As legal protections for 2SLGBTQIA+ people continue to unravel in parts of the United States, a Nova Scotia realtor is seeing a growing number of queer couples turn to Canada for safety — and he’s helping them find their new homes in Halifax.
Jody Allen, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Anchor Realty, has worked with over 10 2SLGBTQIA+ couples in the past year alone, from the U.S. seeking a safer and more welcoming environment. A queer realtor himself, Allen understands the gravity of what his clients are facing.
“I personally came out of the closet in rural Nova Scotia in the early ’90s. I came out in a time when it was not acceptable,” Allen said. “When I speak to people who experience that level of threat, I can relate to them.”
Allen’s journey into supporting queer Americans started over a year ago, when a post appeared in a Nova Scotia-based online group for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. A U.S. couple was searching for a queer realtor — and they found Allen.
“I was first in touch with a lesbian couple who were in their 70s. They no more felt safe, nor did they want to stay in a country where their marriage was not legalized in some states,” said Allen.
“Once they were in contact with me, they spread the word to their network about a queer realtor who was helping queer couples find a house in Halifax, and Nova Scotia at large.”
Allen—who has been in the real estate industry for three years and has moved 55 times himself—says his lived experience gives him a deep understanding of his clients’ emotional and logistical needs.
“I have worked with everyone from first-time homebuyers, to empty nesters looking to downsize and at all different price ranges,” he said.
As the number of inquiries grew, Allen realized he needed professional guidance on immigration and cross-border legalities. After reaching out to multiple local firms, he connected with Jason May at Brookes Business Law, who specializes in immigration.
“The number of people reaching out to me about the process made me realize I needed someone who worked in that arena, so that I had someone to not only refer my clients to, but also for me to work with.”
Allen noted that while same-sex refugee status is not currently available in Canada, immigration remains highly case-by-case and personal.
“That is why my message changed. I would talk to them earlier about themselves, their lifestyle and so on, but I then realized I needed to first connect them with an immigration lawyer.”
Wren George is a queer man living in Arkansas, one of nine U.S. states that prohibit local governments from passing LGBTQ-inclusive anti-discrimination laws.
George has been looking for a a real estate agent, and saying that Allen has been brought up in many conversations. “With tensions rising, I intend on reaching out to him in the fall.”
“I have been feeling unsafe living in my own home,” George said in a phone interview. “I came out at 20 and I have been trying to get people to accept me ever since.”
“I got married during the pandemic, with Mr. Orange as president, I cannot live here anymore,” he added.
George, who has chosen family in New York, was drawn to Halifax due to its proximity and reputation as a queer-friendly province.
“Halifax is just six hours away. We are in the process of deciding where to move while feeling sad I am leaving behind the place, not the people I call home.”
Allen’s work goes beyond just buying and selling homes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding clients’ needs and circumstances, especially when they are not yet in Canada.
“When you are working with a client who has never physically set foot in Nova Scotia, you are tasked with not only finding the right home, but targeting the right area,” he said. “So I now sit on a plethora of YouTube videos of every town in Nova Scotia.”
“I primarily work between Yarmouth and Halifax, and I have had to learn every town, nook and cranny. Thus after getting to know my clients, and listening to what they not only tell, but also do not tell me, it helps me choose the geographical location and then the home for them.”
The process takes longer, Allen admits, but it’s something he finds deeply rewarding. Many of his clients are in their 60s or 70s, people who fought for LGBTQ+ rights in decades past.
“These are women who have championed and fought for rights. Roe vs. Wade, some were involved with the fight for rights and activism in San Francisco in the ’70s,” he said. “That is why I believe that I have a duty to help them and go above and beyond, connect them and help them find that safety.”
“The very least that I can do for another human, who has done so much, for my benefit — for me to be married to my husband — is to help them feel safe.”
With interest growing, Allen hopes Canada will take more proactive steps to make immigration easier for queer people fleeing discrimination.
“I hope that Canada takes a proactive approach to allowing members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community immigrate to Canada.”
This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2025.