Shooting oneself in the foot

The Palmetto Scoop wishfully predicted that by week's end his story on the "So Gay" ad campaign would be the top story on all the morning talk shows. It has made Newsweek, but overall, it seems like he has just cost the state a lot of money in terms of reputation and tourism:

The flap over an ad promoting South Carolina as "So Gay" will cost the state tourism dollars, according to an industry expert.

Gay and lesbian travelers will likely be turned off by the political posturing surrounding the ads, which were pulled by the state tourism agency and led one employee to resign.

"We experience discrimination every day, so we certainly don't want to when we travel," said Wesley Combs of the Washington-based communication firm Witeck-Combs, which specializes in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender travel.

Combs noted that national media attention about the ad, including jokes on Conan O'Brien's late-night TV show, sends a sour message to gays and lesbians who spend an estimated $712 million a year in travel.

"We read," he said. And state government leaders "are sending a signal that gay people are not welcome in South Carolina."

Gov. Mark Sanford and Greenville Sen. David Thomas on Wednesday reiterated that tax money should not be used to target gay travel.

"We welcome anyone to visit our state," Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer said, "but we agree with Sen. Thomas about using tax money to promote any group with a particular social or political agenda."

Thomas softened his tone toward gay travel, saying he would "love" for gays and lesbians to visit and spend money in the state's $16 billion-a-year tourism economy. He just doesn't want ads like the one in question that promotes the state's "gay beaches."

"If the ad had said, 'You will love the Southern Baptist beaches,' I would also be offended," he said. "If a homosexual is attracted here, that's great. But I have a problem with tax money being spent on ads with a social viewpoint, particularly with sexual orientation."

Gay and lesbian leaders called those comments hypocritical.

"I'm sure (Thomas) is softening his tone to appear less bigoted," said Ray Drew of the South Carolina Equality Coalition. "Tourism is a huge industry in this state and targeted marketing is not only appropriate, but smart. He is hiding behind the words 'social viewpoint.'"

What Senator Thomas seems to want is his own social viewpoint: that gays are welcome to visit South Carolina as long as he and his ilk don't know they are here.

The funny thing is, that's what happens already. Not just in South Carolina, but most places. Gay couples are quick studies: they know where not to hold hands, or indulge a peck on the cheek- the sort of things Senator Thomas and his wife take for granted. One assumes he'd be horrified to visit somewhere like Saudi Arabia, where the segregation of genders leads to straight men holding hands in public. What's that about? President Bush holds hands with the Saudi king when he sucks up for more oil. What's that about?

It's about habits and social practices that vary from one nation to another. And why people like Senator Thomas, who see such things through their own cultural biases, fear harmless things.

Industry-leading companies are way ahead of the good Senator- they have long since figured out that what counts is getting the best person for every job. Part of what attracts people to a company- and a job- is reasonable assurances they won't be harassed on the job or at home for who they are. Oklahoma state senator Sally Kern's antigay crusade cost Oklahoma City at least one big corporate relocation; Senator Thomas and Governor Sanford have cemented South Carolina's rep as a place to pass by for companies interested in the best employees, not just the people acceptable to the most narrow-minded and fearful of its citizenry.