The antigay
American Family Association claimed a cultural victory on
Thursday and called off its threatened boycott of Ford Motor
Co. On Friday, Ford spokesman Mike Moran confirmed to
Advocate.com that the company will stop advertising
its Jaguar and Land Rover brands in gay publications
but insisted it was strictly a business decision.
The Dearborn,
Mich., automaker came under fire from the AFA in May for
its longtime efforts to increase LGBT workplace diversity
and support gay rights causes. Ford has long been a
regular advertiser within gay media, including The
Advocate, and has donated significant sums to LGBT
causes and nonprofit groups such as the Human Rights
Campaign.
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.
Detroit carmakers
are facing tough economic times across the board, Moran
pointed out. On Friday, The Wall Street Journal
reported that Ford plans to shut five North American plants
that employ 7,500 workers. On Thursday, the company said its
total U.S. vehicle sales in November fell by 15%.
Moran would not
give further details on any agreement between Ford and
the AFA, nor would he confirm that such an agreement
existed. "Some months ago we began a
constructive dialogue with them, just as we do with
all other customers and interest groups," he said. "While we
don't agree on all issues, we expect the dialogue to
continue so that we understand each other
better."
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.
Comment on Ford's
announcement is expected soon from HRC, GLAAD, and the
Task Force over the weekend or early next week, but none was
prepared to make a statement by close of business on
Friday.
The AFA has said
it reserves the right to reinstate the boycott if it
feels Ford has not met its expectations.
(Advocate.com/Sirius OutQ News)
