South Carolina - Another Jackass State

Fortunately for North Carolina (see my earlier post) it doesn't have the knuckledragger limelight all to itself. South Carolina and at least one of its residents have gone far out of their way to make the state look backwards and small minded. (I guess one way to look at it is that Virginia by default looks at least a bit less backward and reactionary in comparison.) First, there is the father who assaulted his 18 year old son with a baseball bat for being gay. Here's highlights of what the Andersonville Independent Mail is reporting:

*

ANDERSON COUNTY — Violence broke out Sunday in Anderson when an 18-year-old man returned home from a gay pride parade and was assaulted by his father. . . . During the assault, the teen's 49-year-old father yelled, cursed, swung a baseball bat, prayed and tried to “cast the demon of homosexuality out of him,” according to the teen's version of events to Deputy S.C. Weymouth, the incident report states. The teen told deputies that his father “has a problem with him being gay and that is why he hit him with the baseball bat Sunday,” Weymouth said in his report.

*

Yep, that kind a lunacy will certainly do wonders for efforts to recruit progressive businesses to the state. However, as if that wasn't enough, the Governor of South Carolina has managed to get the state huge negative publicity over the decision to pull an overseas ad campaign to lure gay tourists. What makes the matter so ridiculous is the fact that the total cost of the ad campaign was $5,000. Now, because of Governor Mark Sanford's homophobic behavior, the state has received the equivalent of millions of dollars in NEGATIVE media and tourist travel coverage. Talk about making yourself look like an ass. Now, not only will the state potentially lose gay tourist dollars but also those of people who don't want to vacation in what they perceive to be a backward and reactionary state. Great job Gov. Sanford. Here are highlights from The State:

*

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

*

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.

*

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