Ford will again advertise in gay publications

Ford said this evening it would reinstate and expand the its plans for advertising in gay publications after a firestorm of criticism from gay rights groups. "It is my hope that this will remove any ambiguity about Ford's desire to advertise to all important audiences and put this particular issue to rest," wrote Joe Laymon, Ford's group vice president for corporate human resources. Last week, Ford said it would no longer advertise its luxury vehicles in several gay publications, citing a need to reduce costs. But advocacy groups suspected the move was the result of pressure from the conservative American Family Association. Ford denied this claim yesterday, but Gay groups and publications did not accept the answer Ford provided.