The British developer showed brochures with over-fifty affluent men and women hand-in-hand as part of the proposal to develop a gated community in the town of Sallèles-d’Aude in the rural South of France. The mayor envisioned a community for active older residents that would bring economic development to his town.
Once approved however, the marketing information changed, and now France will have its first “gay village.” Yves Bastié, the mayor of the community near Narbonne, southern France, was shocked to learn that the retirement development he approved will be almost exclusively gay. “I had absolutely no idea,” said Bastié. The least they could have done was to inform me so I could tell my fellow citizens.”
The Village Group website replaced pictures of heterosexual couples with same-sex couples, and put the now famous rainbow flag on the site to let everyone know this would be a gay community. The site also announced that the village was to be a “private oasis” for gays and lesbians. The group’s managing director says that marketing to gays and lesbians was a new idea, when marketing to heterosexuals flopped. He insists that this is just a business proposition. He also claims that there is a lot of interest now that it is a gay-friendly community.
The mayor of Sallèles-d’Aude has gotten over initial shock, and now backs the plan. He will also preside over the village’s first ever same-sex wedding ceremony.
“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot…” Luke 17:28