Ford pulls LR/Jag GLBT support due to American Family threat

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

It could be Ford trying to appease both sides. I remember hearing how Volvos sell very well with the gay community. I know a husband and husband who have 3 of them.

Yes, this is exactly what I have heard. Volvo's have been selling well among gays, while Jags and LandRovers haven't.

You want to tell me again why Ford pulled it's gay-mag ads for Jag and L.R., but not for Volvo? Is it possible it could have been (gasp!) a business decision?


Last week I told the sun to rise at precisely 6:12 a.m., and when it did ... heheh, sly devil that I am ... I claimed credit.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

YYou want to tell me again why Ford pulled it's gay-mag ads for Jag and L.R., but not for Volvo? Is it possible it could have been (gasp!) a business decision?

Nope.
A deal was struck with the AFA. In order to make it look like they hadn't totally given in to the AFA's request, they told them they were going to keep Volvo advertising as is. The AFA decided that the current deal is as good as it's going to get for them so they agreed with Ford's decision.
Is it hard to believe that a deal was made? It isn't always about all or nothing. The way it stands now is pretty bad. The AFA decides what's best for Ford? That's scary.

[BarTopDancer]

So... How about a boycot of Volvo by the gay community?

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

So... How about a boycot of Volvo by the gay community?

Umm... How about a boycott of Ford by all people who oppose discrimination?

Ford is, of course, entitled to advertise to whom, and in what ways, they see fit. The very fact that Ford met with Dobson at all is astonishing and offensive to me.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

At least it's easy to boycott a car company, especially an American one.

[innerSpaceman]

Where is the leaked memo of this purported deal? I will not accept from members of this board (and will rarely even accept from journalists) the claim that there's an unnamed insider source whose identity must be shielded.

I drive a Ford Explorer, and I've got my own reasons for never again buying a Ford vehicle. In any event, I consider an organized boycott to be an absurd endeavor ... whether it's urged by American Family or by gay Americans.

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Ford is continuing its advertising of Volvo in gay publications, but the ads will no longer be gay specific like they used to be. Now their ads are generic.

What in the world does this mean? Gay-specific car ads? (zapppop's gayday shirt slogan "Pumped and Injected" comes to mind, but nothing else.)

I confess I've never seen a car ad in a gay-magazine. I'm one of those traitorous homosexuals who has the gaul to read the same magazines, watch the same tv, and post on the same message boards as other Americans do - with no regard to coloring every aspect of my life with gay, just because I like to have sex with men.

Frankly, I find it insulting that there ever were gay-specific car ads, and I am relieved if anything of the sort is being discontinued.

[Snowflake]

Well, I find that offensive that Ford is trying to backpeddle and claim they are not discriminating. It's well known, at least I think it is, they advertise to ethnic groups, etc. and that they would announce this kind of thing will only backfire on them, I trust.

Of course, this will not force my boss (who is gay) to trade in his Harley edition Ford F150.

[innerSpaceman]

The title of this thread (and the general sentiment in keeping with it) disturbs me. How is it SUPPORT of the GLBT community to advertise to them? Perhaps we should concentrate on Ford's purported (and not yet demonstrated) elimination of GLBT event sponsorship. That kind of thing is support. Having policies in place to serve the relationships of its GLBT employees is support.


Trying to get you to buy a car is not support.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I confess I've never seen a car ad in a gay-magazine.

Now you have.

Because one reads the magazines and pubs 'everyone else' reads does not mean they can not also read gay pubs. By reading/buying gay publications you give money to a company that without a doubt supports gay people. By supporting companies that are wishy-washy on gay rights guarantees nothing. The idea that the money I spend could be used (campaign donations, support of anti-gay churches etc) to strip me of the rights I have or am fighting for is reprehensible. I'd rather support a company when I know where they stand.

I, for one, like gay specific ads. If they're in a gay pub, why not be? I like to see that a company acknowledges me and who I am. It doesn't guarantee I'll buy a Volvo, but at least I know they are gay friendly in case it comes up. And, if I could ever afford a Volvo one day, I'd definitely consider them. But now with this whole Ford mess, I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Trying to get you to buy a car is not support.

Acknowledgement of your existence is supportive.

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

How is it SUPPORT of the GLBT community to advertise to them?

Support comes in advertising money from Ford to a gay publication to stay in business reporting on everything from gay rights to gay parenting... If these publications did not exist, how does information spread?

[Gemini Cricket]

Asked about the initial report that Ford would be curtailing advertising with the gay press, Moran told Metro Weekly on Dec. 1 that Land Rover and Jaguar would not be advertising in gay publications in 2006, while Volvo would continue its advertising in such venues as Advocate, Genre and Out because the brand believes ''it's an effective way to market their vehicles.''

When asked if the advertising was being discontinued because of the threatened AFA boycott, Moran said, ''Ceasing advertising is an outgrowth of those meetings.''

The emphasis is mine. Source