The city of Lyon will host France's first 'House of Diversity'

In Lyon, a Diversity Center will open its doors in 2024. A first in France!

It's official: the City of Lights will host the first House of Diversity in France, report our colleagues from 20 Minutes. This residence will be intended for students and seniors LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex).

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A warm and welcoming place

This decision was voted on Tuesday, September 20 by the municipal council of Lyon , specifies the information site. The establishment will be located in the Croix-Rousse district, in the 4th arrondissement.

Built by the Red Cross and carried by the association Les audacieuses & les audacieux, this inclusive and participative habitat will open its doors in December 2024. The municipality had committed to this project in July 2021, recalls 20 Minutes .

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In total, the building will house 16 apartments, a guest bedroom, a student apartment and common areas. This project aims to fight against the social isolation of LGBT+ seniors and discrimination.

“It is a project that is close to our hearts, that we carry, support. This project makes us proud and happy. It is the choice of optimism, of a society of mutual aid “, declared the mayor of Lyon Grégory Doucet, during the presentation to the press of” the first House of diversity “.

For its part, the association explains on its site internet that its objective is to give seniors back the opportunity to make choices, give them hope and power so that they can continue to project themselves into the future ».

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Still according to the organization, France now has one million LGBT+ seniors. Among them, 90% have no children and 65% live alone, compared to 15% of heterosexual seniors. But that's not all ! 51% are “victims of total isolation”.

« In most nursing homes, people do not feel emotionally or emotionally secure enough to be able to fully take care of themselves. “, explains the association.