Just in time for the “Bubba invasion” that accompanies the first game of the University of South Carolina’s 2010 football season (which is also attracting ESPN’s TV cameras), the city of Columbia, S.C. has hoisted dozens of rainbow-colored flags over its downtown streets in a show of solidarity with the gay rights movement.
The flags were raised in conjunction with the SC Pride Parade and Festival, which will be held this weekend.
In addition to raising the flags, both the City of Columbia, S.C. and Richland County are sponsoring the event – a show of taxpayer-funded support that is rubbing social conservative groups like the Palmetto Family Council the wrong way.
“This is about much more than a piece of cloth on a lamp pole,” a statement from the organization reads. “The flag(s) raised today (are) symbolic of the city’s ongoing and aggressive financial and institutional support of militant homosexual advocacy.The City of Columbia is not neutral in this matter. It continues to take a side in the culture wars, which we believe is not appropriate for any government.”
As much as we hate to agree with the Bible thumpers, they’ve got a point here. As we’ve said on numerous occasions, we have no problem with homosexuals and we support their right to publicly display their lifestyle choices. We’re also supporters of civil unions and oppose efforts to discriminate against gays – whether that means denying benefits in the workplace or denying permits for a parade.
However, using tax dollars to support such events – or public facilities to promote one particular sexual orientation over another – is clearly wrong, which we would encourage the Palmetto Family Council to keep in mind the next time it organizes protests over municipalities doing away with Jesus-themed prayers.
Anyway … where was Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin when the decision was being made about these flags?
Our sources say the new mayor – who took office under a cloud of controversy – was in California meeting with a company that’s hoping to sell the cash-strapped city a bunch of solar panels.
We’ll have more on that story in future editions, though …
For now, you stay “Famously Gay,” Columbia!
By Prince Poppycock August 31, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Oh…..Darling, James and Gary will absolutely adore the colors. They have an amazing sexuality.
By yarrrr August 31, 2010 at 1:19 pm
The flags and the sponsorship are absolutely ridiculous…
Someone should ask Sheheen if he likes taxpayer dollars going towards this.
By Scene SC August 31, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Try not to post the word Gay anymore so that ad won’t show up in the sidebar.
By Costello August 31, 2010 at 1:35 pm
FITS –
I’d like to know more specifics on how exactly Columbia and Richland County are sponsoring the event. Did they contribute money or a bunch of free services they wouldn’t have provided to another group? Or are they merely allowing the group to use a park or something like that for the rally?
Please elaborate.
It’s tough to make a call one way or another without knowing a little bit more.
By Mab August 31, 2010 at 2:50 pm
SceneSC — if you use Firefox, you can block the ad. Just right click and select the block option.
Too bad we can’t block the flaming flags.
By LTC August 31, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I’m sure that some of the “funds” being used are hospitality tax funds and if that’s the case, I don’t have a problem with it. Anyone can apply to use those funds and when you bring folks from all over the state to participate in a music festival or a water festival or a BBQ festival you could use of that funding…because those folks are coming here and spending their money on hotels, nightlife and restaurants. Have at it! That’s what that money is there for!
By SCP August 31, 2010 at 3:39 pm
I bet there will be a lot guys wearing those “I heart cocks” shirts in Columbia this weekend… They really do love the cocks in Columbia… HAHAHA…
By Pussy Galore August 31, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Maybe C3PO will bring a school chum who needs to be broken in by a pro. James and Gary will be there. Packing fudge is their specialty.
By Old Bike Dude August 31, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Please give more info on how to obtain funding from the city as Al and I are bringing the Dick Owners of America to Cola for the Million Man Gangbang of Nimrata. Then we’re all going to Jakie’s strip club.
By eggaday August 31, 2010 at 4:48 pm
maybe lindsey, joe and mark will march too!
By Alphonse August 31, 2010 at 5:15 pm
I wonder how the Lt. Gov feels about the flags?
By Scooter August 31, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Alphonse: don’t be an ill informed dude.
By Quiet Voice of Reason August 31, 2010 at 7:41 pm
I’m with Costello and others who ask the important questions. How much money? You realize that they would have to “support” if the KKK wanted to march or come to town — support in the same way all governments support freedom to organize.
I would argue that anything that brings revenue and positive exposure to our state is a good thing. As for the “family council,” well, thank God they aren’t part of MY family! Their use of the word offends me.
By CSL3L September 1, 2010 at 7:04 am
Hey Prof! Please join the Alliance for Equality and the Federalist Society to celebrate our gay-straight alliances. We won’t ask you to march in any parade because balding, old, unattractive pencil necks aren’t our thing. Hope to see you there. We’ll still party with you. Pride 2010! Cheers Prof!
Charleston School of Law 3L
By DmD September 1, 2010 at 7:30 am
yet another reason why i’m so glad i left columbia – it’s an embarrassment for our state on so many levels.
i vote to offer up Greenville as our state capital
By Todd September 1, 2010 at 8:46 am
Was PRT involved in this?
By Jerry September 1, 2010 at 9:15 am
What is the big deal? Every other group gets flags up and down Main Street. Last time I checked gay men and gay women are human beings, citizens, pay taxes and have a right to take pride in themselves and be themselves. If you don’t like it don’t come to the parade. Simple as that. Stay home and pretend gay people do not exist. If that makes you feel better then do so. But, more people know and realize gay people exist. This is not anything new. The question should be who paid for the other flags that have been up on Main Street over the years.
By Darth September 1, 2010 at 10:52 am
OUTRAGEOUS! Charleston has more gays, it had first choice, before Clemson and Columbia picked… Charelston chose gays, Clemson got tha’ Tigers and Columbia got a revolving door for football coaches, even if Mike Moungo’s dead.
Give Joe Riley back his pride flags!
OOPS, maybe tha’s Keith Summey, grand marshal of the Low Country Pride Parade, that ought to be awarded those banners.
By Mark September 1, 2010 at 12:32 pm
“As we’ve said on numerous occasions, we have no problem with homosexuals and we support their right to” – wait for it, wait for it – “publicly display their lifestyle choices.”
And that my friend is how you spell specious.
By Steve September 1, 2010 at 2:16 pm
It’s not a “lifestyle” and it’s not a “choice”.
By Cindy September 1, 2010 at 2:18 pm
The city neither paid for the banners, not did it put them up. It was handeled by private organizations. All the city may have done is give its permission. So you can quit whining.
By Cindy September 1, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Yeah, the ridiculous and insulting phrasing “lifestyle choices” really says all about the author’s opinions and expertise on the matter.
By ArmyVet September 2, 2010 at 8:55 am
Way to report the facts!
I challenge the writer of this article to respond to the claims in the comments that any money given, is done so to each and every organization that brings visitors to the city as well as the allegations that private organizations paid for these flags and their installation. If these two allegations are in fact true, this article is left with only some mild approval for gay people to not be openly discriminated against. Do you want a pat on the back?
By Ryan Wilson October 26, 2010 at 10:09 am
Just for the record, as someone who helped organize the flags that hung in Columbia. ANY organization promoting a cultural event being held in Columbia, SC can reserve space on the lamp posts as long as there is room available.
The SC Pride Movement followed all the standard procedures and the flags were hung in recognition of the non-political event held in Finlay Park featuring 6 hours of FREE, LIVE entertainment, drinks, food, and vendors as well as a Parade down Main Street. The Palmetto Family Association has no knowledge of the facts in this case and sent their misleading news releases out to the media in an attempt to create controversy where none existed.
If someone hangs signs or banners in support of the Greek Festival, the Italian Festival, or the Latin Festival, do we cry foul because they are only supporting one ethnicity? Certainly not, and in the same way, flags hung to support LGBT people do not negate straight citizens or in some way show bias against them.
The flags were paid for STRICTLY out of private donations by Columbia residents and the hospitality tax grant funding was used ONLY for entertainment and marketing expenses to help bring tourists to Columbia for the event. With police and news estimates over 10,000 people, imagine the number of hotel rooms, restaurants, and bars that saw and influx of income and therefore the tax off that income increased as well. The City of Columbia benefited financially from this cultural event.
Copies of all receipts of each year’s grant expenses are public knowledge and sumbitted to and kept on file at the City of Columbia.
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