Ford Caves to Anti-Gay Boycott : Dispatches from the Culture Wars

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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)

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Ford Caves to Anti-Gay Boycott

Posted on: March 12, 2008 9:23 AM, by Ed Brayton

Apparently, Ford has caved in to the AFA's boycott and agreed to stop advertising in gay publications or donate money to gay advocacy groups. The AFA is pulling their boycott. Gee, maybe if Ford had agreed to beat the hell out of anyone they think might be gay riding in one of their cars, the AFA would actually urge their followers to buy Fords. This kind of crap just makes me ill.

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I'd suggest a counter-boycott, if I or anyone I knew had any plans of ever buying a Ford.

Posted by: Gretchen | March 12, 2008 9:48 AM

Has anyone heard from the once-formidable United Auto Workers on this?

Posted by: Raging Bee | March 12, 2008 10:04 AM

It is certainly a pretty despicable thing to do since it now sets one hell of a precedent. Would they do this to every large business in America...one at a time...
Yes... yes they would.

I hope this comes back to bite their sorry behinds.

Posted by: Richard Eis | March 12, 2008 10:09 AM

This from Business Week:

Ford said in a statement that its principles haven't changed, but that it has reduced overall advertising and charitable spending in recent years because of losses in North America. Ford lost $2.7 billion in 2007.

"We are committed to treating everyone fairly and with respect, including our dealers, customers and employees," the company said. "Ford will continue to market its products widely to attract as many customers as possible and make charitable contributions to strengthen communities to the extent business conditions allow."

This year Ford received its highest rating for gay-friendly policies from the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights organization, based on its anti-discrimination policies and health benefits for domestic partners.

I think this may well be a case of the AFA declaring victory and going home. I certainly wouldn't trust the AFA or WND version.

Posted by: Alan B. | March 12, 2008 10:26 AM

Raging Bee - I Believe the United Auto Workers said:
"We work hard. We play hard" (Everybody dance now!) - oh wait that was the Springsfield Metalworkers Union. Keep reaching for that rainbow ;D -DJ

Posted by: DingoJack | March 12, 2008 10:27 AM

From other blogs that have followed this story, I also got the impression that this was the A"F"A doing their "Declare Victory and get out of Iraq, er Afghanistan, er Vietnam" bit.

Posted by: Badger3k | March 12, 2008 10:41 AM

Any statement from Ford? Anyone tried _asking_ them in a public place? When is their CEO next doing a product release press conference?

Posted by: David Durant | March 12, 2008 11:10 AM

Just to add my $0.02 worth, I agree that it sounds like there's a general cutback on their advertising, and the AFA is calling it victory. After all, in their version of reality, they're the primary reason for years of Ford's declining sales. After all, how would Jesus spin-doctor it?

Posted by: KCProgramr | March 12, 2008 11:47 AM

AFA pulled this Declare Victory and Quit routine before when they ended their Disney boycott. The World Net article reads like it was copied directly from an AFA press release. Its always funny to see how these supposedly Christian values-based groups are so willing to lie for their cause.

Posted by: Patrick (gryph) | March 12, 2008 3:14 PM

Its no coincidence that the AFA went after the weakest of the big three. Every quarter that Ford floundered they sent out a press release on how their boycott was "working." When they can no longer milk that - they end the boycott. I'm sure they will go after a mortgage company next - bets on how Countrywide is corrupting our children?

Incidentally I was at Disneyworld over the weekend. Even after AFA's "successful Disney boycott" its still the gayest place on earth.

Posted by: yoshi | March 12, 2008 3:55 PM

Any statement from Ford? Anyone tried _asking_ them in a public place?

Actually, yes. Joe.my.god contacted Ford yesterday when this story first went up and got this statement:

The AFA has made its decision and is ready to move on. Our principles have not changed. We are committed to treating everyone fairly and with respect, including our dealers, customers and employees. Ford will continue to market its products widely to attract as many customers as possible and make charitable contributions to strengthen communities to the extent business conditions allow. Difficult business conditions in recent years have reduced our overall spending across the board.
Jim Cain
Director, Product Communications
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury

Joe describes the Ford response as "refuting" the AFA's claims. The only source on the "Ford caves" claim continues to be the AFA/WND.

Posted by: Coin | March 12, 2008 5:09 PM

Alan B. "I think this may well be a case of the AFA declaring victory and going home."

Why shouldn't they? Ford lost $2.7 Billion -- the boycott obviously worked! Praise Jesus! (Who prefers Chevys.)

Posted by: Grumpy | March 12, 2008 7:39 PM

I don't think ford caved at all. Ford did not lose billions because of this boycott, they lost billions because they are a US based automaker, and all of them have lost billions.

If you look at the details of what really happened with this boycott, the AFA clearly did not 'win' anything. See:

The AFA Boycott Of Ford: Christian Antigay Group Caves, Claims Victory

Posted by: greg laden | May 31, 2008 8:56 AM