• Associated Press via AOL, Monday, August 20, 2007 11:30 AM

Virginia is dropping images of people making heart symbols with their hands in its latest tourism campaign, since the same gesture is also popular with at least one street gang.

The sign, associated with the Gangster Disciples, has thumbs and index fingers forming a heart. "Our intent was to show people using their hands to make a heart to signify Virginia is for Lovers," says Alisa Bailey, head of the state tourism bureau. "For the majority of people, the heart sign is a symbol of love -- and the campaign's images intended to convey a love of travel and a love of Virginia."

The agency has been running preview ads of its "Live Passionately" effort, but the full campaign is coming out until next year so the state still has time to make changes. About $400,000 was spent on developing the campaign, Bailey says, not including media buys on broadcast outlets.

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