Pascal Lessard and his partner bought their farm in 2019. They live in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec. It’s a rural area south of Quebec City.

Although they were concerned about how the local population might react after learning they are a same-sex couple, Lessard said he is happy they bought the farm and joined a new community.

“We never had any problems when we arrived here. We didn’t hide, we didn’t try to hide who we were or that we lived together. We haven’t encountered any difficulties or people who reacted negatively,” said Lessard, co-owner of Les Vergers du Cap farm in Chaudière-Appalaches.

The warm reaction may reflect a trend as new pride festivities spring up across Quebec.

Flying in the face of the notion that rural areas are hostile to people of diverse sexual

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