USA: IKEA's gay family ad upsets conservatives

A TV advert that shows two gay men and their daughter relaxing on a sofa has annoyed an American conservative group.

The American Family Association (AFA) has accused the Swedish furniture retailer of trying to force a liberal, "homosexuality-affirming" world view on US consumers, reports OneNewsNow.com

The association, who claim to promote "traditional family values," say IKEA routinely promote gay lifestyles.

The ad shows a gay male couple playing on the floor with their young daughter. As they lean back against their IKEA sofa, a voiceover says: "Why shouldn't sofas come in flavours, like families?"

AFA spokesman Randy Sharp is outraged at internationally successful furniture chain:

"IKEA produces dozens of pro-homosexual ads that they air on Swedish TV. If they're going to run ads in this country, at least make those ads reflect the values of our society," Sharp told OneNewsNow.com.

"And that is that two men and a child do not make a family."

The AFA think that IKEA is attempting to force Swedish values on America.

The furniture company has 250 stores in 34 countries. They opened their first store in the US in 1985, and now have 29.

"Sweden is one of the most liberal countries when it comes to sexuality, especially when it deals with children," said Sharp.

"So, they're wanting to bring their influence into the United States of America."

The AFA is also mounting a campaign against all-American corporation Ford over an ad for the car manufacturer that shows two men engaged in oral sex.

"Ford has made it extremely clear that they have no intentions of ending their support of homosexuality," says a statement on the AFA website.

"Among other things, the company reneged on their agreement to remain neutral in the culture wars, increased their support of homosexual publications, sponsored TV programmes pushing homosexuality and required employees to attend "diversity" training promoting homosexuality."

The AFA recommend that people who object to Ford’s commitment to equality should sign up to a boycott, and claim over half a million Americans have done so already.

Ford, who own Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin, have suffered a downturn in sales, though it is unclear whether that is in any way connected with the AFA boycott.