Pro-Family Groups Boycott Ford for Being Gay-Friendly

By Linda Orlando

A large group of pro-family organizations in the United States, led by the American Family Association (AFA) are gathering to boycott Ford Motor Company for its sponsorship of gay pride events and support of pro-homosexual groups pushing same sex marriage. The AFA is headed by Don Wildmon, a United Methodist minister. Wildmon says that the boycott was originally called for nearly a year ago, but several Ford dealers stepped in to negotiate a settlement between the car maker and the groups planning the protest. The boycott was suspended for six months to allow the two parties time to resolve their differences.

According to Wildmon, an agreement was reached when Ford pledged to stop advertising in gay publications and financially supporting gay rights groups. In December, Ford agreed to stop advertising is Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands in gay publications. "We shook hands; we had everything down on paper," Wildmon says, "and when the people who were negotiating with us went back to Ford, [officials with the automaker] killed all of our agreements that took us six months to agree on."

Wildmon adds that not only did they void the agreement, "they [said they] were going to go on supporting groups that promote homosexual marriage." The company’s support of these groups includes financial funding of homosexual organizations and gay pride activities, as well as advertising in media targeted toward a homosexual audience. The AFA says that the automaker reneged on its promise after coming under fire from homosexual activist groups.

Among the groups joining AFA in endorsing the boycott of Ford are the Liberty Council, Citizens for Community Values, the Center for Reclaiming America, Coalitions for America, Mayday for Marriage, the Judeo-Christian Council, and the Coalition for Marriage and Family. Other organizations are expected to endorse the boycott during the next few weeks. A complete list of the participating organizations is available on the AFA’s website (http://media.afa.net).

"Ford has every right to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to groups promoting homosexual marriage. But those who oppose homosexual marriage have every right not to buy automobiles made by Ford Motor Company," the AFA said.

In declaring a one-year boycott of Ford, the AFA objected to the car maker's sponsorship of gay-pride events in the United States and Britain and its practice of requiring employees to undergo diversity training. "The goal of every homosexual organization supported by Ford is to get homosexual marriage legalized," the AFA said.

AFA has established a website (www.BoycottFord.com) that provides more information and examples of Ford’s support for the homosexual agenda. One item included on the site is a PDF copy of a letter from Ford to a group of gay activist groups pledging to continue its strong support of pro-homosexual groups and activities. Wildmon says he does not begrudge the automaker’s right to choose where to spend its advertising dollars, but the AFA and the other groups will do ahead with their boycott rather than support a company whose principles they do not agree with. "It's not something that we wanted to do," the AFA founder concedes. "In fact, we've spent the last three months trying to work out something to keep from being pushed this way. But we have not had any success whatsoever [in that direction]."

The boycott couldn’t come at a worse time for Ford, a company that is struggling to reverse a downhill slide in market share and regain profitability in its core automotive operations. Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes responded to the announcement of the boycott by stating, "Ford is proud of its tradition of treating all with respect and we remain focused on what we do best—building and selling innovative cars and trucks worldwide." However, Vokes didn’t bother to explain how the company’s claim to "treat all with respect" is evidenced by last year’s offer posted on www.jaguarusa.com/pride. The special offer by Ford said that the company would make a $1000 donation to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for anyone who bought or leased a new Jaguar. Wouldn’t "treating all with respect" mean making the same offer to all?

Ford is not the first company to be publicly criticized for taking a stance on homosexual rights. Microsoft Co., Walt Disney Co., and other large corporate entities have also found themselves on the hot seat facing protests from groups on both sides of the sexual divide. The boycott of Ford products includes all automobiles manufactured by Ford, including Mercury, Lincoln, Volvo, Land Rover, Mazda, and Jaguar.