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Gay travel: South Carolina in an uproar over advertising campaign
South Carolina is outraged over an advertisement campaign by Amro Worldwide, a UK specialist in gay and lesbian travel, which labeled the Palmetto State "so gay" in a series of posters throughout the London Underground.Looking to boost its profile among the UK's gay and lesbian community, Amro devised its 'so gay' campaign nearly a year ago and reached out to various U.S. tourism boards last October to see if they would participate.
Shortly thereafter, Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. confirmed their participation. Last November, South Carolina jumped on board.
The campaign debuted at Underground stations in Leicester Square and Covent Garden during London's recent Gay Pride Week celebrations. For South Carolina, the posters touted the state's gay beaches and Civil War-era plantations.
Apparently, it seems that South Carolina tourism officials didn't really understand what they was agreeing to. At first, top officials said the campaign sent a positive message to gay travelers. But as outrage increased, they now say they knew nothing about the campaign and are disavowing participation, according to MSNBC.com, refusing to pay the campaign's promoter, Out Now, the $5,000 fee for the posters.
The low ranking official in the state's department of parks, recreation and tourism department who got the state involved with the campaign in the first place has resigned.
Oran Smith, the president of a South Carolina conservative activist group, tells MSNBC.com: "I think with today's economy, we have to be really smart with our tourism dollars, and South Carolina's market, very clearly, is the family-friendly market. So if we want to spend our dollars in a way that's wise, we need to go after our market, and our market is families."
Amro Worldwide wants to know what all the fuss is about. The view among many in the gay and lesbian community is that being 'so gay' is not the putdown it perhaps once was, but rather a positive thing, the company says.
Just don't expect Main Street South Carolinians to agree. One Charleston resident who spoke to MSNBC.com says, "We're so gay? Nah. Wrong state. Go to California."
It's worth noting that the other U.S. destinations involved in the campaign are not complaining.
Dispatches from around the world
Filed under: Activism, North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 12)
Steven Jul 15th 2008 11:46PM
The people complaining need to open their eyes. SC does have a lot of gays. Myrtle Beach SC does have a gay beach, several gay bars and no matter where you go in the area you are being helped by someone gay. However SC does not like gays and do agree that gays should not visit SC, they should take their money somewhere else and enjoy their vacation. And by the way, I do live in Myrtle Beach SC and I am gay. I am also prepairing to move to Vegas where gays are more accepted. If all gays left SC they would be screwed.
Californian Jul 16th 2008 1:46AM
seriously, California is not completely gay. Don't hate us just because you are jealous. I lived in NC for two years, and it was nothing special.
Californian Jul 16th 2008 1:49AM
seriously, California is not completely gay. Don't hate us just because you are jealous. I lived in NC for two years, and it was nothing special.
linhomeloan Jul 16th 2008 3:38AM
It is South Carolina, and as for jealously, yeah I am real jealous of the higher prices you all pay for living such as housing and I am really jealous of the fact that I get to walk outside and not have to worry about smog alerts I am not jealous of you. Far from it, I am very proud to be from the South. But that is not the issue. I never said California was completed gay and again if people dont like my comments don't read them. But if you notice, there are more people than just me speaking out on this issue.
Erika Jul 15th 2008 8:32PM
Families do not come in every formation. Not around here anyway. Thats right go somewhere else. Pedophiles carrying their 5 year old victims around see it as "two people in love" so what? Its perverted and we dont want the spirit of homosexuality to gain a stronghold in our state like Cali has. THATS why its burning down.
Donald MacKenzie Jul 16th 2008 4:09AM
I don't know whether you are just stupid or simply ignorant. Either way, you're a disgrace to your state and our country!
timothy Jul 15th 2008 9:26PM
OMG!!! you are the most ignorant, bigoted, ill-informed person I've ever come across. Its perverted sexual deviants like you who molest their children, perform incestuous acts of unspeakable horror with your relatives and dance naked on your lawns during your devil worshiping ceremonies....you're the ones!!!
So, how do you like being the subject of malicious lies???
Andie Jul 15th 2008 9:29PM
Erika, I guarantee I am A LOT younger than you are, but I can't believe how ignorant you seem to be. How can you link Pedophallia to Homosexuality? I am 15, and even I know the difference.
Erika Jul 15th 2008 11:45PM
Because I have repeatedly watched them "recruit" and they love to go after young people. The younger the better. The bible speaks of the enemie's desire to overtake you while your mind is young. And to Timothy I feel nothing about your comments as they are untrue. I am a bible believing Christian and I don't get angry over a tantrum. I do not hate anyone and disagreeing with your lifestyle choices does not make me a bigot. Ignorant simply means you don't know something and that also does not apply to me because I know I speak the truth. I am very well informed as well so....take care and God Bless.
gayAsHellGrl Jul 16th 2008 12:45AM
hahahaha.... I live in California and I’m cooommiiing to SC and I’m bringing my wife and our three teenagers. I propose that any and all gay families that can afford it, let’s all take a vacation in SC and have a huge, silent picnic-gathering, and when people walk up and ask what we are gathered for we will tell them we are gay families and they can watch us, like we are in the zoo. Ahahahahaa. I promise that my teenagers will roll their eyes, just like yours. I promise that my dog will pee in the park, just like yours. I promise that I will drop the Frisbee, just like you. I will shoo flies away, laugh, eat, and rest in the shade, JUST LIKE YOU. Oooooohh scary… the boogey gays. Ahahahaa we might just walk on two legs, have fingers & toes, and have our heads on our necks, JUST LIKE YOU. Ahahah I’ve been a licensed therapist in the state of California for a little over 20 years, I own a business working mental health with children and families. I have helped hundreds of children in the system over the years. I’ll even give you your first hour of therapy free!!! Ahahahaaa OMG! Now I have to pee ahahahaha JUST LIKE YOU.
Brenda Jul 16th 2008 12:04AM
Erika writes:
"Its perverted and we dont want the spirit of homosexuality to gain a stronghold in our state like Cali has. THATS why its burning down."
Nice Erika. What a wonderful Christian woman you must be. I'll be filled with compassion for you too the next time a hurricane rips through your state and rips the ole double wide off of it's blocks. By your beliefs, perhaps your hurricanes are caused by the hypocrisy, hatred and sin in your state?
I live in California and have many gays around me, and guess what? I'm straight! - and never once in the 23 years I've lived out here has any gay person tried to convert me!
nikki Jul 16th 2008 12:08AM
I am ashamed right now to even say I'm from the south. Though not NC. It never fails to sicken me to hear and read things like you have just posted. My best friends are gay and believe me they are not peodphiles. You need to wake up and live in the real world not some deluded one where you believe everything the bible has to say. Gays are people to and they deserve the same rights that us straight people have. Including marriage and adoption. Its people like you that are keeping the hatred alive in America. Shame on you
jimm Jul 16th 2008 12:48AM
u should get ur facts st8 sister-
99% of the child molesters are st8 men and their victims are usually within the family of origin
i am originally from s.carolina and grew up in the 60's and 70's when there was no place for anyone or anything that was not white or euro.
i am proud to say that s.carolina has come along way since then - i was one of the first gay men who marched in the gay pride parade in the early 90's -
there were some who protested but the parade was still held and no arrests -
there are so many other things occurring in the world today that are affecting us all such as gas/food pricing that is skyrocketing , the war , and genocide -
u should focus ur energies into making a difference in the world so that ur kids have a better place to grow up and to teach love instead of hate , acceptance in stead of discrimination, peace instead of violence -
i am white, gay and proud -
proud to be from the south with southern values that teach me to open my home to strangers , give aid to one who hurts , feed the hungry , cloth the naked - these are things that CHRIST taught us to do for one another - for if we to this to the least of these - we do it unto him -WE ARE OUR BROTHER AND SISTER'S KEEPER - FOR GOD CREATED EACH OF US IN HIS IMAGE
where are ur christian values ??
please educate urself on molestation and actually who the perps are and then throw the stone ( if u must) at those responsible -not at a group of people who are not trying to convert anyone to our way of life -
GOD LOVES EACH OF US AND ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT...
and as far as ur comment about cali burning- be careful what u put out there - for by the measures that u judge - it will be evenly judged accordingly to u
Erika Jul 16th 2008 4:41AM
Yes I am a Christian woman and I have not called anyone a name or used any profanity. Do you remember the great flood or the 10 plagues? How is that any different. S & G was destroyed as well by fire for... hmm... well anyway.
Why is it that when you disagree with someones choices you are judging? When we say that telling a lie or stealing is wrong no one says that you are judging. Like a gay lifestyle choice those things are choices as well. If you read my post I didnt say that gays WERE pedophiles. That was in response to someone elses post so read it again. Yes they do recruit the young and I stand by that. We do have many problems in this country. Many because we have turned our backs on God and yet we expect him to continue to protect this country as he has in the past. You cant tell your protector "you are no longer welcome here" and expect him to still protect. Its pretty simple. I raise my children to love respect and live in peace with all men but that does NOT include endorsing lifestyles and sins that are against Gods word. God never commanded Christians to stand silently by and say nothing. Quite the contrary.
Jeremy T Jul 15th 2008 8:42PM
lol, south carolina is sooo gay...
marc Jul 15th 2008 8:39PM
now if the ad read we're so straight the homos would've been spitting and scratching the eyes of the advertisers out. plain and simple a deviant way of life being pushed on america. make bigger closets and all homos form a line to get back in.
signed
homo-intollerant
timothy Jul 15th 2008 9:27PM
Moron in-tollerent!!!
John Jul 15th 2008 11:44PM
So damn right Marc. Just watch how these deviants "make love" and reality will set in fast for any normal person.
mgamb95546 Jul 15th 2008 8:37PM
Isn't this the state with the confederate flag?
Vonnie Jul 15th 2008 8:48PM
For sure, this is the state with the Confederate flag, and proud of it! Just because we honor our heritage does not mean we are a bunch of racists. I have very good friends of many races, black included. We just don't think we need gays to help our economy. Take it to California, definitely.