Economic realities lift gay rights

As you may have noticed, Ford Motor Co. made a hasty retreat this week from its announcement that it would stop advertising in gay and lesbian publications. It was a triumph for individual rights, fair treatment and a more tolerant social structure.

Uh, sure. If that's how you want to see it. Personally, I'd say it had more to do with a simpler common denominator.

Money.

For all the dialogue about the social significance, for example, of the new gay-themed cowboy movie "Brokeback Mountain,'' the real issue won't be whether it breaks cinematic ground, but whether it breaks even on the balance sheet. It is amazing how brave and socially responsible folks can be when there's a profit to be turned, and the greatest strides toward acceptance of gays and lesbians will come on the economic, not legal, front.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/12/17/BAGMUG9CCQ1.DTL