Ford Motor Company's support of Gay and Lesbian causes-Truth!

Ford Motor Company's Support of Gay & Lesbian Causes-Truth!

Summary of the eRumor
This widely circulated eRumor is a forward of an alert from the American Family Association, a Conservative watchdog group in Mississippi.
It urges a boycott of Ford Motor Company because of the company's support of various gay and lesbian efforts.

The Truth
The Ford Motor company, either through its company policies or through donations, has been supportive of several gay and lesbian goals.

Examples, mostly from the Ford Motor Company site:

In a press release dated 2/1/05, Ford announced a pledge of $250,000 to the "Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community Center in the Detroit suburb of Ferndale, one of the largest donations ever made from a fortune 500 company to a lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) organization.

In March, 2004, the co-founder of Ford's gay, lesbian or bisexual employees group (GLOBE) was honored by the Affirmations Lesbian and Gay Community center.

In April, 2004, Volvo Cars of North American (a division of Ford) was given an Advertising Research Foundation award for it's campaign targeting GLBT customers.

In June, 2004, Diversity Inc. named Ford as among the top 10 companies for GLBT workers.

In July, 2004, Ford became the first of the Big-3 auto companies to add "Gender Identity" as a protected category.

In July, 2002, Ford hired Witeck/Combs Communications to handle their advertising to the gay and lesbian market, according to the Witeck/Combs website.

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Ford Motor Company Supports Homosexual Marriage Movement
Dear Rick,

You are probably unaware that Ford Motor Company is a major supporter of the homosexual movement, including homosexual marriage.

From redefining family to include homosexual marriage, to giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups and their agenda, to forcing managers to attend diversity training on how to promote the acceptance of homosexuality, to sponsoring a "commitment (marriage) ceremony", to sponsoring Gay Pride Parades, Ford leads the way.

To let you see Ford's support, we developed the BoycottFord.com site.

I urge you to take action today. Sign the petition to boycott Ford. Call your local Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Jaguar, Mazda and/or Land Rover dealer (all are part of Ford Motor Company) and inform them you will not be buying a Ford product until they stop their promotion of the homosexual movement and homosexual marriage.

Be sure to forward this information to your friends and family. They will be as surprised as you to learn of Ford’s extensive promotion of homosexuality.

Click here to go to BoycottFord.com and take the action listed on the right hand side (signing the pledge and calling your local dealer). Remember, calling your local dealer is very important. Please be polite. If the dealer wants more information, refer him to the BoycottFord.com page.

Sincerely,

Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

P.S. Don’t forget to call your dealer and to forward this to family and friends.