State to woo gays, lesbians (subscription)

Chicago Tribune ^ | March 31, 2005 | Kathy Bergen

[toddlintown]

Marketing campaign lauds Illinois travel ahead of Gay Games

By Kathy Bergen Tribune staff reporter Published March 31, 2005

With Gay Games VII coming to Chicago in July 2006, the state is launching its first targeted push for gay and lesbian travelers, broadening its efforts to sell Illinois to niche markets.

"We will have our first-ever media-familiarization trip focusing on the affluent gay and lesbian market," Jan Kostner, deputy director of the Illinois Bureau of Tourism, told 600 travel professionals gathered Wednesday at the 18th annual Illinois Governor's Conference on Tourism.

[toddlintown]

Do you think pole-vaulting will be an Olympic category?

[phugg]

How about the 100 yard sashay?

[Condor51]

With all due respect a "subscription" to the Trib is not required to read this, just 'registration'.

For those not already registered, use this for password and user name:
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Or use this Bugmenot

[Unam Sanctam]

The state should not encourage or promote homosexual activity, but remain neutral. This is as inappropriate as a state's target marketing to Christians.

[MortMan]

Nope - "vaulting" will become "swallowing" and be a male-only event!

[Thebaddog]

We already have the Gay Games every weekend up in Boys Town. Heck they have their parade every year which is a sight to behold.

[toddlintown]

Are the Vortex and the Manhole still in business in Boys Town? I used to own a deli on Halsted and remember a sign outside the Manhole---Deliveries in the rear.

I was never sure if that was suppossed to be a joke or not.

BTW, ballroom dancing IS one of the Gay Olympic categories.

[gakrak]

The winner gets HIV. Amen.

[quadrant]

A state has to be pretty desperate for the money that comes from tourism to engage in this sort of promotion.

[Thebaddog]

Sadly, I don't know the status of some of the more notorious gay dives in Chicago. Although I have heard of a raid on a gay bar being delayed so that a certain ex high level state official could exit the bar.

[Thebaddog]

My feeling on that front is that Blago is a shameless self-promoter and the Gay Games would do him a world of good preaching to the choir.

[DBeers]

ping.

[toddlintown]

"My feeling on that front is that Blago is a shameless self-promoter and the Gay Games would do him a world of good preaching to the choir."

The Gay Olympics agenda was already in place for Chicago during Ryan's tenure.

[theBuckwheat]

If the state where to devote the same level or resources instead to attracting Southern Baptists, the Trib would be in apoplexy about the dangers of the unhealthy influences of "religious right".

[theBuckwheat]

If the state where to devote the same level of resources instead to attracting Southern Baptists, the Trib would be in apoplexy about the dangers of the unhealthy influences of "religious right".

[Clint N. Suhks]

Can't believe I ever lived there.

The city of big shoulders is now home to Sodom and Gomorrah.

[wrathof59]

Gay Parade plastered all over CLTV Cable News Channel (THe TRib's local cable channel).

It's a crime how rotten (the once jewel of the midwest)Illinois has become now that Chicago has taken over the entire state. I feel for the true conservatives of the state.

Tribune (owners of the Flubs) is also DIRECTLY responsible for the demise of Illinois.

[wrathof59]

Would the be the ManHole (wide open for business)?!