Ford meets with
gay rights leaders

Several of the nation's leading gay rights groups were slated to meet with representatives from Ford Motor Co. on Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C., to discuss the automaker's decision to pull Jaguar and Land Rover ads from magazines that cater to gays and lesbians, reports the Detroit Free Press. Jeff Montgomery, executive director of the Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, a gay rights group, told the paper his organization and several others were meeting with Ford. "We're going to be asking them for an explanation of exactly what has or has not transpired between them and the AFA," he said, referring to a threatened boycott of Ford by the antigay American Family Association.

Ford has denied that it made its decision to pull the ads as part of a secret deal with the conservative Christian group, but the AFA seems to be suggesting otherwise. Montgomery said a lot gays and lesbians are now upset with the automaker. "People are feeling very confused and betrayed, and I think there's a lot of anger," he told the paper.

Ford spokesman Mike Moran, who has denied there is any confidential agreement with the AFA, said the automaker is looking forward to discussions with the gay groups. A Ford memo sent to a Ford gay employees group said that Volvo has decided to advertise directly to the gay community but that other brands have decided against that avenue. The Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln brands don't advertise in gay and lesbian publications and don't plan to do so, the automaker has said. (Advocate.com)