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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Would you vacation in a “so gay” spot?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A travel campaign overseas caused a stir in South Carolina a few weeks ago, when advertisements proclaiming that “South Carolina is so gay” were put up in the London Underground during the city’s gay pride festivities. Next to it were adverts saying the same thing about Atlanta, New Orleans and several other travel destinations. (To see the full article, click here.)
While the ad campaign was meant to drum up tourism dollars, it also ruffled a few feathers along the way. Politicians in South Carolina didn’t want to use taxpayer dollars to fund the ads. Some argued that the message might mislead gay travelers into thinking SC had gay-specific destinations like gay beaches, when it does not.
American gays and lesbians represent about 10 percent of the travel industry, and surveys have shown that the community travels more, stays longer and spends more while on vacation (in general) than their heterosexual counterparts. From a tourism standpoint alone, it makes sense to highlight locations that might appeal to such a lucrative group of travelers. If you Google “gay travel”, you’ll find numerous web sites direct you to travel agencies that do just that.
I know Miami Beach has designated gay beaches, and I see how cities like Atlanta, with its thriving gay and lesbian community, would be considered friendly to gay travelers. But what makes a place “so gay”? Is it activities targeted to the homosexual population, the number of gays and lesbians living there, or the general attitude toward homosexuals among the population?
If you are gay or lesbian, would you seek a “so gay” locale? Does that designation mean anything or would such a label impact your travel plans?
Do you agree that Atlanta, New Orleans and South Carolina are good travel spots for the gay community? What are other places in the south that might be considered good gay vacation spots?
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