You'd think Fogle would like a private sector initiative to pay state debts

Adam Fogle at The Palmetto Scoop has already decreed that anyone who suggests he's a bigot or homophobic will be "banned for life."

So let's just say he equates grants to gay pride festivals with a loss of police officer time in his neighborhood and child abuse (see below).

Here's his latest:

In an effort to reclaim a $5,000 ad campaign targeting gay tourists in, the Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement says it is launching a South Carolina “Will Be So Gay” effort to pay for the posters placed in London’s Underground claiming that the state is “So Gay.”

That project was terminated by the SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism last week after The Palmetto Scoop broke the story, resulting in local outrage and national news attention.

Area gays became incensed over the cancellation of the campaign and are now fighting back against what they call the “conservative ‘Bible Belt’ politicians” that put an end to the project and today announced the “SC Will Be So Gay” fundraising effort.

Ryan Wilson, president of South Carolina Pride, said that once debt to the British ad firm Amro Worldwide is repaid, the remaining proceeds will go to benefit the SC Pride 2008 Festival and Parade in Columbia.

“South Carolina may not be ‘so gay’ currently – but we are going to show the world that we can be and we WILL BE so gay, and gay friendly some day,” Wilson said in a press release announcing the initiative.

The pride festival, which is sponsored by the City of Columbia, Club Fusion and ID Lubricants, has already received $10,000 in taxpayer money — much it to pay drag queen RuPaul for “entertainment services” — and another $15,000 in community promotions money for the Gay & Lesbian Advocacy Movement, something that has Columbia residents up in arms.

“The City Council loves to give out all sorts of our money to promote their political agenda,” said one prominent city resident who asked not to be identified. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they handed NAMBLA a blank check. But just imagine if a conservative heritage group asked for even a quarter of what they’re getting.”

Note to Prominent But Wussy City Resident: Prove it. Apply.