The scary thing about the Ford story

[dsc]

How many times have we heard that our buying power would be our saving grace? How many times have our leaders touted the ability to get corporations to add sexual orientation to the protected classes they recognize? The fact is we have made much greater inroads in regards to employment discrimination in the private sector than the public sector in many places. Companies as diverse as WalMart have such protections. Now two large companies have given in to pressure from the AFA. Both Microsoft and Ford have allowed themselves to be hijacked by rightwing hicks who hate gays. The fact is that Ford must pay for this decision and be made to make another 180 degree turn. If they don't, they won't be the last company to give in to the haters. You can count on it.

[AuntPatsy]

1. I' will spread the word, this is just so not right.

[jasmeel]

2. It's really sad. Future generations will be ashamed by this

behavior. Discrimination is not looked kindly upon. They're just covering their asses for now. What I don't understand is why our spending power isn't as persuasive.

[Not Me]

3. I'm going to give Ford an opportunity to talk to this issue

Something's going on here, and I am not so sure it is Ford caving.
At least I hope so. Ford led the industry in GLBT employee rights and has for a number of years scored a perfect 100 on the HRC Corporate index. They are a corporate sponsor of Out and Equal Workplace Advocates.

Not sure what is going on here. Perhaps the ad budget got slashed; perhaps they just weren't moving any Jaguars or Land Rovers to gays, and are refocusing.

But I am not ready to dis' them...not just yet.

[dsc]

4. I sincerely hope you are correct

I bought a Ford last year and one big reason why was their pro gay stances. Of the big three they were the best by a huge amount. I love my Focus but won't buy another one if this behavior isn't explained and fixed pronto.

[kevinbgoode]

6. yes, they do have a good track record.

But on the other hand, they made this announcement right after the AFA made their statement about calling off their boycott. And we all know what kind of demands the AFA issued concerning support for our community.

Moreover, a Ford spokesman initially referred the Advocate reporter to the AFA web site statement to clarify Ford's position on advertising.

You don't negotiate with religious terrorism.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. YOU may not negotiate with religious terrorism....

But clearly, Ford does.

[William769]

5. Just another reason why I'm glad Ford stocks are junk bonds.

[Dark]

7. To be fair, how many gays buy Ford?

as compared to how many rednecks buy Ford?

They went after their biggest market.

[mitchtv]

9. I own a T-bird

will buy a chevy next time. I love those little SSR pickups

[Dark]

10. I bought an Escape over the summer. Yes, it's an SUV, but

it gets 25/28, so that's pretty good.

And this was when Ford led the industry in providing gay benefits.

[dsc]

12. I bought a Focus a year ago

and one reason I chose Ford over GM and Christler was their pro gay policies.

[Ally McLesbian]

13. Agreed

I bought a Contour in '99 and found that just about all owners are goddamn freepers and neocons.

I couldn't even ask a troubleshooting question to the owner groups without hearing a ton about the greatness of W, the evils of environmentalism, and all that neocon crap.

My first Ford is definitely my last Ford. In the meantime, even though BMW is cozy with Pope Benedict, it makes great cars, and that's where my next car is coming from. (I already lease a BMW, because I needed a backup car for my unreliable Ford.)

[Ian David]

11. The ford Execs are former Bush staffers and campaigned for Bush's judges

Former senior Bush White House officials negotiated anti-gay deal for Ford
by John in DC - 12/06/2005 10:51:00 AM

Oh doesn't this get interesting. The two Ford execs who sat down with the extremist gay-hating organization to work out the secret deal, who do you think they were? Why, two former senior Bush administration officials. Aren't things getting interesting.

Two Ford officials sat down with the hate group last week to work out the deal (by the way, this is the seminal article on this entire issue, they're the guys who broke the story, and reveal that contrary to Ford's current lies, an entire deal was worked out with the gay-haters):

In a Nov. 29 meeting at AFA headquarters in Tupelo, MS, David Leitch, general counsel and vice president for Ford, and Ziad Ojakli, group vice president-Corporate Affairs, along with Dallas-area Ford dealer Jerry Reynolds, hammered out a deal.

So who are these two boys, Leitch and Ojakli?

More:
http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/12/former-senior-bush-white-house.html

[Brian_Expat]

14. Ford is not doing well and may go bankrupt

I would think that the lesson is "anti-gay companies don't do well."

Look at Nissan -- another company with a poor rating on gay issues which has been struggling for years and depended on a bailout from Renault to avoid total collapse.

Meanwhile, Subaru, Toyota and others keep going from strength to strength.

[Ally McLesbian]

15. Not necessarily true.

BMW and Hyundai are not very gay friendly yet do VERY well.

And don't get me started on Toyota - it may be gay-friendly to a point, but its labor rights records in the US are atrocious. In fact, John Roberts got his credentials by defending Toyota's right to fire workers who suffered work-related disability.

And Ford's bankruptcy will send a major ripple through the industry, like United's bankruptcy pretty much trashed everyone working in the airline industry.