One of the officials who would head such an effort has expressed fear of a backlash, angering two gay legislators who said encouraging such tourism is a matter of business, not politics.
Larry Meehan, director of public relations and tourism for the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, in Copley Place, said the bureau focuses its marketing dollars on nearby states, not any particular segment of the population. He said he feared negative reaction if such a campaign were launched.
"I don't want to offend someone who may be considering a trip to Boston," he said. US Representative Barney Frank blasted Meehan's position. "By now," said Frank, "most people know that homosexuality is not infectious." Boston -- especially as a gateway to Provincetown -- stands to profit from marketing itself to gay and lesbian tourists, he said.
State Senator Jarrett Barrios said he was "perplexed" by Meehan's fears, saying they stood in the way of the bringing of the green.
"It's about the Benjamins," he said. "I think it's bizarre that a tourism official who's in the business of bringing tourists here would have a moment's hesitation in doing their job," he said.
Yet Meehan, the tourism official, is not alone in his qualms about wooing gay tourists at a time when Massachusetts is garnering national interest -- and controversy -- after the state Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage as of May 17. The president of Boston's gay and lesbian chamber of commerce -- the Greater Boston Business Council -- said he'd like Boston to launch a campaign to attract gay and lesbian tourists, but he, too, worries about a backlash.
"Right now, today, might not be the best time [to launch a campaign]," said Anthony Danielus. "You don't want conservatives to launch a boycott."
