Taxpayers are fuming: "South Carolina is a wonderful, family friendly destination not a Southern version of San Francisco. This campaign goes against our core values."
-- From "'South Carolina is so gay' travel agency to get refund" posted at the Guardian (UK) 7/18/08
A Columbia group said yesterday it will reimburse a European travel agency the roughly $5,000 lost when a state tourism agency refused to pay for an ad campaign to draw more gay travellers to South Carolina.
South Carolina Pride said it will seek private donations to pay the cost of the campaign, which included posters in London subway stations proclaiming "South Carolina is so gay".
After learning of the campaign, lawmakers and activists protested and the South Carolina department of parks, recreation and tourism refused to pay the bill. A spokesman for governor Mark Sanford said use of public advertising money to promote a social agenda was inappropriate.
The [South Carolina] employee who approved the campaign has resigned.
The fundraising campaign will be linked to South Carolina [homosexual] Pride's September 20 Columbia parade and festival, featuring entertainer RuPaul.
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