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03/03/2008
Hey social conservatives: GAYS EXIST! AND THEY TRAVEL!!
In response to a new ad campaign from The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism that features same-sex couples, Focus on the Family's Jenny Tyree has the following to say:
"The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism is betting that this campaign will appeal to more families than it will turn away," she said. "It's unlikely to pay off, since most Americans oppose what they're promoting — same-sex 'marriage.'"
We reply:
"The problem, Ms. Tyree, is that folks like yourself view this as a potential gamble rather than a mere inclusion. In doing so, you embolden the idea that there are serious stakes behind highlight LGBT people, rather than helping to eliminate the "controversy"!
The issue is one of world views. Those of us who see society as it is (filled with gay people) don't even think in these sort of terms. Gay people live, love, travel to, spend money, and even join in legal matrimony in the Bay State. They are simply a part of the fabric of Mass (and mass) society. Even with the full knowledge that some religious people find gays immoral, it would never cross our minds that acknowledging their tangible tax-paying existences would be out-of-whack.
If you DO see this sort of ad as a potential breeding ground for dissension, then the problem is wholly YOURS! This gay-centric "culture war" is a situation with a problem (discrimination) and a solution (acceptance, or at least tolerance). The only reason why this sort of controversy exists is BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF FOSTERING THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN REMEDYING IT! Again, even if you personally have a faith-based attitude that puts gays in the express lane headed toward Hades, you've got to at least admit that homo people make up a sizable portion of Massachusetts' tourism industry. And you also have to accept the fact that your religious views are not acceptable mandates for society at large!
So in short, Ms. Tyree: It is completely disingenuous for people like yourself to put it out there that the tourism board is placing a bet by running this campaign, as if the situation is one that exists without the "pro-family" community's role. The truth is without the queer-hostile words of groups like Focus on the Family, this ad is simply an ad. Your thoughts on it are not mere commentary, but rather an expression of your desire to invite controversy!!"
Massachusetts Tourism Campaign Features Homosexual Couples [CitizenLink]
**RELATED: "Family Guy" got into the Massachusetts tourism game on last night's episode:
Your thoughts
Well, all I can say is that these people better not travel to...er... Arizona, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, California, Washington, Nevada, Illinois, New Mexico...and they'd better not fly on American, Delta, Northwest, or Jet Blue...and stay away from Canada, Great Britain, France, Germany, Finland, Spain, Iceland and Italy...oh, and don't watch the Travel Channel, or book travel on Travelocity or Orbitz or Liberty Travel...ALL of these places and businesses have either made targeted campaigns featuring gay travellers or actually have gone out of their way to welcome them. GASP! It seems to me that keeping up with places they can't shop, can't go and can't live might keep them from making odd personal videos and sending out strange stories with made up experts and "facts" and words, and yet, they still do...
Posted by: Laura | Mar 3, 2008 5:31:33 PM
If your looking to avoid gay inclusiveness in your travel dealings, you can maybe go to Utah, but not Salt Lake City. Even SLC has LGBT events listed on their official tourism guide. Don't what airline or car you would use to get there though... Maybe take the bus or something.
Posted by: GayMormonBoy | Mar 4, 2008 12:47:23 AM
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