Ford does the right thing: we won

[Rick Munroe]

Thanks to the work of all of the big gay civil rights groups (HRC, PFLAG, etc), americablog and all of us individuals who made phone calls and wrote letters, Ford has declared that it will not back off of its support for the gay community. Specifically, as reported on americablog:

 

1. Ford announced that it will continue to support gay organizations and gay events in the coming year and beyond.

 

2. Ford is going to run advertisements in the gay media NOT ONLY promoting the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, but the ads will promote ALL of Fords brands, by name, including Jaguar and Land Rover.

 

3. Ford states unequivocally that it will continue to tailor its ads for the specific audience it is trying to reach, and then goes one step further. Ford challenges us to keep an eye out on their upcoming ads in order to verify that they will in fact be tailored.

 

Here, read the full story, including the official statement from Ford: http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/12/we-won.html

 

We do have the power, people.

[Guest skrubber]

WOOHOO!!!!

[Rick Munroe]

John Aravosis at americablog also had this to say, and it's a good point:

 

"What matters most isn't just whether we won or lost - though it does matter - it also matters whether the media and the public and corporate America thinks we won or lost. Why? Because we don't need extremist gay-hating bullies being perceived as winners by all of their future victims. And now America knows, when it's a choice between the gay-haters and the gays, choose the gays."

 

Between that and Brokeback sweeping the Golden Globe nominations, this has been a good couple of days for us "queenies."

[KY_TOP]

For the past 2 years Ford has been the ONLY car company to receive a 100% gay friendly rating from the HRC. Did you buy a Ford then? Now that they have confirmed their gay friendliness will you buy a Ford?

 

Really the question to ask is how gay friendly is the company that made the car you drive? Maybe you should advocate a boycott of them, or yet you can still support them without their support of you.

 

My last 4 vehicles have been Ford explorers. Excellent quality and the only problem I had out of the 4 was a rear end problem that was covered by warranty. In addition to that I have responsibility of the purchase of a fleet of over 80 vehicles, ALL are Fords. Last year it was suggested that I try another brand, I resisted.

 

Time to put your money where your mouth is.

[bigguyinpasadena]

KY-I for one am overjoyed at this and YES it will influence my car buying decission within the next year.

So glad Ford did the right thing here.I really like the new Ford Fusion(looks like a volvo for 15 grand less!)!

[Rick Munroe]

>For the past 2 years Ford has been the ONLY car company to

>receive a 100% gay friendly rating from the HRC.

 

That's great, but then recently they capitulated to the rabid homophobes, but now they've come around again after the HRC and other major players fought back and Ford has once again proclaimed their support for us. If you don't see the significance of that, there's nothing else I can add.

[Guest Adam4BlackMen]

>only problem I had out of the 4 was a rear end problem

 

Sounds like a perfectly gay vehicle to me

[KY_TOP]

>That's great, but then recently they capitulated to the rabid

>homophobes, but now they've come around again after the HRC

>and other major players fought back and Ford has once again

>proclaimed their support for us. If you don't see the

>significance of that, there's nothing else I can add.

 

If you will note that the HRC website and the Blog that was accusing Ford of making a deal with the right wing group are now making no such claim and instead say Ford has "clarified" and "reaffirmed" their position. The addition of additional models is a definite plus, let's see if Gay people will actually buy their cars.

 

It is obvious that you did not support this gay friendly company in the past and do not plan to in the future. But you are quick to advocate the right wing tactic of boycotting before you know all the facts and that you continue to support another auto company that is not as friendly as Ford. The sad thing is that you do not see the hypocrisy in that.

 

The HRC is to be commended for their response in this situation. They asked to meet with Ford, a meeting Ford "welcomed" according to a media report quoting HRC. They asked people to express concerns to Ford at the same time constantly praising Ford for it's past friendly practices and support. Never did the HRC advocate a boycott and they truly have earned my respect in how they reacted.

[Rick Munroe]

>It is obviuos that you did not support this gay friendly

>company in the past and do not plan to in the future.

 

Huh? How is that obvious? I have never thought about Ford or any other car company. I know nothing about cars. I'm not into cars. And why should I buy a Ford or any other car when I live in NYC and don't need one and don't ever drive?

 

>But you

>are quick to advocate the right wing tactic of boycotting

>before you know all the facts

 

I never advocated a boycott. Where did I ever post anything about a boycott? I posted links to the posts on americablog.org (or "the Blog," as you call it ), which called for people to contact Ford to express our disappointment in their actions. I never said anyone should boycott Ford.

 

>and that you continue to support

>another auto compnay that is not as friendly as Ford.

 

Huh? What is this other auto company I am "supporting"? KY Top, I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't drive, I don't buy cars, I don't support car companies. I am an escort in NYC. I support the makers of Eros lube, Beyond Seven condoms, and Rufskin jeans (well, I also support a few manufacturers of celebrity dolls but we won't go there).

 

>The HRC is to be commended for their response in this

>situation. They asked to meet with Ford, a meeting Ford

>"welcomed" according to a media report quoting HRC. They asked

>people to express concerns to Ford at the same time constantly

>praising Ford for it's past friendly practices and support.

 

It wasn't just the HRC. Every major gay rights group met with Ford, and americablog.org was posting lots of email/phone contact info and asking people to contact Ford. It's a good thing they did, too. If they had all done what you advocated (just dropping the whole thing because Ford had been "gay friendly" in the past), the AFA might have won.

 

>Never did the HRC advocate a boycott and they truly have

>earned my respect in how they reacted.

 

Didn't you respect the HRC before this whole Ford thing? :o

[Guest zipperzone]

A piece of information that should be added here....

 

Evidently Ford brought in an outside PR firm to advise them in this regard. No doubt they told them that they should reconsider their action. Hopefully Ford would have reached the same decision on their own had they not sought independent advice.

 

I think I'm fairly safe in stating that Geo. W., will not be turning in the official Caddy for a Lincoln anytime soon.

[KY_TOP]

>Huh? What is this other auto company I am "supporting"? KY

>Top, I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't drive,

>I don't buy cars, I don't support car companies. ).

 

You have posted here numerous times about having a car and even having to move it on certain days or times to keep from being ticketed.

 

>>Never did the HRC advocate a boycott and they truly have

>>earned my respect in how they reacted.

>

>Didn't you respect the HRC before this whole Ford thing? :o

 

They have received several checks with my name on it in the past.

 

I never advocated doing "nothing", my crtitcism here has been of knee jerk reactions such as boycotting and automaticly considering false statements against a gay friendly company as fact from unreliable sources.

[jawjateck]

<YAWN> It's too early. This is too heavy to stomach. The culture wars bore me. Let's get back to the fun stuff...man2man sex! }(

[Rick Munroe]

>You have posted here numerous times about having a car and

>even having to move it on certain days or times to keep from

>being ticketed.

 

Really? Well, I don't drive and I don't own a car so it sounds like I'm wasting valuable time for nothing. :+

[AlwaysHiring]

><YAWN> It's too early. This is too heavy to stomach. The

>culture wars bore me. Let's get back to the fun

>stuff...man2man sex! }(

 

LOL! There wouldn`t be any man2man sex sites if people had your attitude and ignored what you called the "culture wars."

 

The only reason there are sites like this for you to jerk off to and find escorts on is because people like Rick take their time and energy to fight against the people who want to prevent you from doing this.

 

You couldn't have a more selfish or immature attitude, really.

[jawjateck]

ROFL! Gotta love how serious-minded some guys can get on a website devoted to gay sex, buying it and selling it. You guys keep me laughing. :-)

[Guest jeffOH]

RE: AFA: Ford reneged, considering Boycott

 

American Family Association now saying Ford DID make a secret agreement with them, and that Ford reneged, and now AFA is considering a boycott

 

by John in DC - 12/15/2005 04:27:00 PM http://www.americablog.org

 

Uh oh, how will some middle class guy in Georgia ever be able to buy a Ford pick-up again knowing that Ford ran a single ad in an Australian magazine that has gay readers.

 

Good luck selling that boycott, bucko. Not to mention, what company in America is going to want to sit down with AFA again knowing what the AFA has to say about Jews, Muslims and gays?

 

From the AFA's new press release:

 

AFA considering boycott of Ford Motor Company

 

(Tupelo, MS) - The American Family Association says that Ford Motor Company reneged on some agreements reached in discussions with the automobile giant, and the organization is considering its next move.

 

“We had an agreement with Ford, worked out in good faith. Unfortunately, some Ford Motor Company officials made the decision to violate the good faith agreement. We are now considering our response to the violation and expect to reach a decision very soon,” said Donald E. Wildmon, chairman of AFA.

 

AFA had called for a boycott of Ford last spring because of Ford’s support for the homosexual agenda and homosexual marriage but suspended the boycott for six months at the request of a group of Ford dealers. Wildmon said AFA and Ford officials hammered out an agreement in the interim that was accepted by both parties.

 

“All we wanted was for Ford to refrain from choosing sides in the cultural war, and supporting groups which promote same-sex marriage is not remaining neutral,” Wildmon stated.

 

He stated that because Ford broke the agreement, the option of a boycott is now very much alive.

By the way, notice how AFA is now changing the story. They now say this was about Ford "refraining from choosing sides" by supporting gay groups. No. AFA said this was about Ford promoting "gay marriage" by advertising its products to gay consumers, by providing its gay employees with company benefits, and by including sexual orientation discrimination in the company's diversity training.

 

Nice try, but the AFA is a proven liar. And any company that sits down to talk with them now knows that whatever really happens, the AFA will lie about it in the end.

 

Corporate America, meet with these extremists at your own risk.

[Laurent]

RE: AFA: Ford reneged, considering Boycott

 

Sorry, Jawjateck and KY Top, I usually agree with you, but this time I can't. Culture wars have sometimes tired me, but seeing the difference between conditions for black people in the South in the 1960's and now convinces me that I must keep fighting. Although gays haven't gained some of the protections that blacks have, there have been dramatic improvements for us too.

 

KY Top, I loved my Mustang convertible about a hundred years ago, and my mother has loved a whole string of Lincolns. Two consecutive Tauruses, each with numerous problems, coupled with the rudest service personnel I've ever encountered, turned me into a Buick driver. Few problems and superb service have earned my continued support. I'm glad you've had good luck with Ford purchases, and I realize the necessity for our support of Ford, but I don't think I could ever make myself buy anothe Ford product.

[Guest ReturnOfS]

Good for Ford. :-)

 

I might consider getting on eof their vehicles after I have run my honda into the ground.

[jawjateck]

RE: AFA: Ford reneged, considering Boycott

 

"Uh oh, how will some middle class guy in Georgia ever be able to buy a Ford pick-up again......"

 

I learn something everytime I use this site. I had no idea there was a "middle class" in Jawja. Everybody I know down here is poor, dumb, and redneck for sure. ;-)

 

BTW, one of my vehicles is a Ford pick-up. But I'm poor low class trash. What else would a redneck farm boy drive? It's a damn fine truck; helluva lot better than anything GM makes. I won't further agitate the overly-sensitive members of this fair city with any ignorant, unenlightened, or selfish remarks I might make on this subject, but methinks all these protestations made in the MC of fighting for a better world do not have the backing of their wallets. Money still talks.

[Laurent]

RE: AFA: Ford reneged, considering Boycott

 

Obviously, some protesters do not provide monetary support for their causes; some of us, however, do put money both in front of and behind our words. Originally, I rarely contributed money to civil-rights causes because as a college student I had little money. Fortunately, my financial situation has improved.

 

You may be a farm boy, but if you were admitted to Georgia Tech, it is highly improbable that you are a dumb one.

[jawjateck]

RE: AFA: Ford reneged, considering Boycott

 

>You may be a farm boy, but if you were admitted to Georgia

>Tech, it is highly improbable that you are a dumb one.

 

Awwwwww.....shux! <BLUSH> :+