Tax dollars used to make SC ‘So Gay’
SCPRT FUNDING PROGRAM TO MARKET SC AS ‘GAY STATE’
This may come as a surprise to many South Carolinians, but your tax dollars are being used to target gay travelers from across the pond.
The Palmetto Scoop has learned that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism — a state agency overseen by the Gov. Mark Sanford’s office — is spending an undisclosed amount of its nearly $14 million advertising budget to take part in the “So Gay” campaign, an effort launched in London, England, by the gay marketing agency “Out Now” to lure homosexual tourists to South Carolina and five U.S. cities.
Out Now is dubbing it “the gayest ever mainstream media advertising campaign” in London.
“South Carolinians will be irate when they learn their hard earned tax dollars are being spent to advertise our state as ’so gay,’” Sen. David Thomas (R-Greenville) told The Palmetto Scoop. “South Carolina is a wonderful, family friendly destination not a Southern version of San Francisco. This campaign goes against our core values.”
Thomas said he would be calling for a comprehensive audit of PRT, an agency in the governor’s cabinet.
State Rep. Greg Delleney (R-Chester), echoed Thomas’ concerns, citing questions over “whether or not the governor or anyone in charge at PRT authorized this expenditure.”
“It’s simply unbelievable that PRT would be using our tax money to promote the homosexual lifestyle,” said Delleney.
Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer could not be reached for comment.
But Kirsty Dillury, a spokesperson for South Carolina Tourism, called the “So Gay” campaign an important one.
“South Carolina has a lot to offer gay travelers, and we think that people may be surprised to see our destination reaching out to the gay market,” Dillury said in a June 27 press release. “We are delighted to be involved with the ‘So Gay’ campaign in particular as it sends a powerful positive message to everyone that there is nothing wrong at all with a destination being described as ’so gay.’”
Dillury continued, “For our gay visitors it is actually quite wonderful for them to discover just how much South Carolina has to offer — from stunning plantation homes to miles of wide sandy beaches.”
That press release noted that the gay travel agency Amro Worldwide “received the funding and support” from South Carolina to help with the campaign.
In an effort to confirm the amount of money given to the project, The Palmetto Scoop contacted Dillury, who redirected questions to Marion Edmonds, Director of Communications for PRT. Repeated attempts to contact Edmonds over the last week, including a Freedom of Information Act request sent this morning, yielded no results.
SCPRT received $13.7 million in this year’s budget for the purposes of advertising, $10.5 million of which came directly from South Carolina taxpayers.
Out Now’s CEO Ian Johnson said the effort is an attempt to make homosexuals more comfortable about being gay.
“For all people seeing this campaign it is important to know that using ’so gay’ as a putdown is far from clever in the eyes of lesbian and gay people,” Johnson said. “We wanted to reclaim that for the gay community. It is really about standing up and saying: You say: ’So gay’? Then I say: ’So what!’”
Dr. Oran P. Smith, President of Palmetto Family Council, disagrees.
Said Smith, “If the story is factual, and it appears that it is, the taxpayers of South Carolina are unwittingly funding one side of the culture war. State tourism dollars shouldn’t be used to fund what is in essence a political agenda.”
Good job Adam!!!!!!
Their slogan could be “Where the Confederacy and homophobia are alive and kicking”or “Come for the experience that Charles Sumner received at the hands of Preston Brooks”
“The Palmetto Scoop has learned that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism — a state agency overseen by the Gov. Mark Sanford’s office — is spending an undisclosed amount of its nearly $14 million advertising budget to take part in the ‘So Gay’ campaign.”
So, Adam, what’s going on here is that while the ad campaign is openly gay, the PRT budget that’s footing the bill is in the closet.
Chuckle. Chuckle.
This is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. God forbid we try to attract tourism to South Carolina. Keep up the homophobia!
Proposed new state motto - “Kickin’ out Mexicans and welcomin’ gays!”
Greg Delleney is from Chester, not York.
Oh yeah, God forbid we bring in gay Europeans. Newsflash! SC is not a rich state. Why do we care the sexual orientation of the person who chooses to visit SC and drop their money here?
Let’s celebrate the fact that we’re advertising to Londoners. In case you haven’t heard the US dollar is worth considerably less than the GB Pound and when English people vacation in the US they spend a lot of money because for them, we’re cheap!
Yay for PRT!
Gay money fills the coffers just like straight money. And gays have more money to spend than straights. I think this is a great marketing idea to raise money in SC.
I’m sorry, but who cares? “Oh, the scary British gay people!” I mean, honestly, this is a story? Oh no, South Carolina is using advertising to bring people in to spend their money in our businesses! Egad! What ever shall we do! I may swoon!
I think South Carolina leaders have gone mad ,I think we should get them out of office any way we can.
Objection to the gay lifestyle is not homophobic. A much better and more appropriate description is homogasmic: makes one want to throw up.
I am glad that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism is doing this!!! I lived in Charleston for 8 years and I miss it all the time. I had the honor of being part of a charity fundraiser, the Freedom Party, which was held over the Independance Day holiday weekend. The event blossomed from only a couple hundred the first year to almost 1000 people the second year.
We estimated the economic impact, based on attendee surveys, to be approximately $200 to $250 per person per day (including hotel, dining, shopping, etc.). The event was held over a three day period. That amounts to anywhere from $600,000 to $750,000 for a single event.
If we had been able to utilize a grant to support advertising and PR for the event it would have created exponential benefit for EVERYONE in the community.
Kudos to the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism!
When will some “Christians” wake -up and realize that a persons sexuality is their own business. Remember, Christianity preaches, UNCONDITIONAL love. Once you diverge from that path, your (Christian) approach to your fellow man, is skewed. The Bible is not a linear account of the Jesus story. It’s a giant metaphor for leading a more conscious life. Stop using it to bolster prejudice. Stop feeling threatened by another’s lifestyle. Work on yourself.
Kudos to the PRT for tapping a lucrative travel market.
Forget about the moral issues…we have the 3rd highest income tax in the nation and were paying for this! My guess is that anybody that isn’t upset about this either doesn’t pay taxes or isn’t from South Carolina….gay or straight.
The USA should have bid a fond farewell to South Carolina in 1860. You gays can come north. A lot less hate up here.
To those supporters of PRT’s decision:
Why must they target gays? As one poster pointed out (thanks for the newsflash), the pound is much more sound than the dollar. So by their logic, wouldn’t it make even greater sense to promote SC to every Brit and European? If the rest of the market over there thinks that SC is trying to accommodate homosexuals, will they be more or less enticed to plan a vacation here?
There’s a difference between unconditional love and advertising for homosexuals to come and visit our wonderful state.
Unconditional love would include murders, rapist, child predators, et al, yet, I don’t think any of us would want to advertise to those groups to come visit us. (assuming they’re NOT in jail).
So, how can anyone say “unconditional love” but not include such groups as mentioned above. Loving someone versus having them brought into our lives by South Carolinian’s tax dollars is quite different.
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ALLOW SOUTH CAROLINA TO BECOME A GAY STATE - PLEASE!!!! We are NOT the liberal, loose values, non-Biblical following culture of California and the northeastern and northwestern states in the US. PLEASE do whatever is necessary to stop those values from invading and destroying our state of South Carolina.
Posted by Jeff - “When will some ‘Christians’ wake -up…”
The door to paradise after this life is very narrow. Yes, we must love the sinner unconditionally, with humility and without judgment. But it is also our duty as Christians to hate the sin. We do not condemn the person, we condemn the sin. We do not bolster prejudice, we are only told by others that we are homo-phobes if we hate the sin.
Having same-sex relations is a sin. We all sin everyday. Stealing is a sin. Do thieves say I am a clepto-phobe? Why is it that if I think same-sex relations is a sin I have to be labeled? Does freedom of speech not apply to me, too? This is not racism or prejudice against my fellow man who only differs from me in the color of his skin. This is simply a matter of religious freedom - to believe that same-sex relations are not part of your DNA, not a reflection of who you were born to be, but nothing more than a personal choice. A choice the Holy Fathers in their infinite wisdom say is a sinful choice.
Adam Fogle has done an excellent job of writing a non-biased story. As readers he has given us the choice to make up our own minds. Thank you Adam Fogle for that. So, my opinion is shame on the PRT for using my money in this way.
I am feeling SOOOOO GAY for all of you right now.
I mean, we’re talking SUPER GAY. I want your Truck NUTZ inside of me.
As I sit here, slurping a little yogurt for my early evening snack, all I can say is fabulous, simply fabulous.
But why the Brits? Face it boys, dem Brits may have bad teeth!
We should have targeted lesbians, as they eat more. East German lesbians would have been a boon to the Chinese Buffet biddness.
Eric
PS…I hear Glenn McConnell was “behind” this.
This is a good thing and I am glad my tax dollars are going to such a program of showing that South Carolina is welcoming of all people including gay people.. It is time that South Carolina shed it’s image as a place where bigotry–particularly of the racial and sexual orientation kind — is so rampant and entrenched that most people who come here regard us as socially retarded and backward et al. Stephen Moller (now in prison) then murderer of Sean Kennedy is very much a product of this homophobic bigotry. IF the Bob Jones ,Southern Baptists , Sons of the Confederacy(an organization similar to the KKK) and Jesse Helms type folks would stay out of Government we would be a very progressive place–as revealed by our going for O’Bama for President lately. Church and State after all are suppose to be separate and the Church is not suppose to be influencing Government laws or having the Government pass laws making what should be their church canons civil law. Yet in South Carolina it has and does. We already see a example this in an insulting reply above in which ‘STRAIGHT LACED ‘ refers to being gay as a ‘gay lifestyle’. There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle—this is insulting to gay people to even consider such IS there a Straight lifestyle —did you choose to be a heterosexual? Gay people do not choose their orientation –that is the way the good lord made them and if that is so bad why does he or she continue to make them. FYI gay people are no different than heterosexuals —they go to work, buy homes, raise families the only difference is in their attraction to their love object—a person of the same gender.
Yes gay people need to come to South Carolina and move here to help create a more diverse society and political climate so that things are not so one sided by the above folks. Not just from abroad but also those who already live in the US. However, in order to be fully welcoming —laws are going to have to be changed—-beginning with the bigoted marriage law that says that South Carolina will NEVER recognize marriage other than between a man and a women.
For those who ignorantly object to this invitation—–the gay people who do visit South Carolina will bring in billions of dollars and help the slow State Economy. IF Laws were changed to be more accomodating towards gay people —many Fortune 500 companies would also move here and that help the economy of the State immensely.
When Greenville had its first and only gay pride event; it brought in 100 million dollars to Greenville’s economy. We had people from as far away as Los Angeles attendng this event as well as several foreign countries: Australia, Britain, France and Italy. South Carolina needs the same laws regarding gay people that California has including the right to marry.
I applaud PRT for marketing our state to a demographic that will enjoy our beautiful state and spend their vacation dollars by dining in our restaurants, purchasing our gas, visiting our tourist attraction & cultural events.
I have friends in Philadelphia where a similar marketing campaign was unveiled several years ago with noticeable positive economic impact - and South Carolina counts tourism as our number one industry, then marketing the Palmetto State to LGBT visitors should only help (especially in these challenging economic times).
shotsshortsshorts….
But I thought the Truck Nutz were being passed between Bobby Jindal and Big Troy in the fountains of astroglidia right now. We all know for SC to be able to handle the gays they must first master ass cleaning without a corn cobb and not sticking thier hands into the fire whilel cooking hamsters or whatever.
Oh well, maybe we can buy more Truck Nutz so we can all have fun. I heard therer was a big sale at the Truck Nutz store.
I find it a bit hard to see how this can be something you are against.
If 5% or so of the taxpayers dollars in SC are contributed by gay people, there has to be an equity argument that whatever was spent on this one little English tourism campaign is too small.
If gay people pay 5% of the SC taxes, then gay people in SC surely have the right to see that percentage of at least 5% of tourism annual budget spent on targeting ‘fellow travelers’ in the expenditure of the SC tourism budget allocation.
The other argument I think you are not contemplating is whether the hundreds of hotel-keepers, restaurants and souvenir shops in places like Charleston, Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach — many owned by your readers — think you are right. Their revenues I expect depend to a reasonable extent upon the gay market.
What will you say to them if gay people stop coming to SC because of your remarks?
Most surveys I read suggest a majority of Americans support equal treatment and respect for gay people.
Your position seems overtly political to me.
Now THIS is entertainment! I haven’t laughed this heartily in a long long time.
I predict this article will set a record for comments.
At this rate your children come up and ask why they saw two men kissing at Edisto beach. Won’t that make it tougher to control what they think?
Somebody above asked if other Europeans will be more likely to plan SC vacations if their gay neighbors and coworkers do, implying that they thought not.
Gays are always the first - travel, music, gentrification, etc. If gay Londoners (miraculously) fall for this advertising and visit some of SC’s more picturesque locales, you can be sure that the straights won’t be far behind. It’s not like Charleston is ever going to be the next Provincetown. I mean, is it too much to ask that in return for a major boon to the local economy, South Carolinians actually remember their manners and treat guests in the state like guests should be treated? Judging from some of the short-sighted commentary here, I guess it is.
Hey Ludwig, instead of trying to change SC, why don’t you just go back to NY or San Fran. If you don’t like living in a backwards, retarded state, why don’t you go back to where you came from. And if you were born here, why not move to a state that shares your values.That’s what I did 10 years ago. I didn’t like the high taxes and liberalism of NY, so I moved down here. Problem is all the other Yankees who moved down here are now trying to make SC just like NY.
And as for the So Gay campaign, why not advertise we are the Skiing Capitol of the South. Granted it’s not true, but think of all the money we could get from European Skiiers. I’m sure if the state didn’t waste our money on that, they’d find other ways to waste our money.
There is no hate in NY?
Good Job SC government! Let’s teach all our children that homosexuality is normal. I am tired of hearing that these people should be allowed to be “who they are”. It is a behavior that can be restrained’/controlled by each individual. Heterosexual is not “who I am”. It’s an activity in which I choose to participate.
I can control my behavior as a responsible individual. Why can’t homosexuals do the same? I don’t care what they do out of sight of children and the public. Don’t tell me that it is normal and it’s “who we are”! Advertise to the general public in generic terms. Why don’t we advertise to hunter’s, fisherman and gun owners? How much of this budget is directed directly toward these groups in group specific publications? I suspect the answer would be shocking. There are many more hunter’s and fisherman in the country thatn homosexuals!
South Carolina,where all the Republicans will have to act all outraged for the next week or so,and hope the fact they spend inordinate amounts of time hanging out in the city parks by the mensrooms doesn’t get noticed….
Yeah, this is just great. Right now, in 2008, tourist families visiting Provincetown Mass. are being treated to “gay” sex acts being performed openly on public beaches. Not by just one or two couples, but in groups. Is this what we want for Charleston or Myrtle Beach. How will you feel when they are prancing around in one of their perverted parades like they do in San Francisco? We don’t need their money that bad!
What next…I suppose the pedophiles would have money to spend in South Carolina also. Is the state going to invite them along with the homosexuals?
I would love for South Carolina to wake up and advertise to the lucrative gay and lesbian market, but this article is obviously a fabrication. I can’t believe so many people fell for this poor attempt at satire.
Allright, enough with the “equity” arguments. Using your reasoning, to be “fair” the state of SC should pay me to do the same type of p.r. campaign to attract Irish-Catholics, Polish-Catholics, Catholics with more than 6 children, conservatives with degrees, conservatives who attend lovely churches with great photo ops., conservatives who recycle and attend church regularly, conservatives with Jewish friends, Conservatives with Jewish friends who take pictures while recycling, etc. ad nauseum. It’s just a waste of our taxpayer money snuck past us. How about trying to appeal to other group of people who participate in an activity that relates to their sexuality - like streakers or nudists, sadists or “man-boy” love associations? Defending this use of tax dollars is ridiculous.
Ludwig,
I am SO tired of the whining from the gay community, calling anyone who questions your lifestyle choice a bigot. Frankly, I’d like to see the day when the gay community stops trying to force their chosen values on the rest of us.
If we allow marriage to be redefined in whatever image some special interest group sees fit, then we’ve done serious damage to our children. Marriage is not created by government. It is older than the Constitution, older than America, older than Christianity. It exists in every known human society and it always has something to do with bringing MEN and WOMEN together so that society has the next generation it needs and children have both mothers and fathers, as they need. Its about affirming the IDEAL. And when it comes to children, science and common sense both say: mothers and fathers BOTH matter to children. Its just wrong for any law to pretend that two men being intimate is the same as a husband and a wife, especially when it comes to raising children. Marriage isn’t a special interest, it’s a common good. Every American benefits from a healthy marriage culture. ALL Americans pay the price in increased taxes, social disorder, and human suffering when mothers and fathers fail to get and stay married. Once we start redefining marriage, any coupling will do. And that sends a terrible message to the next generation: alternative family forms are just as good as traditional families, children don’t need a mother and a father, and marriage is about adult desires for affirmation or benefits, not about the well-being of children.
The almighty dollar seems to control every thing but we do not need the money from these odd balls. They ruined the places that they come from and theycouldn’t stand it any more so they say lets move sone where we can screw it up and it will no longer be a decent place to live . We don’t need to be spending our tax dollars advertising how great it is for gays in south carolina
Herbert Avinger
Is there a way to tell the difference between a straight Brit and a gay one?
What an about face! … Not too long ago the state closed several interstate rest stops because they had become hangouts for gays.. Now, they are advertising for gays?? Why do they want to bring more deviates to our family oriented beaches to prey on our children and teens??…. We have enough problems already, we don’t need any more.. Let ‘em go to Florida…. It isn’t worth all the money if just one child is molested, or is led into the gay lifestyle..
Anti-Gay?? Hell Yes!! And damn proud of it, too!!
Speaking as a heterosexual Londoner, I have a concern that everybody will now assume I am gay when they hear my accent on my next trip to South Carolina. Do you think it would be wise if I brought my family? By the way, what are Truck Nutz?
Jimmy
I dont think that South Carolina is that bad off for tourisum that we need to advertise
that kind of thing . (read the Good book )
This does not surprise me. The leaders of this nation are so ungodly that they would sacrifice the well-being of thier own children for a dollar. Starting with our so-called christian president, all the waydown to our county and state (so-called) leaders. I don’t have much education to word this prperly, but i am a CHRISTIAN and i believe in THE WORD OF GOD, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, the one and only LIVING GOD! This nation was founded on the word of God. We as Christians should not sit back and allow such things as this to happen. I am not ashamed of my LORD,and i will proclaim it with all my strenght. People please listen, and heed to the HOLY BIBLE. Gays are not of GOD, i don’t care what person says they are.
Ada,
I read in The State this morning that this funding has now been pulled, and your blog post is getting the credit for it.
Which leads me to say just one thing…
GREAT JOB!!!
~Joshua
1) Can’t wait to hear the explanation of truck nutz to the Brit;
2) I guess now all the “pro-family” folks will want a licnese plate that says, “South Carolina - So Hetero!”; and,
3) I hope I can live long enough to watch all the bigots in SC become more and more shocked and saddened, (”Ah Believe ahm gettin’ the vapas!”).
Ooops, forgot one:
4) I did hear that Sen. Lindsay Graham and Gov. Charlie Crist recently went on a “fact-finding” trip to London toghether. Hmmm….
Well well well…
there i was at London pride, handing out flyers for this promotion, thinking that we were promoting a vibrant accepting city. Little did we know that we were promoting such a disgusting homophobic rat infested pig den.
I can tell you now, people from London (and people who visit London) expect to visit places that offer them the acceptance and cosmopolitan attitude they have come to know and love about their home and holiday destinations. quite frankly this $2 ’slot machine’ of a website is an embarrassment to Not only South Carolina, but in fact the entire united states. I well expect this comment to not be added to the site, so i will be forwarding it to various people involoved, to make sure none of our great british pink pounds will be wasted in a 2 bit backwards town.
Regards.
The boycott is coming — North Carolina, jump on this while you can!
I do not agree with this at all! My tax dollars will not be used for this. It states in the Bible… Romans 1: 24-32.. That homosexuality is WRONG! We have enough here, why bring more? God bless these people..
What hypocrisy! The real business of the tourism board is not to brand SC as a “family” destination or promote “traditional values”. It is to promote SC and attract business and visitors. If you found that, as many cities have, the gay dollar is just as green as the straight and that gay families sometimes have considerably more spending power than their straight conterparts maybe you would re-consider your narrow viewpoint.
C’Mon have you seen the way Jim DeMint dresses? S.C. is “so gay.”
straight laced sez: “Objection to the gay lifestyle is not homophobic. A much better and more appropriate description is homogasmic: makes one want to throw up.”
Ummm. I can think of at LEAST one other meaning that fits “homogasmic” better than the one you’ve given it, so you might want to rethink that one before people start thinking you’re, like, SO GAY!
It’s odd how you “Christians” seek out the few biblical proscriptions against homosexuality while ignoring the ones that inconvenience you personally, but hey, religious hypocrisy is nothing new. Personally, I’d think you’d be happy to get the tourism dollars, given the way the economy is tanking thanks to the wonderful leadership of GW Bush. But at least he agrees with you about gays, right? That alone should be enough to excuse a bad economy, an unnecessary war, and a hundred other assaults on human rights and dignity in your eyes, from what I gather anyway.
Oh awesome! Nobody has explained it yet!
Truck Nutz!
Imagine you’re a big beefy all american redneck. You love your truck real hard; it’s like a symbol of how much of a man you are. It’s like a big bull dog or rotweiller, or some other large male dog. Now what would complete this symbolism? A plastic, imitation scrotum and pair of testicles hanging from the trailer hitch! Your symbol of manhood is complete!
And someone should inform the number of “christians” in this thread:
I’m pretty sure Jesus was against hating people.
Isn’t one of your senators gay?
A lot of bigots here posting. Eff ‘em.
As a Bible believer I am OVERJOYED when I hear of G & Ls being welcomed into the mainstream.
Addition to the world becoming corrupt and filled with violence JESUS CHRIST said a keystone event before HIS return, the world again be “As it was in the days of Lot”. To refresh your memory or if you don’t know, Lot lived in Sodom.
With the Middle East on the brink of nuclear war, SC ranking at or near the bottom in education, gasoline at a record high and the cost of food through the roof, we should DEFINATELY throw away the taxpayers hard earned money on nonsense like the article presents.
As a Script, not sure or angered by this post, you can always read it for yourself. Goobye.
“It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 1 Corinthians 7:1
Thanks to Paul, a guy can’t win for losing….
p.s. Overheard: A Redneck talking to his truck w/ nutz, “I just can’t quit you!”
Hey old money…Cafeteria Bible quoting? A.K.A Pick and Choose…Huh Huh.!!?? Reminds me of sitting in church.. Oh Yea!
1 Corinthians 7:2
2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
What? SC is so gay? My tax dollars are being spent to encourage people of an abhorant lifestyle, that goes directly against the Bible, to come here? Sounds like a house cleaning is in order. Any elected official that approves of or consented to this, will not get my vote for reelection, or election, to any office and that includes dog catcher.
Hey Wayne…Do NOT be critical of G&Ls. Join me and welcome them with open arms. Interesting argument we have here. On the one hand GLs claim GOD made them the way they are yet in SC evolution is taught is public schools as the single method of how humankind arrived on the planet. Yet Darwin said only the fittest would survive. Hum. Something is amiss with this picture. Agreed?
Geez. In South Carolina, we depend on tourism money. It’s not like gay tourists are going to crash your house, put your son in a dress, and go at it on your marital bed. They’re not “out to get you.” And it seems to me the sexual orientation of tourists who are coming to enjoy our state doesn’t affect the value of their cash. We do have high taxes. We do have a failing education system. People are people, and if they want to come give us money for a little economic relief, we should welcome them. Besides, what are we going to do–set up a border patrol where the officers on duty are armed with gaydar?
South Carolina
Send the Gays north, to Rhode Island, we could use the cash.
Lance in Newport, Rhode Island
what ever happened to “Southern Hospitality” or was that a joke ?
I am so embarest by this; the international headlines on Fox News and MSN; this blog and I am sure others; all for less than a $5,000 advertising campaign from a $14 million budget. Really, get with it people. If the SC PRT advertises, then they are advertising to gays (they are everywhere). It is only an advertising campaign (and a damn good one at that).
Should we scrutinize all of their campaigns to make sure they touch all people? How about the one with the man and woman hiking/camping in the mountains. Does everyone camp? No I didn’t think so.
If we should be irritated or mad at anyone, they it should be the PRT director, Chad Prosser, for not backing up his employees that approved the campaign. Selling out like a little baby is not a manager/director we should have in a position with such authority. Really what was Mark Sanford thinking when he appointed him? Obviously a yes man. Sham on you Chad, we all know stand behind your people and your people will stand behind you. I hope they sell you out, as you have sold them out.
When you pay taxes it is not YOUR money anymore; it is the state of South Carolina’s money. I am sure there are much greater frivolous spending going on that a $5,000 advertising campaign. Specifically that Senator Thomas R-Greenville has in the competitiveness grants for his district. (BTW, the only SC Gay Pride store is in his district.)
Again, its only advertising the same as what is advertised in Men’s Health, Southern Living, Cooking Light and Oprah magazines; all of which gay people subscribe to and read everyday.
Gay and proud, living in SC and loving it!
PS: We are everywhere: we fix your car, cook your food, clean your house, invest your money, take care of you when you’re sick, write your books, pave your roads, haul your trash, manage your hotels, counsel your needs, hear your court cases and even pass your laws. You don’t have to like it or even approve it, but you better get used to it because we are not going anywhere.
Well thar fabu-lance. Us yokels had plenty of horse-per-tail..ety until all you yankees came south. Du huh.
Oh noes! Teh gays are taking over, oh noes! How will my marriage mean anything now?
The phrase, “Going to hell in a handbasket,” comes to mind.
Better phrase “As it was in the days of Lot.”
Jul 12, 1:54 PM (ET)
By Ben Doone and Phil McCavity
COLUMBIA, Sc. (AP)
Due to the recent discovery that South Carolina – a State that has been largely defined by the ignorance and intolerance of it’s citizens – is actually “So Gay”, State Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, Chad Prosser announced that the State would capitalize on the discovery by changing the lyrics of the famous Carolina Fight song to reflect the new queer identity of the State.
Originally titled “The Fighting Game Cocks Lead the Way” and sung at USC football games, the new song will be called “The Lisping Gaycocks Lead the Way” and the lyrics will read:
“Hey lets give a cheer, Carolina is queer,
The Lisping GayCocks lead the way.
Who gives a care, cause we’re all tan and buff,
And when the sodomy’s rough, that’s when the ‘Cocks get going.
Hail to our colors all pastel and pink
In SC Gay Pride have we.
So, Go Gaycocks Go –FIGHT!
Drive to a show – FIGHT!
Gay Pride will win today – GO COCKS!
So let’s give a cheer, Carolina is queer
The Lisping Gaycocks are all Gay!
The University of South Carolina Athletic Department has so far refused to comment on the changes.
Hey Phil how do gays have more money? What a stupid thing to say, im just glad the very liberal state that i live in (Illinois) will not spend 10 million in ad money so that people can say “my state is So Gay come and vist.
When the AIDS crisis broke out in the 1980s, we were all told that this disease “didn’t discriminate”- ANYONE could get it. However, we soon learned that the vast majority of those who contracted this lethal condition fell into several very restricted categories: first and foremost were active homosexual men, second were IV drug users, third were people infected through receiving tainted blood, blood products and organs for transplant - and then there were the Haitians. For quite some time, the large percentage of AIDS sufferers in that small Caribbean nation seemed inexplicable until it was learned that the island had become a “gay” vacation paradise where the combination of the poverty of the people and the wealth of the tourists made young boys a thriving commodity on the “gift shoppe” list.
I can understand the State of South Carolina seeking to attract European and British tourists, but I’d dump the present target group unless your State has very deep pockets for the medical bills that just might start to “total up” after your visitors go home. While no American state can be compared to Haiti as far as poverty is concerned, there are always those willing to sell a desired commodity if the price is right. Unfortunately, in this case, the price might just be too high to pay.
STFU Wolfran, Clemson is on the set of Deliverance and the two guys that like pigs are Clemson grads… squeal piggy… weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee All you butthole surfers will love Clemson fans… just follow the sound of dueling banjo’s…
We tried so hard to dump the Log Cabin Republican, Lindsey Graham, in the Primaries. We here in South Carolina love our GIRLS,GUNS & GOD. We don’t want any out side funny money spent here in South Carolina. We have enough of them already here. Let e’m go to New York, Mass or California where they love fags.
Bob, the gays have more money because they are generally a two-income household with no irritating children. Also, they tend not to live in places like SC, meaning places with decent economies and real jobs that aren’t suffering from the worst brain-drain in the country. All these things add to up to more disposable income.
And honestly, all of you, your proselytizing, Bible-quoting, and Truck Nutz aside (seriously, you’re a family state that has giant balls hanging off your trucks in full view of the public?), isn’t ANYTHING better than the biker rallies? I mean, those of you not on the coast aren’t going to have to sully your God-fearing eyes by seeing any of these terrible, well-groomed monsters anyway (no one is vacationing in Loris or Columbia, trust me). And those of you on the coast could probably do with seeing some well-behaved folks not wearing “If you can read this, the b#tch fell off” t-shirts or grossly inappropriate thongs.
So those of you more than 20 miles inland, relax, no one’s coming to your one-horse town anyway. Let the coast deal with it and continue to drive revenue for the rest of you.
Follow the Money! ….Follow the Money!…Follow the Money!
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Board of Economic Advisors will meet Thursday to review tax collections and other revenue.
With sales tax collections falling behind expectations, the board has repeatedly reduced its estimates and prompted budget writers to try to cut spending.
Gov. Mark Sanford said last week he expects the shortfall to wipe out one of the state’s rainy day reserve funds by the end of the year.
Ex-SCer, thanks so much for explaining to Bob why gays have more disposable income to spend on things like vacations. I didn’t realize that my comment would confuse anyone, but now I believe that Bob has no gay friends and therefore did not understand what I meant. I should have assumed nothing and been more clear.
As for those quoting the Bible and speaking of sin…I’m sure you wear clothes of two different fabrics…like 50% polyester and 50% cotton so you are guilty of blasphemy…as are those who eat shell fish too. I’m sure you knew that, but wanted to point it out just in case you hadn’t read that in the Bible. We can’t be “selective” in our passing of judgment.
As for the “pedophile” comments…99% of pedophiles are straight men attacking young girls and not gay men attacking young boys. Let’s not get confused on that statistic as we pass judgment.
I’m under the impression that the Department of tourism or what ever , PRT , is supposed to target every audience as far as attracting tourism dollars to the palmetto state…..look , we have ‘bike’ weeks….I mean, c’mon…if we can attract both motorcylce clubs, groups , RACES ( who else is having ‘white bike week ‘ and ‘black bike week’ in this day and time ), individuals ,and bike gangs to our beaches and mountains….I mean , really ….are we going to start going bonkers over a few homosexuals ? I really do not care what or who people fall in love with…it is a BIG planet ….I’m straight , my children understand that there are homosexuals ,bi-sexuals , and heterosexuals in our society….. and they also understand that there are fragile mentalities out there to be aware of as well . What family values are going to be hurt by this advertising…..who has these families that are keeping their children in the dark(ages) and attempting to live in a ‘make-believe’ world ( one which there is only one way or else you must suffer miserably ) ? When did one religion step up and start paying all the tax dollars and making decisions for everyone else? I can only assume that some fragile minds are trying to keep up some kind of fantasy world idea of how things are ’supposed’ to be.
Interesting how Gs always single out Christians when responding to posts but say little about the other crude replies. Allow me to make one thing absolutely clear. True Bible believing Christians are harmless. We were instructed to be “As wise as serpents and as gentle as doves”. So you have nothing to fear from us. However Islam is a different issue.
From the WWW (and there are many).
Islam, the second largest religion and growing, is considered the most anti-homosexual of all world’s religions by condemning the practice and enforcing strict punishments. Twenty-one percent of the world follows Islam giving this denomination great power and influence. There is no degree of acceptance and the Koran clearly states that it is sinful and undisputedly illegal.
Koran 4:16…
If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both…
Koran 27:55…
Would ye really approach men in your lusts rather than Women? Nay, ye are a people (grossly) ignorant!
The Hadith are a group of passages and rights claimed to be written by Muhammad and are used in teaching Islam.
“When a man mounts another man, the throne of God shakes.” “Kill the one who is doing it and also kill the one that it is being done to.”
Homosexuality is assumed to be a corruptive force to Muslim societies and that humans are not homosexuals by nature. Only by environment do these immoral ideas form.
Islam states that the desire for same sex partners is a choice that can easily be controlled. These people deviate from the norm and should be treated like any other criminal who threatens tradition.
“Homosexuality is a moral disorder, a sin and corruption… No person is born homosexual, just like no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education… Homosexuality deprives a man of his manhood and a woman of her womanhood and leads to the destruction of family life.”
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Islamic Society of North America….
The penalties for homosexuality range from flogging, imprisonment, or execution by throwing the criminal off a cliff or pushing a stone wall onto them. There is no leniency or forgiveness as shown in the 64,000 homosexuals which have been killed in Iran since 1979.
Islam will become the predominant religion in America so long and good luck.
Why is the state catering to a certain group to come here? I would think inviting all Londoners would be the best approach. I’m sure the gays read mainstream newspapers and magazines too! There’s more to it than meet the eye!
I agree with Jimmy ! My concern is the use of our tax dollars to invite these people. and doing it so quietly !!!!!!!!
These are some of the funniest (and saddest) comments I have read in a long time. Most of the commentors are quit open minded and see that tourism of any kind is a great thing. I feel sorry for those who confuse pedofiles with the gay community. Gay’s are not out to push their lifestyle on you, or your kids, or your dog, or grannie. Grow up, read a book other than the bible, and see what a fantastic world is out there. The LGBT community is great, and they should be able to enjoy the same great parts of South Carolina that I do. What would you rather have, another Neo-Nazi rally on the state capital to show the openness of South Carolina?
I would like to add that as a SC resident I am very open to the tourism idea from worlwide gay communities. As a lesbian living in the Metro area I was astounded to hear the talk about a full audit to see where the advertising money was spent. $4,000 was spent on these adds. I don’t know about anyone elese, but I spend more than $4,000 a year on groceries, gas, electric, etc and if the state of SC does not want to accept money from gays and lesbians, then I propose they stop the state income tax all together. If money isn’t from straight people then it must not be clean. Rubbish. Are we truly in the year 2008 or 1908?
this is the most disguesting thing I have read in a long time. We (taxpayers ) should have a say in how our tax money is spent and I am outraged. If this is a fact I will do everything in my power to see that the present leaders are voted out.
Sorry Sue, voting out ain’t gonna happen. And why is it so disgusting? This advertisement could have been the best return on investment, ever, for SC advertising. Bigoted rants and meaningless statements such as yours don’t make any sense. Let’s see, ~$5,000 was spent on the ad. 4.3 millon people live in SC. That means that that $0.0009302 of YOUR personal tax money was spent on this. Yet folks like you succeed in helping SC continue its national and international view as a backwards state.
Amazing. The last time I looked, the dollars I possess appear the same as the dollars anyone else has, including the delusional straight bigots.
The straights are all screaming about their “Tax dollars” as if gays don’t pay taxes.
Not only do we pay OUR FAIR SHARE of taxes, we pay more than YOU.
So let’s do the math on this…The tax payers of South Carolina are paying $10.5 million this year for tourism advertising. That’s $2.62 of tax dollars from each of 4 million South Carolinians…of which 200,000 CONSERVATIVELY are gay…that’s using 5%, not 10%. That means that $524,000 of the $10.5 million is coming from gay taxpayers. The gay tourism industry in the US generates $65 BILLION per year in income and South Carolina stands to receive a big chunk of that (think Spoleto…or even Chittlin ‘Strutt ’cause you know we’re there too) for the paultry sum of $4,900.
Folks…the PRT employee who lost his/her job over this should be made Director of the department…not fired. The moron who fired/accepted the resignation of this employee should contact one of our fine gay surgeons at MUSC and come in for a spine transplant.
Why should South Carolina tax dollars be used to attract sodomite perverts to visit the state? The same degenerates,and other Marxicrats and ACLU-types who defend gay ads would be appalled if South Carolina advertised to specificllay attract or traget Christian tourists.
The gays are in SC? And you are telling people about it? Man, nobody knows how to keep anything locked-up tight in the attics anymore. All those Made-In-China building supplies brought in by those Yankee supplier/developers you’re all working for now.
This goes back to those Ashley Wilkeses in the officer ranks; we never stood a chance. I’ve got an idea, let’s do it over! Send the women this time and we’ll all get something done right for a change. Gotta get ‘em off the Twinkies and Big Macs first though. Lemme give Ms. Fonda a holler on the Interwebs, and I’ll send her right over. (She’s just down the road apiece, here in the ATL.) Then we can just have ‘em drive their mini-vans up to NC and get all trained-up at Blackwater. (Save a TON on shipping costs being so close by!)
I’ll work you up a very reasonable budget for all this and get back to you. Word.
Rod Miller said:
“The same degenerates,and other Marxicrats and ACLU-types who defend gay ads would be appalled if South Carolina advertised to specificllay attract or traget Christian tourists.”
Thats because appealing to an entire population of bigots including yourself would be offensive.
Funding one side of the culture war?
What is Oran Smith smoking? We are talking about tourists and vacations here. It amazes me that when someone hears the word “gay,” they get so scared.
Keep these deviants out of our country. I think they should all move to Provincetown, MA and then they should cut that miserable city off of Cape Cod and let it float out to sea to let the sharks feed on it. Sharks need food and we need to preserve the species.
i agree with peter. in my opinion, the deviants, ex-cons, drug dealers, child predators are not wanted in sc. when those folks come to sc the crime rate increases, jail and prison rapes increase, sex crimes in the adult bookstores increase, prostitution increases. we do not need lawyers, courts and hospitals to get money due to those crimes. california is the place to be or provincetown, MA.
>>>>>agree with peter. in my opinion, the deviants, ex-cons, drug dealers, child predators are not wanted in sc. when those folks come to sc the crime rate increases, jail and prison rapes increase, sex crimes in the adult bookstores increase, prostitution increases. we do not need lawyers, courts and hospitals to get money due to those crimes<<<
____________
When I read posts like this, I envision the people who write them as nothing more than crap tossing primates.
After reading all of the posts, I conclude that Peter and Kyle have summarized the true feelings of the citizens of SC. I think they are speaking the truth which I appreciate.
An appreciation of bigotry is long rooted in ignorance. You’re comment Sue, only exemplifies the positive correlation between the more un-educated a particular group is, the more this group will harbor bigotry and prejudices. In fact the South Carolina school system bears this out each and every year possessing bottom dweller academic ratings. But please, go ahead and continue this time honored legacy of remaining ignorant.
This seems to be much ado about nothing. State representatives have expended much more than the -$5,ooo that was spent on this advertising campaign trying to make the point that S.C. is, unfortunately. not always welcoming state. So much for those smiling faces……
Gerald,
If “nothing” means “a low level employee can allocate an unchecked amount of taxpayer money with no oversight whatsoever and when the agency heads find out about it they lie and try to cover it up,” then yes, this is much ado about nothing. Sure it was $5000 this time, but how much is there that we don’t know about?
- A.F.
The fact that reaching out to gay tourists is controversial at all is completely ridiculous. This article is so skewed, it’s laughable. How the writer claims to be a journalist is a mystery. News alert: If you don’t think same-sex relationships are healthy, then don’t become involved in one. And please, don’t quote the Bible. Remember freedom of religion? You do realize that gluttony is a sin in the Bible but are you trying to protect your children from fat people? Are you overweight yourself? By allowing fast food restaurants to set up shop throughout your state, aren’t you promoting sin? Why does this not bother you? Think about it. Your dislike of gay people or gay sex acts or whatever is NOT based on the Bible at all. If it was, McDonalds would be out of business in South Carolina by now.
Gays are like Clemson fans. As individuals they’re ok, but as a class of people, I dont like em.
I COULDNT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MY SELF THANKS MAYOR QUINBY!!!!!
PS… GOD MAKES GAY PEOPLE!!!
OH YEA ONE MORE ? WHATS THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT JUDGEMENT DO NOT JUDGE LEST YE BE JUDGED ……..AND DONT TROW THAT DAMN STONE