Head of Tourism Wants “So Gay” Ads to Continue

Upon learning last month the state had approved ads promoting South Carolina as a gay destination, the head of the state’s tourism agency said Monday he wanted the campaign to continue because of public relations concerns.

Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Chad Prosser said the agency had no authority to ask the ads be taken down anyway, since the contract was through a third-party British vendor.

“There was nothing that could be done to pull it,” Prosser said. “The campaign was going to end before that whole chain of events could take place.”

Gov. Mark Sanford and others objected to the ad content — calling the state “So Gay” — arguing state tourism dollars were being used to make a political statement. After the ad campaign became news in S.C. — a week after Prosser found out about it — Prosser announced the state would not pay the vendor.

Prosser said he did not ask the ads be removed for three reasons: concerns the advertising and tour companies would use it for free publicity; the agency could not remove the ads; and the campaign had nearly run its course, coinciding with gay pride events in London.

Read the rest of the story at thestate.com, or here at gayagenda.com.