December 09, 2005

People are coming around. Ford's decision to withdraw ads from gay publications comes amidst $2.2 billion losses and failed marketing. Calls for a boycott of Ford by a loud minority that craves validation from corporate America desperately needs to believe Ford hates them.

The Malcontent

If I had to speculate (without pulling a Jon Aravosis and trying to figure out why it's all a malevolent right-wing plot), I'd say Ford made a marketing decision in light of their losses, knew they were going to be pulling two products from LGBT publications, and let the AFA know just to get them off their back. If they were going to be canceling marketing anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone?
[We're So Easy to Bait - The Malcontent - 12-08-05]

Christian Grantham has written a very sensible post which has made me change my mind on the whole Ford thing.
[To Boycott or Not - Gay Orbit - 12-08-05]

Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation, called Ford's "record of fairness ... an excellent model for other corporate entities to follow."

"Ford admits that it will cease advertising some brands, such as Jaguar and Land Rover, in 'gay' media, but will continue with others, like Volvo, but that those are business-driven decisions, not a response to the homophobes of the AFA," Montgomery said. "We are confident that Ford will continue to support the broad community of people who buy their products and look to them for leadership in fairness, diversity and equal treatment.
[Built Ford Tough? - Between The Lines - 12-09-05]

I'll keep my eye on Ford's profit reports throughout Americablog's boycott. I'll also take a look at what Americablog proposes to do about those gay publications Ford reapproaches with ad buys following a reassessed marketing strategy.