‘S.C. is so gay’? State says no way

[Torie]

The article from The State should no doubt attract huge interest here. No doubt the plan was to have them hit on one of our participants here from down there.

‘S.C. is so gay’? State says no way
Officials pull overseas ad campaign to lure homosexual tourists
By JOHN O’CONNOR - joconnor@thestate.com


    * South Carolina is so gay poster

South Carolina’s top tourism agency has canceled an overseas advertising campaign targeting gay tourists.

The campaign, tied to gay pride week celebrations in London, included ads that proclaimed “South Carolina is so gay.” A handful of other U.S. destinations joined the campaign, including Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans.

After learning last week the state had agreed to spend tax money on the campaign — and spurred by a post on The Palmetto Scoop blog — the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism said Thursday it would not pay the tour operator.

Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Chad Prosser said an agency advertising manager signed off on the contract, proposed by the agency’s London advertising contractor.

The agency will not pay the roughly $4,942 fee to take part in the campaign.

Employees “exercised extremely poor judgment in approving participation in the program,” Prosser said. PRT, he said, will require more review of future overseas advertising, as it does with domestic advertising.

The campaign touts Amro Worldwide, a London-based company specializing in gay travel. The campaign was meant to reclaim the phrase “so gay,” which has been used as a slur, Amro CEO Andrew Roberts said in a press release June 27.

Efforts to reach Amro Worldwide were unsuccessful.

That press release also included a statement from a “South Carolina tourism” spokesperson noting “we think people may be surprised to see our destination reaching out to the gay market.”

Prosser said the employee, who works for an overseas contractor, was not authorized to speak on behalf of the agency. The agency is reviewing how, if at all, to discipline the employees who signed off on the program.

Some lawmakers were shocked to learn about the campaign, with state Sen. David Thomas, R-Greenville, calling for an audit.

Joel Sawyer, spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford, said using tax money to support a social or political agenda is inappropriate.

“Our state tourism dollars should be talking about the beaches and attractions of South Carolina,” Sawyer said.

The campaign, which ends Saturday, planted posters all over a single London subway station. Prosser said the agency has asked the S.C. posters be removed.

Reach O’Connor at (803) 771-8358.

[Albus Dumbledore]

Haha holy sh**t.

[Хahar 🤔]

[Verily]

They're just in denial.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Not surprising that this is an overseas ad -- American gays know better than to go to South Carolina.

[Person Man]

Not surprising that this is an overseas ad -- American gays know better than to go to South Carolina.

This is funny sh**t. I would think that the South Carolina government is just trying to "wrangle themselves up some f****ts for a good South Carolina barbeque". How else to do it than to attract a bunch of gays to your "happy camps". I hope I haven't said to much. For all I know, Sen. Jim DeMitt is looking at this website right now saying "this is a good idea, I'll tell you what".

[King]

I hear the Idaho Travel Commission is coming up with a response ad:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Well, they may have seen Lindsey's promenade around the Senate floor last year while pitching a hissy fit and figured, maybe South Carolina is sort of like San Francisco (without the fog).

[Ban my account ffs!]

I've always heard an unconfirmed rumor that Charleston is the lesbian capital of America... but again, that is only hearsay really.

[Platypus]

The article from The State should no doubt attract huge interest here. No doubt the plan was to have them hit on one of our participants here from down there.

‘S.C. is so gay’? State says no way
Officials pull overseas ad campaign to lure homosexual tourists
By JOHN O’CONNOR - joconnor@thestate.com


    * South Carolina is so gay poster
“Our state tourism dollars should be talking about the beaches and attractions of South Carolina,” Sawyer said.

The campaign, which ends Saturday, planted posters all over a single London subway station. Prosser said the agency has asked the S.C. posters be removed.

Reach O’Connor at (803) 771-8358.

Hmmn.

Checks ad.

Hmmn.

I think that is what the ad does...unless gay beaches aren't beaches, of course. We have no gay sand in South Carolina!

[Conan]

I've always heard an unconfirmed rumor that Charleston is the lesbian capital of America... but again, that is only hearsay really.

Well they have:
Prominent gay senator
Gay accents
& the fierce city of Charleston.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I've always heard an unconfirmed rumor that Charleston is the lesbian capital of America... but again, that is only hearsay really.

Very nice! As long as they aren't the butch types.

[riceowl]

Not surprising that this is an overseas ad -- American gays know better than to go to South Carolina.

i had a good time.  best drag show i've ever been to!

[Robespierre's Jaw]

The funniest thing I have heard, or should I say, saw all day

I'm surprised that South Carolina is even targeting gay tourists come and visit South Carolina. They must be really desperate for visitors, and I mean really desperate. Why else would they entice foreigners, in this case, foreign homosexuals to come join them beyond the Mason-Dixon line?

[tik 🪀✨]

"Gay Travel. Tried and Trusted."

You can't make this sh**t up.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I've always heard an unconfirmed rumor that Charleston is the lesbian capital of America... but again, that is only hearsay really.

Very nice! As long as they aren't the butch types.

They're always the butch types.

Or Realtors.

[tik 🪀✨]

I've always heard an unconfirmed rumor that Charleston is the lesbian capital of America... but again, that is only hearsay really.

Very nice! As long as they aren't the butch types.

They're always the butch types.

Or Realtors.

Only the ones you notice, thus the stereotype.

[opebo]

For every Tom there's a Dee, as they call them here in Thailand.   Tom being the butch tomboy and Dee being the lipstick one. 

I've heard though that there's a great oversupply of bottoms in the gay male world, and a lack of 'tops'.. is this true?  Carolingians?

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

very strange, don't know what to make of this thread

as far as the ad goes, and setting aside the moral issues...why would you want to attract people to visit and spread disease?  Might as well advertise orgies.

Unless, of course, IT"S A SET-UP!  Kinda like the KKK throwing a watermelon party.

[??????????]

as far as the ad goes, and setting aside the moral issues...why would you want to attract people to visit and spread disease?  Might as well advertise orgies.

[minionofmidas]

They have a lot of tourist money to spend.

Putting out a thing like this and then retracting it is so gay.

[memphis]

If SC doesn't want the tourist dollars, I'm sure somebody else will.  Because they don't typically have kids, gays have more disposible income to spend on things like travel.  OMG, I might catch gay from all the English tourists.

[Ebowed]

very strange, don't know what to make of this thread

as far as the ad goes, and setting aside the moral issues...why would you want to attract people to visit and spread disease?  Might as well advertise orgies.

Same reason GOP-backing corporations are banning discrimination against homosexuals in employment.

The more savvy types in your party put profit ahead of superstition.

[Swing low, sweet chariot. Comin' for to carry me home.]

very strange, don't know what to make of this thread

as far as the ad goes, and setting aside the moral issues...why would you want to attract people to visit and spread disease?  Might as well advertise orgies.

Same reason GOP-backing corporations are banning discrimination against homosexuals in employment.

well, if they are willing to hire those shacking up with their boyfriends/girlfriends, why would they single out homosexuals?

---

The more savvy types in your party put profit ahead of superstition.

and Balaam sold out for money also.  so what is your point?

[afleitch]

why would you want to attract people to visit and spread disease?

Call the 1980's police. They want their bullsh-t back.