Ford Pulls Most LGBT Ads; Rumored Link to AFA

Nineteen LGBT-rights organizations have released a joint statement expressing their concern over reports that Ford is pulling most of its LGBT-targeted advertising because of pressure from the extreme-right-wing American Family Association. Ford claims the move was made for business reasons, and although they are no longer advertising their Jaguar and Land Rover brands in LGBT media, they will continue to advertise Volvos there. Regardless of Ford’s intentions, however, the AFA is claiming victory.

While this is still a developing story, and I don’t want to urge a premature boycott, it does strike me as strange that Ford is pulling their two British-rooted brands from LGBT media the same week that Britain’s Civil Partnership Act comes into force.

If nothing else, this incident should remind us that buying power matters. The HRC has thoughtfully released the Human Rights Campaign’s Buyer’s Guide this week, with data on which companies support equality, and which don’t. It’s worth a look before you do your holiday shopping.