Complain about a product or service

Ford Motor Gives in to Anti-Gay Religionists

December 6, 2005

• Hate Groups End Ford Boycott • Hate Groups Boycott Ford Again • Anti-Gay Group Renews Ford Boycott Threat • Ford to Resume, Expand Ads in Gay Media • Ford Execs Meet with Gays, Make No Promises • Ford Motor Gives in to Anti-Gay Religionists --- • More about Ford

Gay and lesbian groups are angry with Ford Motor Co. for agreeing to stop advertising in gay-themed publications in the face of boycott threats from the conservative American Family Association (AFA).

Ford sent two top company officers to Tupelo, Miss to discuss the boycott with the AFA leadership. They promised the conservative organization that Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands will not advertise in gay and lesbian publications nor will Jaguar and Land Rover target gay consumers through any advertising.

Only Volvo, Ford's Sweden-based brand, will continue marketing directly to gays and lesbians.

Following the meeting AFA, which has 3 million members, agreed to back off threats of a renewed boycott against Ford.

A spokesman for Ford said the move to make peace with the AFA is "a business decision, purely financial."

A group of gay and lesbian organizations quickly charged that Ford has caved in to pressure from the religious right.

"We are deeply dismayed that Ford has entered into a confidential agreement with the extremist American Family Association that requires Ford to stop advertising in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender media," 17 gay and lesbian organizations said in a joint statement.

Ford insists its nondiscrimination policies covering employees, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, cultural and physical differences will not change. A company spokesman would not say whether Ford plans to continue contributing to gay and lesbian organizations and causes.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Back to the top |