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(Kanab, Utah) Signs began popping up in
store windows this week in Kanab, Utah proclaiming ''Everyone welcome here!'' in
a desperate move to avoid a threatened gay boycott. Some businesses went so far
as putting small rainbow flag stickers on their front doors.
Dozens of business owners in the small southern
Utah community are trying all they can to distance themselves from a
proclamation by the city council that Kanab supports the "natural
family" consisting of a working husband, a stay-at-home wife and a
"full quiver of children."
The measure was passed by the council in January
angering gays in the state and prompting LGBT groups to consider calling a
boycott.
Well known syndicated travel columnist Arthur
Frommer in an article called the council move discrimination.
"I think they know perfectly well this is a
smokescreen for discriminating against gays," Frommer told the
Associated Press this week. (story)
Tourism is Kanab's biggest industry and business
owners say they need gay money.
"We're a tourist destination with people coming here to
sleep and eat, and we [business owners] have worked hard to have something to
show," pharmacist Kort Stirland told the Salt Lake Tribune.
His Zion Pharmacy has one of the welcome signs,
which features a string of rainbow-colored human
figures, in the window.
"It's not just about tolerance, but acceptance of those
different from you," JoAnne Rando-Moon, owner of The Critter Corner, a
pet-supply store, told the Tribune.
The signs and stickers are being distributed by
the Kanab Boosters, a business owners group. The Boosters are selling the signs
and small stickers for cars for between $2.50 and $4.50.
The group hopes to raise enough money to take
out newspaper ads throughout the state to promote the town as a diverse place to
vacation.
Ted Hallisey, the executive director of the county Travel Association says that
his office has received hundreds of
e-mails and letters from people threatening to scrap their travel plans over the
council's resolution. But, he said, it was too early to tell what the economic
impact might be.
Kanab is the only Utah governmental entity to
pass the resolution, which was sent to cities all over Utah by the Salt Lake
City-based Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank.
Earlier this week Sutherland President Paul Mero
told the AP that studies show community problems such as crime, violence and
poverty increase when family structures break down.
That view was supported by Councilor Terril Honey
who voted for the measure. Honey, who also is a local businessman, said it isn't
the council that is discriminatory, its the boosters.
He says that the poster and sticker campaign is
likely to drive away families.
©365Gay.com 2006
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