Comments on: ‘Knowingly incorrect info’ from S.C. officials, say Brit ‘So Gay’ ad execs

By: Andrew Roberts

Andrew Roberts — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:43:09 +0000

Andrew Roberts, chief executive of Amro Worldwide here.

I appreciate you covering this story.

Amro Worldwide thinks it is long past time when “so gay” should be considered acceptable as an insult, so we decided to reclaim it as meaning “so good.”

We are a small boutique gay-owned business based just north of London. If any of your readers have travel plans, from hotels, tours and cruises or flights out of the United Kingdom right up to complicated worldwide travel itineraries — we’d love to help.

You can browser ideas and buy online in USD, GBP or Euros at http://www.amroworldwide.com and pay using your local credit card. Alternatively, contact us directly via the link in the top right hand corner of our web pages.

Thanks very much for your support and we look forward to sending you off in your travels.

Andrew Roberts
CEO, Amro Worldwide
http://www.AmroWorldwide.com

By: Sean S.

Sean S. — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:38:39 +0000

As a person who lives in South Carolina, while I would hesitate to suggest that this place is a beacon of tolerance and acceptance, I see nothing wrong with encouraging that image to change. While I can’t speak to Myrtle Beach or Charleston, since I’m not as familiar with them, but Columbia is an increasingly welcoming city, as seen by their sponsorship of this years Pride, the inclusion of sexual orientation discrimination policies in the city’s statutes, and the number of gay friendly businesses and bars in the area.

Is it San Fran or New York? Certainly not. But it certainly isn’t Jamaica by any stretch of the imagination. Either way, this whole farce has simply highlighted that those of us here in South Carolina have a better job to do educating both the people in and out of this state.

By: Gay Lee Forward

Gay Lee Forward — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:32:50 +0000

This part must have slipped by you:

“My response to that was, ‘Great, fine,’ but that was not an obvious destination” for international gay tourists, said Roberts, so he stated that he would have to make a visit in person to South Carolina to see if it was appropriate to recommend to his customers.

Roberts goes on to note that he was shuttled around by Travel and Tourism reps and was well-received in several cities. So, clearly he did perform due diligence.

It’s just that, like the article says, when a conservative blog wrote up a story on the situation, the GOP higher-ups had to speak out or risk looking tolerant — and that ain’t happening under any circumstance.

By: Patrick O

Patrick O — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:31:42 +0000

Actually what this shows is that Amro Worldwide didn’t do due diligence when they accepted the ad.

They certainly wouldn’t be doing gay travelers a favor by describing South Carolina as gay friendly – it was deceptive advertising and that should be pretty clear by now.

There are plenty of gay friendly travel destinations – why lie to travelers and enrich the coffers of bigots ?

P.S. – In case they are contacted by the Jamaican Bureau of Tourism: Don’t accept the ad