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South Carolina clarifies: We're not so gay
—Posted by David Kiefaber |
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The phrase has been used in a headline before (two years ago in an ad that Wunderman ran for GLSEN)to better effect, since it spoke directly to the usage of the phrase to insult someone.
On the subject of the use of tax money: Given that South Carolina students were ranked 41st out of the 50 states in reading scores I would say that clearly the governor believes that spending tax money to support the social and political agenda of literacy is also inappropriate. But then, literate citizens are generally more tolerant of others. And they recognize when politicians are using them.
Posted by: Mark H. | Jul 14, 2008 10:25:13 AM
Ian Johnson here, CEO of Out Now -- the agency behind the Amro Worldwide "So Gay" London Underground campaign.
We were really pleased with the engagement achieved with the 2 million people viewing this campaign, quite amazing to see how people reacted when they saw it. The campaign incidentally was not "cancelled" by the SCPRT. It ran until Saturday and I believe most if not all of the posters in the campaign are still there today.
Some Southern politicians apparently got scared when a right wing political blog decided to question taxpayer funds being used to target gay travelers. Funny that. We thought it was all about using those taxpayer funds to sell more travel to help local South Carolina business. That's what tourism bodies usually get judged on.
Press release at:
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=69820
Interesting place the American South!
Ian Johnson
CEO, Out Now
http://www.outnowconsulting.com
Posted by: Ian Johnson | Jul 14, 2008 10:47:30 AM
Regrettably the South is not as socially open as other parts of the country (or perhaps Southerners tend to be more straightforward with their beliefs, rather than portraying themselves one way, while feeling differently). That said, you have to understand the full implication of the phrase. There's a huge difference between "(Place) is so Gay," and "(Place) is so Gay Friendly."
While the first is clever, the implication (to those that don't get the joke) is that there is an overwhelming gay population in the area, and while I think South Carolinians are more accepting of homosexuality than they are given credit for, nobody like the implication that they are something they aren't.
Reactions on both sides of this issue tend to get overblown, and there's no need to insult an entire state for no particular reason (barely habitable, have you ever been there?). My travels have taken me all over this great country, and to numerous others on two other continents, and I can say, without reservation, that if I had the means to live anywhere in the world, Charleston, South Carolina would be my home. No place is perfect, but Charleston's pretty damn close (after all, when Walgreens needed a place to film their "Town of Perfect" campaign, it was Charleston that they used).
The people of the South may not be perfect, but most of us are reasonable.
Posted by: Paul | Jul 14, 2008 11:39:25 AM
As a resident of Charleston, I am greatly offended by the remarks made in the original article. You need to make a clarification that those remarks only apply to the rest of the state.
In all seriousness, I'm shocked that SC Tourism Department even considered this campaign with SC's political climate...although it is refreshing to know that certain state run agencies can occasionally be somewhat progressive. Occasionally.
Posted by: Swifty | Jul 14, 2008 12:16:40 PM
That's what they get for hiring an agency in London.
Not sure your snide cracks about South Carolina were fair either, though. Ever been there?
Posted by: WoodyHinkle | Jul 14, 2008 12:41:19 PM
Yes Woody, I have been there. And Charleston is lovely, but it's not enough to make up for the rest of the state.
Posted by: Dave Kiefaber | Jul 14, 2008 4:00:49 PM
I think the ads themselves are kind of gay.
Posted by: Anon | Jul 14, 2008 6:01:28 PM
Look: to state something is "so gay," does not implicate that it has a large gay population, it means the thing is something a homosexual would like - specifically a male homosexual. It also suggests the thing is lame or stupid.
Take what ever meaning you like - South Carolina is not "so gay" in any meaning. Watch using PR from the UK - fags are cigaretts there. Not here, not ever.
Posted by: Dawn Deason | Jul 14, 2008 7:58:45 PM
Welcome to the real world, South Carolina. This is the 21st century. No gay person would ever harm your, so called, family values. If you're scared, stay home.
Posted by: Growing Pains | Jul 15, 2008 12:39:24 AM
I live in SC and Yes SC really is "SO GAY" You would not believe how many "gay's" there are in this state and i like it like that. They are a lot more friendlier then straight people.
Posted by: Eli | Jul 15, 2008 1:48:07 AM
Actually Charleston is pretty gay. There's a pretty substantial gay population there, probably a lot more than someone outside of it would even realize. It's no San Francisco but I don't go a day in Charleston without seeing a gay couple, (besides the ones who i'm friends with) holding hands.
Posted by: Charlestongirl | Oct 23, 2008 8:11:33 PM
Rest of the state? Is there a problem you'd like to specifically address with the rest of the state? I am originally from Upstate SC, and while we are conservative largely, the people here are some of the friendliest in the entire country and the scenery beautiful. So Mr. Kiefaber, perhaps you would like to be more specific. Or perhaps you were referring to Columbia, which even most SC residents are not huge fans of, and is, as you may have guessed, the seat of our government.
Posted by: shepard | Nov 10, 2008 7:59:41 PM
I guess I do not get the joke. As a 43-year-old gay man, I find the line “is so gay” offensive. Is there an ad campaign stating the Bronks is so breeder-iffic?
Posted by: Steve | Jan 10, 2009 11:12:21 AM
