A South Carolina tourism employee has resigned after an outcry over an ad campaign to attract gay tourists.

Spokesman Marion Edmonds would not say why the unidentified Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism employee resigned.

Last week, the tourism agency dropped out of an ad campaign tied to gay pride week celebrations in London that included ads saying “South Carolina is so gay.”

Edmonds said managers didn’t know about the promotion until reading a release from an advertising company.

Director Chad Prosser said the agency would not pay a fee of nearly $5,000 to participate in the campaign, proposed by the state’s London advertising coordinator.

Greenville Sen. David Thomas has called for an audit of the agency.