A gay and lesbian specialist tour operator is claiming it has been ordered to pull part of an advertising campaign by its tourism board partner.
Amro Worldwide launched its ‘so gay’ campaign earlier this month with six US partner destinations Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans, South Carolina and Washington DC.
The phrase “So Gay” was used in a bid to remove the possible stigma of the phrase which can be used as an insult.
However, now Amro Worldwide managing director Andrew Roberts is claiming the South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department has requested posters featuring the destination are to be removed while it is also refusing to pay for its share of the campaign.
The change of heart comes even after the tourism department had originally approved the campaign.
Roberts said: “Amro Worldwide helps to arrange the travel arrangements for some of the 3 million gays and lesbians living in the UK. Our work helps local business in each of the regions we send travellers to.
“We were heartened to see many strongly supportive remarks included among reader comments made in the reporting of this story in the US media. Targeting gay travel is not at all a moral issue in any sense.
The South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department confirmed it will not be paying for the poster campaign.