anybody . . . I didn’t have bad intentions.”

However, McDonald was not the only resident that took offence at the flyer. The Peel Metropolitan Regional Police and the Ontario Human Rights Commission both disclosed that they had received numerous written, e-mail, and telephone complaints.

According to Constable George Tudos, the Peel Regional Police Criminal Investigation Bureau investigated the matter and spoke with Ciastek. Tudos said that the no charges will be made in the case. 

A spokesperson for Re/Max, Christine Martysiewicz, Director of Public relations for RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada, said “the views and opinions expressed in this piece do not reflect those of RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada or our agents.” She said Ciastek will issue a public apology and make a donation to a local charity of the company’s choosing. 

According to the Star, Ciastek said he will apologize “because I understand some people were very hurt. It is the right thing to apologize.” 

Martysiewicz said that sales representatives for RE/MAX are independent contractors and do their own sales marketing. She added that there are internal policies governing marketing material, but “not with respect to choice of content.” 

According to her, the flyer was not vetted by the broker-owner of the Mississauga office, “but it should have been.” Martysiewicz said that the company's internal policies will be examined at a corporate level “to ensure that agent mail outs adhere to strict corporate guidelines.”