West Hollywood Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem Blast Ford Motor Company for Ceasing Business with Gay and Lesbian Publications

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--Dec. 8, 2005--West Hollywood Mayor Abbe Land and Mayor Pro Tem John Heilman have sent a letter to Ford Motor Company Chair William Ford expressing extreme disappointment at the company's recent decision to stop advertising in gay and lesbian publications.

The letter states, in part:

"Though you say that this is 'purely a business decision,' it is apparent that this shift is in response to pressure from a blatantly prejudiced, anti-family group; ironically self-titled the American Family Association (AFA). By bending to the will of an organization like the AFA, the Ford Motor Company has aligned itself with a group that uses fear and promotes bigotry. American families come in all shapes, sizes and colors and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their families are just another example of our nation's rich diversity."

(See full text of letter below.)

Since its establishment in 1984, West Hollywood has become one of the most influential cities in the country. From fighting against discrimination of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons to providing funding for vital social services for thousands of people in need and being the first pro-choice city in the country, from leading the fight against AIDS to championing for the protection of civil rights and human rights, no other City of its size has had a greater impact on the national public policy agenda.

For more information, call Lisa Marie Belsanti at 323-627-7747 (cell).

December 8, 2005

Mr. William Ford
Chair
Ford Motor Company
Dearborn, MI

Dear Mr. Ford:

We are writing to express our extreme disappointment in the Ford
Motor Company's decision to stop advertising in gay and lesbian
publications. Though you say that this is "purely a business
decision," it is apparent that this shift is in response to pressure
from a blatantly prejudiced, anti-family group; ironically self-titled
the American Family Association (AFA).

AFA founder and Chairman Don Wildmon once included this emotional
appeal in a direct mail fundraising piece: "For the sake of our
children and society, we must OPPOSE the spread of homosexual
activity! Just was we must oppose murder, stealing, and adultery!
Since homosexuals cannot reproduce, the only way for them to 'breed'
is to RECRUIT! And who are their targets for recruitment? Children!"

By bending to the will of an organization like the AFA, the Ford
Motor Company has aligned itself with a group that uses fear and
promotes bigotry. Ford Motor Company, which is already losing
customers to other brands, may be faced with the probability of tens
of millions of friends, families and members of the gay community
turning their backs on your flagship company and all of its
subsidiaries. This is especially significant for Land Rover, Jaguar,
Mazda, Volvo and Astin-Martin brands, all of which are popular with
gay and lesbian consumers. Considering Ford's tremendous loss of
market segment and the massive layoffs of 2002, this decision places
more Ford Motor Company workers' jobs in peril at a time when their
job security is at an all time low.

American families come in all shapes, sizes and colors and
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their
families are just another example of our nation's rich diversity. Your
decision to cut off advertising to this community will have far
reaching consequences amongst people who believe in equality, fairness
and common decency.

For years, the Ford Motor Company has given significant contributions
to gay and lesbian groups, offered benefits to same-sex couples and
actively recruited gay and lesbian employees. Ford did this not only
because it was the right thing to do, but it made good business sense.
This makes your recent decision all the more confusing.

As you may recall in May of this year, the AFA ended a nine-year
boycott of The Walt Disney Co. which targeted Disney's decision to
extend benefits to same-sex couples and promote gay-related events at
its theme parks. Yet, the AFA boycott appeared to have little effect,
since Disney reported higher earnings and higher theme park attendance
during that time.

In contrast, the Coors Brewing Company still struggles with the
social and economic impacts of a 20-year old boycott by the gay and
lesbian community due to its allegiance to anti-gay groups. Before her
father became vice president, Mary Cheney was hired by Coors to work
as a gay community liaison to help repair some of the damage Coors had
done by its discriminatory practices and alliances with groups similar
to the AFA. The boycott was so effective that it eventually caused the
beer giant to make changes in company policies such as offering
same-sex benefits to its employees. Even after this policy change and
attempts to contribute money and sponsor gay-related events, the Coors
Brewing Company may never make significant inroads in the gay and
lesbian market, as the boycott is still honored in most LBGT
communities like West Hollywood.

We implore you to return to your historic support for the gay and
lesbian community and meet with LGBT representatives to immediately
resolve this growing controversy. If you have any questions, or if we
can be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact us via email
aland@weho.org and jheilman@weho.org or by phone at 323-848-6460.

Sincerely,

(signed)
Abbe Land
Mayor

John Heilman
Mayor Pro Tempore

cc: The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Los Angeles
Business Journal, The West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Hornburg
Jaguar and Land Rover