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Ford Execs Meet with Gays, Make No Promises

December 13, 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

Ford is still scrambling to diffuse criticism following its decision to stop advertising in gay and lesbian publications. Several gay and lesbian rights organizations met with Ford executives in Washington to ask that the automaker reverse the decision.

The groups characterized the Ford advertising decision as an "effort to appease a handful of vocal extremists which has backfired and offended millions of fair-minded consumers instead."

Ford executives met in November with the conservative American Family Association "to clear up a misunderstanding about Ford's policies and practices." Following that meeting, the AFA, which has repeatedly criticized Ford as too gay-friendly, lifted its boycott threat against the automaker.

At the time, Ford officials said the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands did not advertise in gay and lesbian publications and will not in the future. It also said the company would end Jaguar and Land Rover ads aimed at gay consumers.

The decision generated a storm of heated criticism from the gay community. As a result, Ford officials agreed to the Washington meeting with leaders of the Human Rights Campaign, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and other organizations in an effort to explain company statements that its luxury brands would no longer advertise in gay publications.

The gay and lesbian groups want Ford to resume Land Rover and Jaguar advertisements in gay publications as well as make it clear that the company was not making decisions based on the boycott threats by the American Family Association.

Ford officials told the gay rights groups that their advertising decisions are based on business interests and they insist they did not "cave in" to the AFA.

Most gay rights groups consider Ford to be a progressive company in dealing with gay and lesbian consumers and employees. Ford has been credited for providing an inclusive work environment for gays and lesbians and it was the only automaker to receive a perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign's corporate equality index in 2004 and 2005.

At the Washington meeting, Ford officials reasserted the company's respect for the gay and lesbian community. But Ford made no commitment to revisit the decision to drop ads in gay publications.

"We value all people regardless of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and cultural or physical differences," Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford said in a statement.

Ford's Swedish Volvo subsidiary will continue advertising to gay and lesbian consumers.

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