Free Republic

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia is still for lovers, but the state's tourism agency will eliminate images of people making heart symbols with their hands in its upcoming advertising campaign because the gesture is also used by a violent street gang. The Virginia is for Lovers "Live Passionately" campaign will remove images of models making the hand gesture, one of several signs associated with the Gangster Disciples, Virginia Tourism Corp. officials said Friday. The gesture shows thumbs and index fingers formed into a heart. "Our intent was to show people using their hands to make a heart to signify 'Virginia is...

We're here to prove that when a U.S. state attacks the fundamental rights of gay and lesbian citizens, gays and lesbians know how to fight back. Our friends and families are cheering us on. Please join forward-thinking Americans across the country in boycotting Virginia companies and their products and services. And by all means, don't take your tourism dollars there until they disprove their new slogan, "Virginia is for Haters." **snip**

<p>Homosexual activists are calling for a boycott of Virginia because of its new ban on civil unions, but business and tourism leaders yesterday said it is too early to gauge the impact of such a boycott.</p> <p>A new Web site started by homosexual activists in Seattle, VirginiaisforHaters.org, urges would-be tourists to boycott Virginia companies and their products. The Web site's name satirizes the state's tourism catch phrase: Virginia Is for Lovers.</p>

Virginia lawmakers' affirmation that marriage is only for one man and one woman has prompted homosexual activists to call for a boycott of the state's companies and tourism. One group, Virginiaisforhaters.org, derives its name from the state's tourism motto, "Virginia is for lovers." The site was started by Jay Porter and his partner David Smith who live in Seattle, reports 365Gay.com. Porter says one company to boycott is clothier J.Crew, which markets across the country but has a customer service and distribution center in Lynchburg, Va. Another group, Make Love Legal, is targeting the state's 400th anniversary celebration in 2007...

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gay activists in Virginia are toying with a new motto for the state: ``Virginia is for lovers. Some restrictions apply.'' Gays and lesbians are angry and even threatening to leave the state over a new law that will prohibit civil unions and could interfere with contracts between same-sex couples. Some legal experts call it the most restrictive anti-gay law in the nation. ``I won't buy a home in Virginia. I'm done,'' said Bo Shuff, a 30-year-old gay rights activist who has rented in the Washington suburb of Arlington for the past two years. Edna Johnston, a...

Is Virginia Really for Lovers? Updated: Saturday, May. 22, 2004 - 3:02 PM RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gay activists in Virginia are toying with a new motto for the state: "Virginia is for lovers. *Some restrictions apply." Gays and lesbians are angry and even threatening to leave the state over a new law that will prohibit civil unions and could interfere with contracts between same-sex couples. Some legal experts call it the most restrictive anti-gay law in the nation. "I won't buy a home in Virginia. I'm done," said Bo Shuff, a 30-year-old gay rights activist who has rented in...