‘Gay Village’ in Tilburg?

Developer Blauwhoed is investigating the possibility of a ‘Gay village’ on the outskirts of Tilburg. The company asked brokers LBB-Naber to measure the need for this through a survey.

According to broker Victoria van Asch – Van Wijck, the news really is not a joke. The brokers notice a “moderate need” for a neighborhood where people who are Lesbian, Gay, Bi or Transgender (LGBT) can live together. “Unfortunately, the media is reporting it as an accomplished fact, but we are researching the options for GayVillage. We have met people who are looking for a new house because they don’t feel safe in their own neighborhood anymore. If there are around fifty people who think this is a good idea, we will move forward with the project.”

The gated community should rise at the MOB-complex in the north of Tilburg. When asked whether this plan doesn’t encourage segregation, Van Asch – Van Wijck says: “There is a separation between people with similar living needs. Like-minded people will move to the same neighborhoods. A community like this could improve the peace and quality of life for gay people.”

The reactions are mixed, but sometimes very fierce. Words like ‘gay ghetto’, ‘retarded plan’, segregation’ and ‘isolation’ are often heard. LGBT student association Vitruvian thinks that people should see for themselves if they want to live in a such a community, but thinks GayVillage is no solution for the problems between people with different sexual preferences. “You remove the people, not the problem. It’s like moving a bullied child from school to school.  We have to move forward and work on a multicultural and multisexual society. A neighborhood especially for gays is a downturn and no long-term solution,” says Richard Goedegebuur from Vitruvian.

Update: it is a hoax, the organisers announced. Earlier they denied that it was a joke.