The original Virginia is for Lovers slogan was first used in 1969. At the time, many people thought the slogan a little too racy until Governor Linwood Holton saw the reaction of his three daughters. They were so enthusiastic that he became the slogan’s biggest emissary.
40 years ago, Virginia’s tourism industry was less than 3 billion dollars a year. Today it is a thriving $18.7 billion dollar business that employs over 210,000 people per year. So much for our racy little slogan. Now every place is for lovers.
Governor Tim Kaine also thinks the slogan is great. He appeared with his father in law, former Governor Holton to trumpet the success of the 40-year old slogan:
“Virginia is for Lovers” also appeals to Kaine.
“It’s one of the most recognized tourism slogans in the world, or slogans of any kind in the world,“ Kaine said. “It’s got enormous brand equity and marketing power.“
He added: “It’s given us a marketing identity that is fun, that is current. As current today as it was in 1969 when it started, although in 1969 it raised some eyebrows.“
Live Passionately will be added to the existing slogan. I guess this is an official state order 😉
Virginia is for lovers….unless you’re gay.
Virginia is for lovers…..unless you’re a HSM member.
Virginia is for lovers….unless you’re a minority. Then you (and gay people) aren’t welcome.
Posting as Pinko wrote “Virginia is for lovers….unless you’re gay.”
dangit. you beat me to the punch
Pinko, that’s not true! People of color and gay people are both welcome; equal rights are another matter.
You know, people outside Virginia think this is a pretty odd slogan. I always understood it to mean that it’s a romantic place to visit, but I have run into others who were totally confused. Like Maryland is for spouses and Virginia is for lovers.
Hmmmmm……I’m thinking of the KKK passing putting fliers in people’s mailboxes…fliers persecuting gay people and naming people.
I’m thinking of the vandalism where a hundred+ cars had racial slurs and slurs against homosexuals plastered across Manassas.
I’m thinking of BVBL where minorities and gay people are bashed routinely.
Personally, there are many people who DO welcome diversity. But because our government supports hate groups and not equality, I maintain that anyone “different” (and that includes the disabled) are targets.
Recall the axing of the elderly daycare center?
I’ll add the disabled and elderly to the list of those not loved in Virginia.
Incidentally, did you know if a judge declared you mentally incompetent, you can never vote again in VA? So….if you are elderly and have bouts of senility but can get to the polls….you can’t vote in our great state.
—Like Maryland is for spouses and Virginia is for lovers.—
LOL! Yes, new slogan: “Virginia: Live in a State of Iniquity.”
—if you are elderly and have bouts of senility but can get to the polls….you can’t vote in our great state.—-
Clarifying: if your kids had you declared incompetent so you wouldn’t wander off, you can’t vote.
If you committed a crime while manic and were declared insane, but then you go on meds and are okay, you can’t vote.
Incidentally, as far as tourism and history, VA DOES offer a lot. I’m playing on the name to make a statement on social ills. Just wanted to make sure everyone GOT that since I’m all for historical preservation and that kind of thing. Journey through Hallowed Ground is awesome and I wish we had more support for it.
Am I hogging this thread, or am I just hyper today?
If HSM had their way, it would be Virginia is for Haters. (gays, minorities, etc…)
Am I the only one who notices the humor in Tim Kaine saying, “It’s given us a marketing identity that is fun, that is current. As current today as it was in 1969 when it started, although in 1969 it raised some eyebrows.”
FN, I noticed the “raised eyebrows” thing too. I think that has to do with the infidelity reading of the motto.
Remember the tee-shirts people would buy at the beach in the 80’s…Virginia is for Lovers and Maryland is for Crabs
It wasn’t ever current, Fear Not. I don’t know what he’s talking about. And, if it raised eyebrows in 1969, I don’t know if we are more or less prudish as a country today. Probably more.
PAP,
Thank you for illuminating the hypocrisy in the slogan.
A state that can produce a Virgil Goode, can’t be much for love…unless it’s love of oppression, love of denial, love of a history bleached in whiteness, written by whites for whites, where the South and the phenomenal Army of Northern Virginia fought for ‘States Rights’ and not for slavery.
It appears that VA is for bitching and moaning now.
Hi, here is an update from AWCheney:
She is doing well, still monitoring this blog but taking a break for a while. We agreed that we wanted you to know that she and I are on good terms and worked out any hurt feelings or what have you using private emails.
ShellyB,
That’s really great. Thanks for letting us know that all is well. Happy Friday!
Thank you ShellyB and AWC.
————————————-
VA is for Lovers was considered suggestive back in 1969 when it first became one of Virginia’s slogans. Just to put it in perspective: In 1969, women could not work in liquor stores, integration was less than a decade old in many places in Virginia, motels and hotels could refuse to rent you a room if you weren’t married to whomever you were checking in with, teachers who were pregnant had to resign before they ‘showed’, the Vietnam War was hot and heavy, the Summer of Love and the Tet Offensive were less than a year old, and man first landed on the moon, birth control was rather inaccessible to most single women.
Speaking of love, Loving v. Virginia was ruled on in 1967. It allowed couples of different races to marry.
Obviously, much has changed since then. Virginia is for Lovers did raise eyebrows.
Mando, would those bitching and moaning be those pissed off over the Obama win? 😉
Thanks for the historical snap shot M-H. The Virginia you describe is hard to fathom in many ways.
I’m trying to connect 1969 to 1988 when I first became even slightly aware of my surroundings. What happened between ’69 and ’88? It almost sounds like the changes between ’69 and ’88 were bigger than 88 and 2008.
NGL,
Here is a HUGE change that happened-LOL! and my favorite song evvva! 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8A0rhVG91U
RD
What happened with AWCheney? On which thread did she have a meltdown?
That’s hard to say, NGL. Huge strides in women’s rights were accomplished. A great deal of that seems to be because women can control their own reproduction. There was also Watergate and Monkey Business to change the political climate forever. The space program had some serious setbacks with the death of those on the Challenger.
There were hostage years in Iran. Iraq was our friend then. There were 8 Reagan years and the country changed its previous direction.
I would say the biggest change between 69–88 would be women’s roles in places traditionally open only to men. Form 88-08, I would say the greatest changes have been in the world of computers and the information we are able to access.
I am sure other people will have other opinions.
This is the 80’s version of what was huge LOL and so true 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MzShg7yXik
RD
and Mackie, ??? still showing luv 4 u BUT the white sh$t? Help me understand you. 🙁
“What happened with AWCheney? On which thread did she have a meltdown?”
in response to:
“Hi, here is an update from AWCheney:
She is doing well, still monitoring this blog but taking a break for a while. We agreed that we wanted you to know that she and I are on good terms and worked out any hurt feelings or what have you using private emails.”
meltdown or what evvvaaaaa…it goes to show that things CAN be worked out when (and HOW )things get out of hand! 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRESIYTRZzU&feature=related
NGL, liquor by the drink had also been legalized in Virginia the year before.
Prior to 1968, you could only buy beer and wine by the drink. All hard liquor was sold in state ABC stores. If you wanted a drink, private bottle clubs existed. You bought the ice and mixers and brought your own bottle in.
Sounds archaic doesn’t it?
Hmmmm!!!! Sounds as if some of you had too much coffee today. Please do not generalize about the whole state where a few idiots who have big mouths happen to live.
I was born in Arlington, have lived in Northern Virginia all my life and I love Virginia. I think those of you who are bitching and moaning are making unfair assessments about something to which you only have a birds eye view.
No one has had a melt down. Several of our readers had a disagreement. They have since discussed their differences of opinion off-line and all is well. That’s all that needs to be said on the subject.
Hi Red Dawn,
I thought I was sane but then I realized it was the crazy ones who were actually sane…
and valid…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lotcXpKByc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Gf0VKXk5Q&feature=related
I have had a long day and am tired. What I meant to say was ….. Please do not make generalizations about the whole state. You just happen to live in an area where a a few big mouth idiots live.
Moon-howler,
I found the thread.
She had a meltdown.
Mackie,
See above.
Mackie,
Re:November 2008, 21:42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNb8po-ufu8
Marie,
Re:November 2008, 21:43
GENERALIZING is the problem 🙂 Is this song about a person NAMED Virginia or talking about our state? I think we all can relate to either 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4sUTg_kZw
Question – if you don’t like Virginia so much, then why do you stay? As someone who was raised in this state, it’s pretty offensive to make comments that Virginia hates gays, minorities, disabled, elderly, etc – not only that, but pretty ignorant, also. As usual, the same people (Pinko, NGL and Ivan) stirring the pot.
Good God – can you not give it a rest for one day?
M-H, thanks that is awesome stuff. I had no idea about the licquer thing! Arlington must have been a different place back then. What is Monkey Business? Also hard to imagine month equal rights for women. But what a marvel we’ve seen in the contrasts between the last five First Ladies.
You Wish, sorry to bring you down but we did pass the Hate Ammendment in 2006 which brought shame and sadness to Virginians who believe in equal rights for all, including minorities. Other than the obvious parallels to the Immigration Resolution (targeting a minority at election time), I don’t think the Hate Ammendment comes to mind often, unless you are gay or lesbian. But the California thing which was much worse brings the fundamental inequality to our minds again, and then we were reminded of the irony of a Hate Ammendment state having “Virginia is for Lovers” as a slogan. Anyway, at least we are better than California. Here we voted to be redundant about gay marriage (it was already illegal before 2006 for gays and lesbians to marry the person of their choice). In California, the state Supreme Court had voted to grant equality and then the voters decided to say “not in my stste” with Prop 8 on November 4th. First time in history a state Constitution has been altered to take rights away instead of expand then. Now it’s back in the court’s hands.
RedDawn, can’t wait to see your videos tomorrow on a faster computer. What a perfect way to answer the question. Is one of the songs “Video Killed The Radio Star?”
I didn’t proofread and have no idea how “month” got into my second sentence. Trying to say that equality for women seemed pretty standard for me growing up in the 80’s, and it’s interesting to recall what a short time it had been since women’s liberation.
MH said…”Huge strides in women’s rights were accomplished. A great deal of that seems to be because women can control their own reproduction.”
MH,
I most contest your last sentence. To some degree strides have been made, but could those strides be undone? Did you forget about this clip? I sure hope not! 😉
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6k4RrKNk7s
You have given an us all an excellent history lesson on Virginia. How about those blue laws?
corr: I *MUST* contest your last sentence.
Virginia is NOT for lovers, not until we repeal the hateful Marshall-Neumann amendment to the state constitution.
Mackie, do you hate all white people or what? I hate racism. I don’t hate people. There IS a difference.
It’s glaring obvious to people who moved here from more accepting states.
And not ALL people here are bigots and haters. My husband’s family are natives and they find this behavior disgusting.
Marie, Arlington is WAY more accepting than PWC. Why do you think Stirrup fled?
Chris, you are right about those blue laws. Some localities actually still have their own, especially over in the valley. Sure shocked me!
As for Del. Marshall’s frat boys and love canal speech, I remain speechless over that. What an outrage. And the women of Virginia must see that bills such as the one outlawing the morning after pill at state colleges and universities never pass. I was most unhappy over the bill in 2007 that attempted to define life at fertilization also.
The marriage amendment was not a surprise. I didn’t expect Virginia to be forward-thinking about it. Eventually, the courts will settle that issue as a civil rights issue–my opinion of course.
You wish, the thread was put up to get our readers to contribute. Virginia has always been a strong enough state to accept change also. Our readers are just pointing out ways they think the state should change. I am not comfortable telling them to leave if they do not like something.
I think the Supreme Court will have to repeal Marshall-Neumann, Scott. But we can always repeal Bob Marshall.
MH, people never like like reformers. Recall the BS of Bush–“If you’re not with us, you’re against us”?
Activists are patriots taking part in government. Without such action, government runs us over and kills true democracy, the kind we are still fighting for in this county.