Ford's gay policy angers Christians

Ford Motor faces a boycott by thousands of customers after a conservative Christian group said it had a "pro-gay" agenda.

Ford Motor faces a boycott by thousands of customers after a conservative Christian group said it had a "pro-gay" agenda.

The American Family Association (AFA) said yesterday it had received pledges from 79,000 people that they will avoid the motor giant after the powerful pressure group targeted the company just three days ago.

The campaign is the latest strike by Christian groups against liberal corporate policies. The AFA has pressurised the consumer goods group Procter & Gamble over advertisements it said were inappropriate and Disney over the content of films made by its subsidiary Miramax. Separately, Microsoft has been targeted by local evangelicals in its native Seattle for its proposed support of a move to include homosexual workers in an anti-discrimination bill.

The AFA, based in Mississippi, is focusing on Ford for donating to gay rights groups. It is also against Ford's agreement to donate $1,000 (£552) to a gay and lesbian rights group, GLAD, if requested by customers buying a Jaguar or Land Rover, which are owned by the Detroit-based company.

Randy Sharp, of the AFA, said Ford was "pro-homosexual marriage, gay pride parades and commitments ceremonies" between same-sex couples.

Ford said it valued "all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and cultural or physical differences".