LGBTQ news and entertainment
Ford Motor Company is the latest major business to join others (like Harley-Davidson, Lowe’s and John Deere) in walking back its policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) including LGBTQ support. Continue reading “Ford Walks Back Support For Inclusivity & LGBTQ Pride”
(screen capture via CBS 2 Chicago)
“I’m worried right now,” said employee Timothy Shy. “This is the second day, and we are already hearing about this.”
Production was temporarily halted at part of the facility and the main plant.
“Social distancing doesn’t really work,” said employee Billy Cowart.
There are changes, from the social distancing reminders outside to temperature checks and re-configured work stations inside. Ford provided a video highlighting some of the updated health changes COVID has brought along to their plants
“All these people are crowded and on top of each other,” said Michael Hopper while wearing his Ford issued face mask.
“I lost a brother to coronavirus May 6,” Hopper said.
Hopper along with others describes an experience inside the plant that doesn’t sound or look like the polished video.
“I cleaned my own workstation myself,” said Hopper. “How our jobs are set-up, if one person gets in the hole that would affect the person behind him.”
Last summer, Ford Motor Company shared it’s anti-harassment policy in a company newsletter.
Offended by the pro-LGBT stance, Thomas Banks, who worked for Rapid Global Business Solutions, says he found Ford’s conflicted with his seriously held religious beliefs. He then submitted his thoughts on the subject to Ford:
“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.”
For the violation of company policy, he was terminated.
Now he is suing both his former employer and Ford Motor Company for what he says is “religious discrimination.” (Interestingly, he twice says he was “invited” by Ford to comment on the policy.)
Ford issued this statement on Wednesday: “We have not yet seen the complaint, however, we believe this matter ultimately is between the individual and their agency employer. Ford’s anti-harassment policy was created to foster a respectful, inclusive work environment for all, and we expect employees and agency personnel to act in accordance with this policy.”
And RGBSI, the agency that contracted Banks to Ford, released this statement: “RGBSI is an equal opportunity employer that supports an inclusive work environment and respects the rights of all individuals. We have no comment as to the particular facts of this case since this is a pending legal matter.”
You can read the complaint here.
See the news report below from ABC affiliate WXYZ in Detroit:
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