We'll Take Your Money and Your Rights...Texas Courts Gay Visitors

from cnn.com

That's the word from Dallas tourism officials attempting to lure gay and lesbian visitors with a message that the city is a great place for them to spend their time and money. "Big D" is a diverse metropolitan area that "has left behind stereotypes of big-haired women and rowdy cowboys -- that is, unless you count sassy drag queens and strapping gay rodeo champs," according to a Web site operated by the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

"Our Secret is Out" proclaims the site, which features images of same-sex couples enjoying the local sights. "It's not about being politically correct, it's about being economically correct," said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the tourism bureau. He said gay travelers spend an average of $100 more per day than other travelers and plan four to six trips a year.

The city's appeals won over the Washington-based Family Pride Coalition. The gay family advocacy group conducted its national conference in Dallas last month after the bureau made a presentation at the organization's D.C. office.

Though some members were initially reluctant to bring their meeting to Texas -- where a gay-marriage ban passed with 76 percent support last year -- Dallas was chosen over Minneapolis and Chicago, said the group's Executive Director Jennifer Chrisler.

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I love the line from the story: "it's not politically correct, it's economically correct".  Blech. I know the sins of the state shouldn't be imposed on the city, but still. I'm curious what the response by the citizens of the Lone Star has been.

Oh wait, here it is: "I was quite surprised that they were reaching out in such a way," said Cathie Adams, president of the conservative, Dallas-based Texas Eagle Forum. Adams said she doesn't think that the appeals pay off. And she says the campaign could send potential new residents to surrounding suburbs. "To promote same-sex activities that would be offensive to the majority of families is not profitable, economically or socially," she said. "If you are wanting families to move into the city of Dallas, are you going to show them such a promotion? I doubt it."

And the response of the folks in Dallas creating the site?

"It is unlikely that most people will ever view the targeted appeals, unless they are members of the gay community. We'd be foolish not to position Dallas as a destination for this market, which spends a lot of money on travel."

So, we know it offensive, but if we keep it to the queer rags, no good little families will ever know.  Double Blech.

It reminds me of an article that I read recently about the Caribbean where all the gay tour boats go, but gays and lesbians on the islands are sanctioned, beaten, and mistreated; where ports have actually closed to the boats because of the gay clientel; and where homosexual sex is a crime. Yet we are more that willing to spend money there, and they are more than willing to take it. The hypocrisy of capitalism.