Boycott Ford Motor Company

[Guest zipperzone]

Ford Motor Company has anounced that they have caved into threats of a boycott of their products, Jaguar & Land Rover, by the anti-gay American Family Association.

 

Due to the pressure exerted on them by the AFA, they will no longer place ads for these two makes in any gay publication and will cease to donate any monies or the use of any of their cars to any gay organization.

 

The AFA is the same organization that promoted a pervious boycott of Proctor & Gamble.

 

I say - FUCK THEM & FUCK FORD.

 

If that's the way Ford wants to play the game I see no reason why any gay person would plunk down mega bucks to drive any Ford product.

 

We don't have the same clout in numbers as the AFA but if all gays stopped buting and driving their vehicles, I'm sure the message would be heard.

 

Will we as a group boycott them? - probably not - but we should and I for one sure will. My partner drives a Volvo station wagon and was just about to trade it in for a new one. (Volvo is also owned by Ford)

 

Guess who's looking for an alternative brand?

[KY_TOP]

Not so fast. Ford didn't cave in to anything. Ford is still going to place ads for their Volvo cars (yes Ford also owns Volvo) in gay publications. You market to who buys what. Saying boycott Ford reminds me of the Religious Right saying boycott Disney. We criticize them and then act just like them. Ford has been supportive in the past and continues to be. If more "gays" bought Jags and Land Rovers I think you'd see the ads staying where they are at. Ad dollars go where they will do the best.

[Luv2play]

I have always made a distinction between government-sponsored boycotts and voluntary, consumer oriented boycotts. For instance, when most countries boycotted South Africa back in the days of apartheid, I supported that. And there were sanctions against the companies or individuals who contravened that boycott.

 

As for product-specific boycotts against companies that practice discrimination or other reprehensible practices like child labour, I have to admit to being selective in my own personal choices. For many years I would not consumer a Coors beer because of that company's homophobic practices in the past. I have since relented after Coors and Molsons Breweries got together since Molsons has always shown a positive support of gay causes.

 

As for Ford, I wouldn't buy one of their products anyway based on previous performance problems that directly affected me (I purchased one of their lemons). I think Volvos are great cars and Jags are, well Jags, probably nice to have one if I had a few extra million $$$ lying around to indulge such exotic beasts. But I agree that as long as Ford (or Volvo or Jag) does not discriminate against gay causes by withholding sponsorship $$$ for instance, then I would not object to their products personally. If Ford chose to support a gay cause through ad placements or sponsorship using the Volvo or Jag marques rather than their own brands, that would be OK with me.

[bigguyinpasadena]

Well I am on the fence here.It seems that Wildmon(snivelling little no neck creep)claims a victory before there is one.

Ford did not acknowladge the christian market segmant-but I am betting there is a G&L segmant of buyers of these two marks.

Is this just coincedental timing taken advantadge of by Wildmons pervy little group?

Ford will have to do something to prove itself one way or the other.

I am looking to buy a new car soon and a couple of Ford models are in consideration.

[+ Cash4Trash]

Comprehensive info on this subject is available at

http://www.AmericaBlog.com

 

Any boycott should also include rental cars.

[bigjake8]

Fords oringinally sent advocate.com to the AFA website for info, which I would say is pretty damning. Unless they very strongly come out disavowing ANY and ALL pressure from the AFA as a reason for dropping the ads, a boycott is certainly in order.

[Rick Munroe]

>Not so fast. Ford didn't cave in to anything.

 

Yes, they did, and now they're lying to cover their asses. Like others have said, go to http://americablog.org/ and read the facts. There are a few reputable sources who say that Ford has already admitted to them that yes, they did indeed capitulate to the gay bashers.

[Guest Adono]

>We don't have the same clout in numbers as the AFA but if all

>gays stopped bu[y]ing and driving their vehicles, I'm sure the

>message would be heard.

 

No, that's one of the problems with boycotts. It's easy for a group's numbers to get lost in the noise of their sales analyses. Ford has no way of knowing whether sales lost for this reason were significant.

 

Instead, write them a letter. That's what AFA does. They get several hundred of their dupes to write a company and the company assumes those letters represent thousands of customers. If Ford got thousands of letters from gays they would figure they represented millions of customers.

 

My two cents.

[Guest zipperzone]

>Instead, write them a letter. That's what AFA does. They get

>several hundred of their dupes to write a company and the

>company assumes those letters represent thousands of

>customers. If Ford got thousands of letters from gays they

>would figure they represented millions of customers.

>

>My two cents.

 

Very good advice - I certainly intend to do that - the only problem I have when writing such a letter is who and where to address it to, to get the most bang for the buck. Any suggestions?

[Guest zipperzone]

>Any boycott should also include rental cars.

 

Very good point.

[+ deej]

>>We don't have the same clout in numbers as the AFA but if

>all

>>gays stopped bu[y]ing and driving their vehicles, I'm sure

>the

>>message would be heard.

>

>No, that's one of the problems with boycotts. It's easy for a

>group's numbers to get lost in the noise of their sales

>analyses. Ford has no way of knowing whether sales lost for

>this reason were significant.

 

Good point. A boycott is even more lost on someone like Ford. How many cars do you buy in a year?

 

Miller or Anheiser Busch will NOTICE a boycott because it dramatically affects daily sales. I doubt if making my next car a Toyota will even be noticed, particularly since it's probably 10 years away.

 

A letter campaign would make MUCH more impact, with much more immediacy.

[Luv2play]

This wouldn't be the first time that Ford has faced a consumer boycott. After the Second World War many Jews wouldn't buy Ford automobiles because Henry Ford had been such a virulent anti-semite. His views weren't particularly noteworthy in the 30's because there was so much anti-semitism both in Europe and America, but after Hitler and the Holocaust, the tide changed and these attitudes were challenged.

 

It's not like Ford could afford another boycott at this time as it seems they are about to make a major announcement similar to GM's about massive job cuts and plant closures. They might just sit up and take notice if gays boycott them.

[+ Charlie]

If you go to the Human Rights Campaign's website, you will find they have already organized a letter-writing campaign, and they will make it easy for you to write to the right people at Ford.

[LoneStar]

>Not so fast. Ford didn't cave in to anything. Ford is still

>going to place ads for their Volvo cars (yes Ford also owns

>Volvo) in gay publications. You market to who buys what.

>Saying boycott Ford reminds me of the Religious Right saying

>boycott Disney. We criticize them and then act just like them.

>Ford has been supportive in the past and continues to be. If

>more "gays" bought Jags and Land Rovers I think you'd see the

>ads staying where they are at. Ad dollars go where they will

>do the best.

 

Good post KY.

 

I'll just add to the thread author that if we boycott Ford and business does suffer do you think they'll lay off the thousands of gay employee's first? Think about what you're asking.

[LoneStar]

>

>It's not like Ford could afford another boycott at this time

>as it seems they are about to make a major announcement

>similar to GM's about massive job cuts and plant closures.

>They might just sit up and take notice if gays boycott them.

 

You're living in a fantasy.

[+ deej]

>This wouldn't be the first time that Ford has faced a

>consumer boycott. After the Second World War many Jews

>wouldn't buy Ford automobiles because Henry Ford had been such

>a virulent anti-semite.

 

And did he change his mind? Somehow I doubt it.

 

>It's not like Ford could afford another boycott at this time

>as it seems they are about to make a major announcement

>similar to GM's about massive job cuts and plant closures.

>They might just sit up and take notice if gays boycott them.

 

Actually, they've announced several plant closings already. It seems gas-guzzling SUVs and trucks (a mainstay for them for the past few years) aren't selling well. The $3/gallon price tag might have a tad to do with it. ;-) Just like in the 70's.

[bigpeteratlanta]

I agree with LoneStar. Whole idea of a gay boycott seems silly to me.

If it got off the ground it would probably increase Ford sales. lol

[BigK]

What about the companies that never had to pull ads since they never placed ads in gay oriented publications to begin with???? So now Ford is the evil corporation that should be boycotted?

 

Our anger should be focused on the intolerant organizations who engage in blackmail. But it seems that those who advocate boycotting are no better than the extremist organization that was already boycotting Ford.

 

I don't intend to stoop to the extremists level. Those who do are as guilty as the other extremists.

 

Letters are fine.

[KY_TOP]

Seems like very few "Facts" and lots of conflicting info and inuendo. The article does mention how friendly Ford had been in the past receiving a 100% rating from HRC. So now we stoop to the radical rights level after getting past support from Ford. When does some blogger with a lot of gossip and unproven fact become such an outstanding news source. Even the bogger admits Volvo ads will continue. If Ford has caved in then why would they continue that type of advertising?

 

BTW how many of you guys bought Ford's in the past BECAUSE they were Gay friendly and put ads in Gay publications? How many of you supported Ford by buying a Jag or Land Rover?

 

BTW, I drive a Ford Explorer.

[Guest ReturnOfS]

Well, I drive a Honda anyway.

[dannyrossmoore]

KY, than you for providing a voice or sanity on this thread. Such silly talk of " I read it on a blog" and "boycott,boycott" makes you wonder about the intelligence of some people.

[Guest zipperzone]

>KY, than you for providing a voice or sanity on this thread.

>Such silly talk of " I read it on a blog" and

>"boycott,boycott" makes you wonder about the intelligence of

>some people.

 

 

Some people only believe what they want to believe and refuse to recognize the obvious. Please, be my guest, buy a Ford and enjoy your drive. Better yet - join a different church and become a born-again right wing homophobic nut ball. No doubt you will feel very comfortable in your new environment.

[uptownmike]

National Headlines -- GAYS BOYCOTT FORD

 

That would improve Ford sales more than anything Ford itself could ever do. Some real non-thinkers here.

[KY_TOP]

Boycott Ford? No thanks

 

>Some people only believe what they want to believe and refuse

>to recognize the obvious.

 

I completely agree with that statement. Let's see now a few facts. Ford Motor Company has a reputation of being a gay friendly company with a 100% gay friendly rating from the HRC. They place ads for 3 of their cars in gay publications. 2 of those 3 are not selling as well as they would like so they cut the ads on 2 of those cars and continue the ads on the other one. Ford also announces a general reduction of ads on other models with multiple outlets. So we (being gay people) get our panties in a knot and pledge to BOYCOTT this company with a history of being gay friendly. If this is how we reward our friends then what do we do to our enemies?

 

So what kind of cars do most gay people drive? Have they been loyal to Ford in the past by buying Jags, Range Rovers and Volvos?

 

As an unscientific poll I sat down and tried to remember the cars of people around me that I know are gay. Here's a sample:

 

I drive a Ford Explorer,

2 gay guys in my bld own Hondas

Gay couple on one side of me have a Volvo Convertible & an Accura

Gay couple on the other side have a Mercedes & Ford Sport Trac

Another neighborhood couple have a Nissan Altima

My best friend has a Honda Scooter

The guy I'm dating has no car and uses the bus

The gay female doctor down the street has a Mercedes.

My gay dentist has a Honda

A gay female couple at the office have a Honda

Another gay female had a Mazda she traded for a Ford Explorer

Of 2 gay guys at the office, 1 has a Chevy Blazer and the other a Ford Explorer

Looking at the gay guys I know at my gym I see 2 Mercedes, 1 Land Rover, 3 Hondas, 1 Toyota, 1 Mercury Marquis, 1 Chevy Monte Carlo, 2 BMW's, 1 Chevy SUV, 1 Dodge Durango, 1 Volvo,& 1 Mini Cooper.

 

Yeah, if I was Ford I'd definitely drop the Jag ad.

 

>Please, be my guest, buy a Ford and

>enjoy your drive. Better yet - join a different church and

>become a born-again right wing homophobic nut ball. No doubt

>you will feel very comfortable in your new environment.

 

I consider myself a moderate. I constantly tell my staff NEVER do a knee jerk reaction, take time and look at the real issues. I am NOT a RIGHT WING HOMOPHONIC and have no intention of reacting to things like they do, such as screaming BOYCOTT everytime something doesn't go their way. Their boycott of Disney has ended so do we now want to Boycott Disney?

 

I've been told many times to be careful to pick my battles in life. Attacking a company with a history of being gay friendly is not one of those battles I wish to pick. Neither is arguing with someone that wishes to call someone a right wing homophobe just because they disagree with him.

[FourAces]

RE: Boycott Ford? No thanks

 

>So what kind of cars do most gay people drive? Have they been

>loyal to Ford in the past by buying Jags, Range Rovers and

>Volvos?

>

>As an unscientific poll I sat down and tried to remember the

>cars of people around me that I know are gay. Here's a

>sample:

>

>I drive a Ford Explorer,

>2 gay guys in my bld own Hondas

>Gay couple on one side of me have a Volvo Convertible & an

>Accura

>Gay couple on the other side have a Mercedes & Ford Sport

>Trac

>Another neighborhood couple have a Nissan Altima

>My best friend has a Honda Scooter

>The guy I'm dating has no car and uses the bus

>The gay female doctor down the street has a Mercedes.

>My gay dentist has a Honda

>A gay female couple at the office have a Honda

>Another gay female had a Mazda she traded for a Ford Explorer

DING DING DING this is a push as both are owned by Ford

 

>Of 2 gay guys at the office, 1 has a Chevy Blazer and the

>other a Ford Explorer

>Looking at the gay guys I know at my gym I see 2 Mercedes, 1

>Land Rover, 3 Hondas, 1 Toyota, 1 Mercury Marquis, 1 Chevy

>Monte Carlo, 2 BMW's, 1 Chevy SUV, 1 Dodge Durango, 1 Volvo,&

>1 Mini Cooper.

>

 

You make it sound as I you live in the WEHO of KY. WOW I didn't think there were that many gays in your state.