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The American Family Association began a boycott of all Ford products back in March 2006 because it disagreed with Ford's marketing practices in gay-centric media outlets, as well as its policy of offering insurance benefits to same-sex couples. The Detroit News is reporting that the AFA has called off its righteous hounds, ending the boycott because it claims that after months of monitoring, Ford has finally met its conditions. (The thought of a homophobic group reading gay periodicals looking for Ford ads strikes us as extremely humorous.) On its website, the AFA alerts its members that, "Individuals are free to purchase Ford vehicles again."

In reality, Ford has done nothing to appease the AFA. It continues to offer benefits to same-sex couples and the only reason it has reduced or stopped advertising in gay pubs is because mounting losses in the U.S. have shrunk its marketing budget. The same goes for charitable donations to gay-related causes, there's just no money to spare during these hard times at Ford. The AFA even acknowledges that Ford has not really met its conditions, saying, "A few minor issues remain, and we will continue to bring these to the attention of Ford."

The AFA is taking credit for something it had nothing to do with and putting words in the Dearborn company's mouth, kind of like when the organization claimed that its boycott was the reason for Ford's sales slump in recent years. Yeah, it wouldn't have anything to do with a lineup that was overflowing with trucks and SUVs, increased competition from Japan, the high cost of health care, or any one of a hundred actually valid reasons.

NOTE: Thank you for the great comments on our last gay-related post. We'll reiterate that regardless of your views on homosexuality, please be civil in the comments (no swearing, no name calling, etc.) or else your comment will be deleted and you will immediately be banned from commenting on Autoblog in the future. Thanks!

[Source: AFA via The Detroit News]

The American Family Association began a boycott against Ford back in March 2006 (not its first one, mind you). The boycott stemmed from Ford's refusing to cave in to the AFA's demands, which included not only pulling its advertising from gay-centric media outlets, but also ending the practice of offering domestic-partner benefits to same-sex couples. Ford has done neither, and the boycott's been in effect for the last 19 months.

While it may be true that sales have been down at Ford during 17 of the last 19 months, including a big drop of 21% last month, we find the AFA taking credit, any credit really, for the slump to be absolutely insane. The AFA states on its website, "When the boycott began, "Ford was approximately in the same financial condition as that of General Motors and Chrysler. But because of the boycott, Ford is now in much more of a serious financial situation than GM and Chrysler." A huge reduction in fleet sales, increased competition, higher gas prices, a weak subprime lending market... all of these things are apparently inconsequential in the eyes of the AFA. Or perhaps it's that this organization believes withholding its collective purchasing power is just as harmful to Ford as legacy health care costs and the like.

The arrogance in the AFA's statements is truly shocking, and we should mention to Ford that it's probably doing the right thing by ignoring the organization. The gay community represents a huge block of purchasing power, as is evident by the success of such sites as gaywheels.com, which compiles a list of automakers that are gay friendly, as well as ones that don't make the cut.

[Source: American Family Association]

The American Family Association's (AFA) boycott against Ford continues with fresh new arguments being hurled by both sides. The boycott, which went into effect last year, began when the conservative Christian organization felt Ford backtracked on its promise to discontinue advertising in gay publications and events.

The AFA states that the Blue Oval's falling sales are caused by its efforts (modest, aren't they?). Ford replied that high gas prices, interest rates, and competition are the mostly likely culprits, not the boycott. While CNW analyst Art Spinella believes the boycott may have had an effect, it is minor, writing that Ford's sales were "miserable" even without the AFA's efforts.

Ford notes that rivals General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., which the AFA is not boycotting, market more heavily in gay media than the Blue Oval. The AFA states it is aware of the other automakers contributions but singled Ford for past contributions which, collectively, are larger than other automakers. It also feels that boycotts work best against a single organization versus an entire industry.

Interestingly, Ford is one of the largest contributors to Christian radio. States Ford and Lincoln/Mercury president Al Giombetti, "Marketing to specific communities is nothing new to Ford or to the industry. We don't do this to make a political or social statement; we do it because we respect them and hope they will become customers."

Also of note is the fact that not one Ford branded vehicle ended up on the Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most Researched Vehicles list. Instead, the "macho" Dodge Caliber placed third on the list.

Comments are, of course, open. Just keep it friendly and focused on the topic.

Related:
Ford instructs dealers how to deal with anti-gay boycott
Ford shareholders reject proposals to drop protections for LGBT workers
Efforts continue in boycott against Ford for its support of gay market

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

One of Ford's veepees', Al Giombetti, said in a e-mail last week to dealerships that when customers confront them about the manufacturer's advertisements in gay publications, to "listen to every customer, correct any misinformation, and ask them to support Ford." The e-mail is considered an acknowledgment that the struggling automaker has been monitoring the boycott launched back in March by the American Family Association and other conservative Christian groups.

The boycott's impact is unknown. Ford Motor Co. donated over $77 million last year, the bulk ($39 million) to educational causes and groups while the rest supporting Asian, blacks, and Hispanics organizations, as well as the gay segment.

Phil Long Ford, a dealership in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where several prominent conservative Christian organizations are based, states it has received about a dozen calls and two dozen e-mails regarding the issue. Says manager Tom White, "The first half-a-dozen calls we got... we said, 'Fine, do what you got to do.' Then we finally started responding back to them, and they came in and [bought] cars or they don't call us anymore."

Related:
Ford shareholders reject proposals to drop protections for LGBT workers
Efforts continue in boycott against Ford for its support of gay market

[Source: GFN]

A proposal submitted by Robert Hurley of Alton, Illinois to drop protections for Ford Motor Company's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) workers via new language that was devoid of all references to "sexual interests, activities or orientation" was shut down by a vote of 95 percent to reject the proposal. Ford attempted to avoid the vote, but Hurley went to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which ordered Ford to proceed with the tallying.

No mention of the American Family Association's current boycott of the company was made at the meeting.

[Source: 365gay.com]

(Thanks to Emulous1974 for the tip)

 

We knew it couldn’t last. On Monday, nineteen conservative groups renewed plans for a boycott of the Ford Motor Company on the grounds that the automaker reneged on a purported accord to cease supporting gay organizations.

 

Led by the American Family Association (AFA), the groups have set up an internet site calling upon consumers to shun the Blue Oval.

 

For its part, Ford quickly responded by stating that it remains “proud of its tradition of treating all with respect and we remain focused on what we do best, building and selling the most innovative cars and trucks worldwide.

 

Ford shares dropped one cent (to $7.83) in Monday afternoon trading.

 

[Source: Forbes]