Welcome to Gay Hell, Literally

Elijah Daniel says he has bought Hell, Michigan, plans to add 'Gay' in front of name
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 18, 2019 12:45 PM CDT
Welcome to Gay Hell, Literally
File photo of hearses lined up for an annual race in Hell, Michigan. The small town has a new owner who plans to rename it 'Gay Hell.'   (AP Photo/Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, Gillis Benedict)

About 15 miles from Ann Arbor, Michigan, lies the small town of Hell. For now. A YouTube celeb named Elijah Daniel says he has bought the 5-acre commercial parcel and plans to officially rename it—to Gay Hell, Michigan. The 25-year-old announced his plan on Twitter Tuesday, reports NBC News. The move is synced with pride month, and Daniel says it's a protest against the Trump administration's decision to not allow the rainbow flag to be flown at American embassies around the world. Daniel is known for such stunts, which he says are his way to get young people to care about issues they might otherwise ignore, per the BBC.

So how much did he pay? That's unclear, but a story in the local Livingston Daily in 2016 put the list price at $900,000. Over the years, seller and "unofficial mayor" John Colone has turned the hamlet into a tourist destination with hell-themed events and merchandise. Daniel is a Michigan native who grew up nearby, and he plans to keep up the tradition, albeit in a gay-themed way. For instance, he plans on organizing an annual festival, reports CNN. (Mike Pence defended the decision about the embassy flags.)

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