I'm gay. I believe the ad campaign was well intentioned. But, I can see where the slogan oversteps. The impact to some may be that the ads are suggesting S. Carolina is predominantly gay or thought of as a well-known gay mecca such as San Francisco, Fire Isand, or Provincetown.

Personally, I don't think S. Carolina is so gay. I am 50 years old and have never heard anything about S. Carolina as being a destination for gays. Just because you SAY it in an ad does NOT make it so.

It would be like ad saying, 'Wyoming is so Bohemian'. That does not follow the regional identity any more than S. Carolina trends toward 'so gay'.

I don't think this is about restricting gay travel advertising. It's more about fairness and truth in advertising. I don't think we gays need to be taking any region by storm. This ad makes it look exactly like that. "So gay" is 'so pushy'. Let's mind our manners like we usually try to. (Most of the time.)

Sweetheart...where do you live??? Southern Hospitality is a myth...or something reserved for nice, clean, relatively well-off white people....there's no welcoming spirit down here.... not for anyone with a different skin color, not for any one with a different ethinc backgroud...not for any one...(dear Jesus!)...with an alternative life-style!!! And don't expect any kind words or warm feelings if you're any Christian religion other than something mighty conservative, and you should pray to whatever false gods you believe in if you're not Christian. If there weren't so many black voters in SC, they would be just as offended by any marketing campaign that would suggest that black familes might want to vacation there....or Jews (horrors)...or Hispanics (yikes!)
From a gay athiest yankee living in gracious old south.

Thank you! and Thanks God there are people with hearts and love in them, unlike "Oran Smith" which stands in such important position and has no clue of what the true meaning of the WORD "FAMILY" means.
Perhaps his family has never had a GAY relative which I doubt very much since in every family God sends at least ONE GAY member, only he knows why and is to JUDGE; but I am sure that in "Oran Smith" 's family team, a GAY SON, or family member would rather be buried alive or be totally disowned... WHAT A "FAMILY" HUH???

It's a shame. I've met some lovely people during my travels. Our gay visitors spend a lot of money here and no worries. I hope they learn tolerance and respect for all.

This is so true... And I live in SC! And yes "families" come in different forms. WAKE UP AMERICA!

Timothy, I disagree with your comment to a degree. I was born and raised in North Carolina and still live here, where Southern Hospitality is NOT a myth. I consider myself a "Southern Gentleman". I can say yes ma'am and yes sir. I even hold doors for people and say hello to people as they pass. It is all in how people are raised. My mama and grandma's would pop my mouth if I didn't respect my elders! My hometown has tripled its size in the past 8 years. Most of the "transplants" have moved from the northern states on the east coast. Maybe you live in one of those towns where your fellow yankees moved to. All in all I'm just saying that there are some of us down here in the South that know how to treat people and be polite reguardless of sex, race, or sexual orientation.

To Beast #8: This is funny, "BEAST". Really good stuff. This would be great in a Cohen Brothers film. You could be the snarly guy with the yellow eyes in pee-stained boxers the townsfolk tie to the top of his trailer when the tornado comes heading in. You would be all thrashing around screaming a blue streak with the tornado bearing down. Then WHOOSH! Sucked off like a trucker at rest stop! Buh-bye Bubba the Beast! Have a nice flight! See you in the Drive-In movies! ha ha ha ha ha!

Wow people talk about looking for a reason to bash someone... Many people are misinterpreting this. Just because South Carolina (including myself) is enraged about the ad does not mean we don't want gays. It just means the ad is a little too forward and could give others the wrong idea about our state. I mean did a 10 year old come up with that slogan? And Timothy you know how I knew you were a yankee before I read the ending? Because Southern hospitality is very much alive and well today, we love other ethnicities, We do think its odd but we tolerate non-Baptists (I'm Catholic), but we hate transplanted Yankees. See not the ones who just come and visit and help tourism, but the ones who retire and decide I'll go somewhere to complain about the heat, a Southern drawl, and stop up traffic and live there. Those are called damn yankees. So in the words of Bosephus, "We say grace and we say ma'am, if you ain't into that we dont give a damn."

Wow people talk about looking for a reason to bash someone... Many people are misinterpreting this. Just because South Carolina (including myself) is enraged about the ad does not mean we don't want gays. It just means the ad is a little too forward and could give others the wrong idea about our state. I mean did a 10 year old come up with that slogan? And Timothy you know how I knew you were a yankee before I read the ending? Because Southern hospitality is very much alive and well today, we love other ethnicities, We do think its odd but we tolerate non-Baptists (I'm Catholic), but we hate transplanted Yankees. See not the ones who just come and visit and help tourism, but the ones who retire and decide I'll go somewhere to complain about the heat, a Southern drawl, and stop up traffic and live there. Those are called damn yankees. So in the words of Bosephus, "We say grace and we say ma'am, if you ain't into that we dont give a damn."

The ad is forward, I will give you that. But remember, it's advertising...for tourism, and furthermore, it has a target audience (gay people). Consider, the context in which it is written. I'm from the Northwest, "aint" isn't in our vocabulary. And we live in the United STATES of America. We're all in this together.

I'm sure those folks in SC felt the same way when they freed the slaves.....black people are OK...as long as they stay where they belong and remember their place...

I hope you realize that you are extremely prejudice.

Linda, since you say that the south is not accepting of gays, I'd like to ask you why you think you speak for all of the south? I KNOW other areas of the the south that welcome gay people(Atlanta, and Key West FL as examples). I am not gay but I sure won't spend my money in a state that is soooooo narrow-minded if it's as you represent it. I have family and friends who are gay and will not insult them by going there.

ofcourse there is nothing wrong with NC, but with the bunch of ignorant idiots that live there,,, this is not for those whom are normal, and loving human beings.. by saying this is the SOUTH and such and such is not accepte, you are admitting how ignorant, way behind and insensitive some people in your are are... this is America for ALL....

No I was just telling you how the south was. I wasn't saying it was right or wrong. Not one time did I mention a word about being racist. I am not a racist, far from it. And as for your comment about being America, this is the land of freedom of speech. If you don't like what I have to say don't read it. But I have the right to speak what is on my mind.

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.

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.