So, the Ford Motor Company has decided, after a boycott threat from the American Family Association, Don Wildmon's group, to pull their advertising for their Land Rover and Jaguar brands from the gay press.
Saying it was just "a business decision," Ford may also consider ending it's history of sponsoring gay event like the gay rodeo and the many gay pride festivals and parades as well.
Come with me beyond the fold ...
The Advocate wrote this:
Threatened with a boycott by the Mississippi-based AFA, Ford and some of its dealers agreed to negotiate, and the AFA announced in June that it would hold off on its planned action. On Thursday, AFA announced the boycott would be canceled altogether.
"They've heard our concerns; they are acting on our concerns. We are pleased with where we are," said Donald Wildmon, AFA's chairman, in a statement. "Obviously there are still some small matters of difference, as people will always have, but generally speaking, we are pleased with the results--and therefore the boycott that had been suspended [is] now officially ended."
Specific terms of any formal agreement between the AFA and Ford--and whether any such agreement has in fact been reached--remain unclear.
When first contacted, Ford spokesman Moran referred Advocate.com to the AFA statement, suggesting that the company had no disagreement with Wildmon's assertions. In a second conversation he confirmed that the company would no longer advertise Jaguar and Land Rover products in the gay media, saying that the decision was strictly "business."
"In all cases, we review this issue from a business perspective in regards to advertising," Moran said. "Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury [brands] did not advertise in gay publications anyway. At this time, Jaguar and Land Rover will not do so going forward." He added that Volvo will still advertise in gay publications because the company believes it's an effective strategy for that market.
Wow, they ARE going to leave their Volvo ads up and running. Oh my God, we should be so thankful, huh? That makes me just want to run out and buy a fleet of Volvos ... NOT!
Here's more from the Advocate ...
According to a list of demands on AFA's Web site, the organization insisted that Ford and all of its brands stop donating cash, vehicles, and endorsements to gay social activities. This includes donations to pride celebrations and groups such as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, the Human Rights Campaign, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. AFA says those groups have received contributions from Ford in the past.
Whether such sponsorship deals--in which Ford brands are given visibility by nonprofit groups and at LGBT events in return for donations--will continue, Moran could not say.
No comment yet from the Human Rights Campaign or GLAAD, but as always, John Aravosis at Americablog is on the ball ...
Well, we just got our new campaign. Ford needs to be taught a lesson. If they think they're above the fray and too big to be influenced by the mean homosexuals, they ought to give Bill Gates a call and see what happened to Microsoft when they endorsed outright bigotry in order to appease America's Taliban.
In a nutshell, the rabid homophobes at the American Family Association threatened Ford with a boycott earlier this year because they were advertising in the gay press. Suddenly in June the AFA called off their threatened boycott because local Ford dealers had contacted the national Ford office and, apparently, suggested Ford might be amenable to working out a deal. Now we find out that Ford is pulling its gay ads and that Ford even tells the Advocate that the AFA's press release claiming credit for this entire thing is accurate.
Ford wants to dance with bigots, that's fine. But you don't get to do that in the year 2005 and remain a prosperous company in America.
I want phone numbers and email contacts for all of Ford's top executives and public relations people. Go to it folks.
Americablog will be protest central for this event. Check in with John to find out what to do.
Personally, I would like to see an event at every Gay Pride Festival this year where gay folk get the chance to clobber a Ford vehicle with a sledgehammer for $5 a pop. That's some video that would make the nightly news, big musclebound gay men and women in tank tops and jeans (or shorts) taking it right to the Ford Motor Company.
Okay, here's your poll ...