(Columbia, South Carolina) A South Carolina LGBT civil rights group has begun raising funds to pay the state’s debt for the South Carolina is so gay ad campaign that South Carolina’s tourism board has reneged on.

The $5,000 campaign was approved by a state employee to run in London’s subway system during gay pride to attract British gay tourists to South Carolina.

When conservative state politicians heard of the ads they demanded the campaign be halted.

It was too late. The posters had already gone up in London.

State Sen. David Thomas (R) called for an audit of the department and a spokesperson for Gov. Mark Sanford said that using tax money “to support a social or political agenda” wais inappropriate.

The civil servant who gave the OK for the campaign resigned and Parks, Recreation and Tourism director Chad Prosser said the state would not pay the ad agency, ARMO Worldwide.

Thursday, South Carolina Pride Movement stepped in, placing its own version of the ad on its website and inviting people to contribute to pay the state debt.

The rejigged ad now says South Carolina Will Be So Gay.

“We feel it is our duty to keep the word that the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recs, and Tourism gave through their contract with ARMO Worldwide and we intend to raise the necessary funds since they have refused to pay their bill,” said Ryan Wilson, President of SC Pride.

“Someone needs to rise above and do the right thing, and the GLBT community of South Carolina should be the ones to do it, and the SC Pride Movement is going to take the lead,” Wilson said.

“South Carolina may not be “so gay” currently but we are going to show the world that we can be and we WILL BE so gay, and gay friendly some day!”

Wilson said that if it raises more than the $5,000 necessary to pay ARMO it will benefit the SC Pride Festival and Parade.

Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans also were part of the ad campaign. None of those cities backed out.