Ford Sued After Firing Christian Worker For Emailed Anti-Gay Tirade

Back in a January a Ford worker filed an EEOC complaint against the automaker, claiming that he was wrongfully terminated after he responded to an internal newsletter with an anti-gay tirade. The EEOC decided in April not to pursue the complaint, which was filed by the Texas-based anti-gay hate group, the Liberty Institute. Now the man has filed a federal lawsuit against Ford for violating his Christian right to be a total douchebag. Via the Detroit Free Press:

Thomas Banks of Ypsilanti filed a federal lawsuit against Rapid Global Business Solutions, an engineering and employment service in Troy, and Ford, where he had been on assignment at a Dearborn plant for more than three years. Banks, a Christian, claims his civil rights were violated because he was fired Aug. 4, 2014, after speaking up in defense of his religious beliefs. He accused Ford of "endorsing and promoting sodomy." The suit seeks an unspecified amount for damages for loss of wages, mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, shame and anxiety. "As we have not yet seen the complaint, we are not in a position to comment on it," Ford said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Rapid Global also had not seen the lawsuit.

Here is the rant Banks sent back to his Ford bosses after receiving the January newsletter:

“For this Ford Motor should be thoroughly ashamed. Endorsing and promoting sodomy is of benefit to no one. This topic is disruptive to the workplace and is an assault on Christians and morality, as well as antithetical to our design and our survival. Immoral sexual conduct should not be a topic for an automotive manufacturer to endorse or promote. And yes-this is historic-but not in a good way. Never in the history of mankind has a culture survived that promotes sodomy. Heterosexual behavior creates life - homosexual behavior leads to death."

Ford Worker Files EEOC Complaint Over Firing For His Anti-Gay Email To Bosses

Via Detroit's ABC affiliate:

A former Ford Motor Company contractor says he was fired because he criticized the auto company for having a policy that is pro-gay, according to a complaint filed with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Thomas Banks of Ypsilanti, who also filed his EEOC complaint against Rapid Global Business Solutions, stated that the companies violated his civil rights, discriminating against him because of his religious beliefs. Banks was not available for comment. But Liberty Institute, which is based in Dallas, and is representing Banks, issued a press release criticizing both companies for the termination. In a written statement, Liberty Institute says that in July 2014, Banks received a Ford Motor Company newsletter, “…which shared its policy to promote pro-homosexual ideas. In the feedback section, Mr. Banks submitted a single comment, addressed to Ford, disagreeing with Ford’s policy based on his biblical views.”

Here is the text of Banks' biblical views:

“For this Ford Motor should be thoroughly ashamed. Endorsing and promoting sodomy is of benefit to no one. This topic is disruptive to the workplace and is an assault on Christians and morality, as well as antithetical to our design and our survival. Immoral sexual conduct should not be a topic for an automotive manufacturer to endorse or promote. And yes-this is historic-but not in a good way. Never in the history of mankind has a culture survived that promotes sodomy. Heterosexual behavior creates life - homosexual behavior leads to death.”

Both Ford and the contractor have issued statements affirming their anti-harassment policies. (Tipped by JMG reader Scott)

Stonewall Inn To Drop Guinness Beer Over Sponsorship Of St. Patrick's Day ParadeUPDATE: Guinness Pulls Out Of Parade

Via GLAAD:

The historic Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the modern LGBT equality movement, will drop Guinness beer from its shelves beginning Monday, March 17 following the beer company's decision to stand by its sponsorship of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. The Parade, which is the oldest and largest St. Patrick's Day celebration in the country, prohibits LGBT families and organizations from participating. "The ban on gay and lesbian people marching openly forces me, as a proud Irish New Yorker, to look my five year-old twins in the eye and tell them that the parade organizers don't think our family is good enough to join in the celebration," said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. "By supporting the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, Guinness is telling its LGBT customers and employees that it supports the parade's discriminatory ban," Ellis continued. "It's time for Guinness, other sponsors and Irish New Yorkers to speak out in favor of an inclusive parade that welcomes the Irish spirit of love and family."

Yesterday Heineken dropped its sponsorship of the parade.

Heineken has pulled its sponsorship of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, which prohibits LGBT families and organizations from marching. A company official at Heineken has confirmed to GLAAD that the company will no longer be a sponsor of Monday's parade, saying "we are passionate about equality for all people." However, according to a tweet from CNBC, Ford Motor Company has announced that it will continue to sponsor the parade, despite the ban on LGBT families marching openly.

Here's the statement from Ford:

Ford Motor Company is involved in a wide range of events and organizations in communities across the country and around the world, including long-standing participation in this parade. No one person, group or event reflects Ford's views on every issue. What we can tell you is that Ford is proud of its inclusive policies. Every member of the Ford team is valued, and we provide employee benefits regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.

RELATED: On Friday, Sam Adams pulled out of the Boston parade.

UPDATE: Guinness has pulled out.

Guinness today announced that the beer company would drop its sponsorship of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade due to the parade's discriminatory rule that prohibits LGBT families and organizations from participating. In a statement released today, Guinness said: "Guinness has a strong history of supporting diversity and being an advocate for equality for all. We were hopeful that the policy of exclusion would be reversed for this year’s parade. As this has not come to pass, Guinness has withdrawn its participation. We will continue to work with community leaders to ensure that future parades have an inclusionary policy."

The 2014 Ford Canyonero

Source. (Tipped by JMG reader Jeff)

Morning View - Crown Vics On Fifth

Hailing a fabulously roomy Crown Victoria taxi is getting rare as the city phases them out in anticipation of Ford ending the line's production next year. In the last week or so I've been stuck with a Prius, a Camry, and a Honda SUV. Yeah, yeah environment something something. Boo. There's nothing like that post-club drunk sprawl as you bounce around in the back of a Crown Vic on the way home. That's one quintessential NYC experience I'm gonna miss.

Ford To Close Mercury Division

Ford Motor Company has announced that this will be the last year of production for their Mercury line.

Mercury's demise follows a string of famous American nameplates that have been dropped over the last year, including General Motors Co.'s Pontiac, Saturn and Hummer. Ford plans to focus on the design and marketing of its more upscale Lincoln brand — including offering a compact Lincoln sedan — to replace sales that dealers will lose from the closure of the Mercury line. Mercury and Lincoln vehicles are often sold side by side in auto showrooms. There are no standalone Mercury dealers in the U.S., and Ford doesn't expect the closure of the brand to result in any job cuts at the automaker.

Mercury had dwindled to 5% of Ford's total sales.

Ford To Offer In-Car Wi-Fi

Next year Ford will offer Wi-Fi on selected models.

"While you're driving to grandma's house, your spouse can be finishing the holiday shopping and the kids can be chatting with friends and updating their Facebook profiles," said Mark Fields, Ford president of the Americas. "And you're not paying for yet another mobile subscription or piece of hardware because Ford will let you use technology you already have." Several automakers already offer in-car Internet access -- Japanese drivers have been using it since 1997 -- and many others are rushing to bring it to us. Ford's announcement follows General Motors' promise last week to make in-car connectivity available in seven models of trucks and SUVs. They're the latest automakers to bring the infobahn to the autobahn.

Well, you will need a signal for that Laptop Steering Wheel Desk.

Ford Statement Refutes AFA's Claims

Yesterday the American Family Association issued a press release claiming that the Ford Motor Company had surrendered to their ongoing boycott and would cease marketing to gays and end charitable contributions to LGBT organizations.

This morning I made a few phone calls, initially speaking to Suzanne Wait, head of Ford GLOBE, the company's LGBT employee group. Wait declined to comment on the AFA's claim, referring me to Jim Cain, Director of Product Communications at Ford. After a pleasant chat on the phone, Cain sent me this email to clarify Ford's position on LGBT marketing.

The AFA has made its decision and is ready to move on. Our principles have not changed. We are committed to treating everyone fairly and with respect, including our dealers, customers and employees. Ford will continue to market its products widely to attract as many customers as possible and make charitable contributions to strengthen communities to the extent business conditions allow. Difficult business conditions in recent years have reduced our overall spending across the board.

Jim Cain
Director, Product Communications
Ford, Lincoln and Mercury

Reading into Cain's carefully worded statement, Ford will continue to support LGBT organizations and media, although a more explicit message of support seems to be called for. And yes, Ford is reducing its spending in LGBT publications, but that reduction is part of an across-the-board decrease in their ad dollars. Ford has a 100% rating on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Diversity Index (PDF).

Has Ford Surrendered To The Wingnuts? Again?

Has Ford once again capitulated to the demands of the wingnuts? The American Family Association is claiming that Ford has bowed to their boycott. From WingNutDaily:

In the face of plummeting car sales, Ford Motor Company has taken steps to reduce its aggressive pro-homosexual policies, thus prompting a family-rights group to call off its boycott of the carmaker.

...AFA Chairman Donald Wildmon said the original agreement between the family group and Ford contained four items:

1. Ford would not renew current promotions or create future incentives that give cash donations to homosexual organizations based on the purchase of a vehicle.
2. Ford would not make corporate donations to homosexual organizations that, as part of their activities, engage in political or social campaigns to promote civil unions or same-sex marriage.
3. Ford would stop giving cash and vehicle donations or endorsements to homosexual social activities such as 'gay'-pride parades.
4. Ford would cease all advertising on homosexual websites and through homosexual media outlets (magazines, television, radio) in the U.S. with the exception of $100,000 to be used by Volvo. The Volvo ads would be the same ads used in the general media and not aimed at the homosexual community specifically.

Wildmon said a few minor issues remain, and AFA will continue to bring these to the attention of Ford.

There has been no statement from Ford. You may recall the automaker hastily pulling its ads from gay magazines a few years ago when this mess first started, but then reentering the gay market after an outcry from LGBT rights groups.

(Via - Pam's House Blend)

The Gays Are Killing Ford!

According to the wingnuts, The Gays are responsible for current woes of Ford Motor Company.

Maybe Ford Motor Company management can be forgiven for not taking seriously the American Family Association (AFA’s) call for its members to boycott the automaker in May 2005. The conservative Christian group launched the crusade against the second-largest U.S. automaker for giving money to gay rights groups, offering benefits to same-sex couples and actively recruiting gay employees.

Several Ford dealers, recognizing the threat, convinced the AFA to suspend its boycott while they tried to convince the company to be less aggressive in promoting gay-agenda causes. Ultimately, the dealers failed to change minds at the company’s Dearborn, Michigan headquarters.

AFA put the boycott back on in March 2006. AFA’s position, stated at its boycottford.com site, is that “Ford could have easily avoided this boycott had they desired to do so by simply remaining neutral in the cultural battles.

[snip]

Now consider this: Last September, Ford had $27.4 billion in cash. The Truth About Cars blog, bringing back a nearly forgotten term from the late-1990s bubble, estimates that the company’s cash “burn rate” is $12-$14 billion per year. At that rate (excluding possible sales of assets, etc.), the company, which has already utterly mortgaged itself, could run out of money by the end of 2009.

That’s an awfully high price to pay for political correctness.

Of course, none of this has anything to do with the "recesssion", the price of oil, Ford's poor customer service record, uninspired vehicle design, foreign competition, or crappy fuel efficiency.

Remember boys, every time you suck a cock, Ford loses a sale. Why do you hate America?