A broad coalition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations today commended Ford Motor Company for reaffirming its support for the LGBT community. In a statement released today, Ford reaffirmed its commitment to its progressive workplace policies, said it would place corporate advertising in LGBT publications on behalf of all of its brands, including Jaguar and Land Rover, and would continue financial support for LGBT organizations and events consistent with its business condition.

Coalition Statement

“We welcome today’s statement from Ford Motor Company and commend their firm stance in support of inclusion. It is an unequivocal reaffirmation of Ford’s historic commitment to our community and the core American values of fairness and equality. Moreover, it is conclusive proof of what Ford leaders have repeatedly assured us -- that there never was any deal with anti-LGBT organizations concerning Ford’s support for our community.

We are proud to be back in gear with Ford and look forward to working with them in the years ahead.”

AMERICAblog.com

Commercial Closet Association

Family Pride

Freedom to Marry

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute

Gay and Lesbian Medical Association

Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)

Human Rights Campaign

Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (NYC)
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center

National Black Justice Coalition

National Center for Lesbian Rights

National Center for Transgender Equality

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

National Minority AIDS Council

National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)

Pride at Work

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

Triangle Foundation

World Congress of GLBT Jews: Keshet Ga'ava

Background

The controversy erupted on December 1 when the American Family Association (AFA) officially announced it was dropping its threat of a boycott, saying Ford “heard our concerns; they are acting on our concerns. We are pleased with where we are. ” The next day a Ford spokesperson appeared to confirm an agreement by saying the company would stop advertising its Jaguar and Land Rover brands in gay publications. AFA is an extremist anti-LGBT organization that routinely threatens boycotts against LGBT-supportive companies, television programs it does not like, or even cartoon characters such as SpongeBob.

On December 5, eighteen leading LGBT organizations issued a statement calling upon Ford to disavow any agreement with AFA, to reaffirm its commitment to the LGBT community and to meet with the LGBT community and resolve the issue. As a result of that statement, Ford Motor executives met with LGBT community representatives in Washington, DC on December 12. There, Ford said it would issue a statement based on the topics discussed and the comprehensive statement released today was the result.