Official release hits the wires: Ford Says Jaguar, Land Rover Will No Longer Be Advertised In Gay Publications

I'm by no means gay, but I think that's a poor PR move. Any successful business needs to know they are going to have a diverse base of clients and should market themselves as such.

Do they think church-goers are going to drive Range Rovers and XJ8's more than affluent gay men?

The best companies are the ones that create a diverse following.

Just add it to the list of stupid decisions made by Ford recently.

Was it a "business decision"? Yes--unfortunately, it was a business decision forced by religious right-wing radicals. Of course Ford won't come out and say that; as many of the comments here already indicate, they're in enough trouble for not standing up to these bigots. Advertising in a gay magazine costs a small fraction of what it does to advertise in Time or Newsweek, so dropping a few Jaguar or Land Rover ads would have a minimal impact on Ford's bottom line--but it does allow the AFA freaks to claim 'victory'. The only people who think this is a 'smart idea' are the straight, white Christians who think they should be allowed to dictate how the rest of the country should behave. And that's how simple it is.

I just don't understand the logic of coming out and saying "we're not advertising in gay publications anymore"...........why not just stop doing it, I doubt anybody would have noticed anyways. That is the part that irritates me.

If gays ONLY read "gay" publications, then it would be discrimination, but certainly gays must read many of the SAME newspapers, watch much of the same TV, or visit many of the SAME web pages that the rest of us do, and therefore they will still be exposed to Ford's advertising. But, since most people DON'T read "gay" publications, then to advertise in them is a waste of money anyway! Advertising is not the "press". It's a paid business decision that either has merit or does not. Do gays REALLY need to see a Land Rover filled up with a bunch of gays to determine whether or not it's a good vehicle choice? Give me a break. Congratulations to Ford for being efficient with the advertising money and put the savings into some more product and safety development, where it makes more sense. You can't blame or credit the "church-goers" for everything that makes sense.

The Mississippi based American Family Association did in fact formally 'threaten' Ford with a boycott last May and Ford responded by agreeing to halt advertising Jaguar, Land Rover, and Ford in gay media. The issue is not so much advertising to gay readers, but it was Ford spending significant advertising dollars with companies that are largely gay owned. Of course numerous other car companies advertise in gay media so Ford's response is odd.

So now we know that Ford does cave to threatened boycotts. Sounds like desperation to me.

To support gays or not to support gays, that is the question? And the answer doesn't and SHOULDN'T belong to FORD. Their support or lack of support is IRRELEVAMT. They are not the government, nor do they represent ANYONE. They are a business, and frankly they should be NEUTRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No special support = appropriate NEUTRAL position.