Religious Right Worried That Gay People Will Ride Trains
I'll tip my hat to Amtrak. Yes, on their regional trains, there's still no wireless Internet. And the "Snack Party Mix" available in their dining cart leaves a lot to be desired. But America's train company is doing its best to try and lure more riders.Case in point? A huge marketing effort planned by Amtrak toward LGBT consumers. The campaign will take the shape of a multimedia blitz later this summer, to the tune of $250,000. The goal is simple: LGBT people tend to travel a bit, so why not try and steer them toward rail travel. At least, that how Amtrak's Director of National Advertising, Darlene Abubaker, seemed to put it.
"Most all of the major airlines, hotels and others in the travel and tourism industry target the LGBT market segment … Amtrak ’s goal is to raise the level of awareness of the benefits of train travel and increase consideration and ridership amongst this segment," said Abubaker.
True that. Travel companies from Expedia to Travelocity to Jet Blue to American Airlines to Sweet Cruises and more all try and nab themselves a slice of the LGBT travel market. Why shouldn't Amtrak?
Just don't tell that to the folks at the Family Research Institute (FRI). That's the Colorado-based anti-gay organization dedicated to trying to cure homosexuality. They haven't succeeded obviously, and indeed, their founder (Paul Cameron) has been booted out of the American Psychological Association for misrepresenting and misinterpreting research on sexuality. But all that baggage combined won't stop FRI or Cameron from weighing in on Amtrak's decision to market to the gays.
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