Nice has the fourth largest gay community in France and is at last starting to get cultural events and tourist facilities to match. Thanks to organisations such as Les Ouvreurs, AGLAE or the Rainbow Power group, some premium annual events are finding their way into the calendar.

For example the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, "In&Out" and the wonderful Pink Parade - this parade does for Nice what Gay Pride does for Paris. As recently witnessed, it's a big joyful march with a party atmosphere. It's a happening event that promotes gay culture - Gays, Lesbians, Bi- and Trans.

But sadly, the above, as mainstream tourist events, are still exceptional - as are advertising campaigns aimed at gay tourists. Families can look for the right holiday destinations for their children - so they can get a rest - and single people can also look for the right places to go. But for the gay community, tourism is still difficult. Travel agencies or traditional magazines do not cater for them - nor does TV advertising!

Gay people have to rely on a network of 'gay-friendly' guest houses, hotels, and apartments on the Côte d'Azur and it's sometimes difficult to find them, because of this lack of publicity. For example, in Nice there is a superb art-deco hotel which will soon be completely adapted for 'gay chill-out stays'. It's the first gay-only hotel on the Riviera. The name? Can't find it! Why?!

Someone needs to get a grip and market properly to the gay community. We love the style of Karl, Gaultier or McQueen. We fall so easily under the spell of the tunes of Elton John or George Michael (especially in his Wham! period). Its  fashionable to have a best friend who is gay (especially on Saturday night in the «Golden Square» zone of Cannes). Fashion, music, cool - all advertising bywords - it should be an easy sell! 

The gay community organises its own social and commercial network. The big international brands do not seem interested . Which makes no sense because there's a lot of Pink money out there. Perhaps they think it's shameful?  Well - it's their loss.  FR2DAY will soon reveal the name of the above-mentioned hotel - shhh.

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