Posted on 09/02/2003 2:39:42 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - The business priorities of one of America's largest airlines are being criticized after the company co-sponsored a major conference on bisexuality shortly after laying off thousands of employees.
Texas-based American Airlines, which reportedly lost $1.12 billion in the first six months of this year, narrowly averted filing for bankruptcy by laying off 7,000 employees in April and cut another 3,100 workers in July, was a sponsor of the North American Conference on Bisexuality at the Radisson Hotel in San Diego, Calif., Aug. 21-24.
The conference featured nudity, workshops on erotic touch and how-to instructions on hosting sex orgies. "Bi Parents and Their Children" was the topic of one workshop. Pamphlets handed out at the conference also targeted "Bi Youth" with titles like "I Think I Might Be Gay."
Peter LaBarbera, president of the Washington, D.C.-based conservative group Americans for Truth, questioned American Airlines' judgment in sponsoring the event.
"[If] I am a laid-off employee, I am not too enthused that they laid me off and yet they are able to give special deals to these guys," LaBarbera told CNSNews.com.
"Why would they want themselves associated with a conference that teaches people how to have sex parties or how to be a married man and have bisexual affairs on the side with other men? Why would anybody want to be associated with that?" LaBarbera asked. Americans for Truth attempts to counter what it considers the radical homosexual agenda.
Repeated phone calls to American Airlines over several days seeking comment on their sponsorship of the Conference on Bisexuality were not returned.
Luigi Ferrer, one of the organizers of the conference, downplayed American Airlines' role in it.
"They do what they usually do for all their other conferences. They gave a 10 percent discount on airfare and required that we publicize that they are the host, the official airline there for the conference," Ferrer said. "It's what they do for all their convention travel. That is what they did for us. Nothing more, nothing less," he added.
Ferrer also defended the activities and workshops at the conference. "There were workshops on erotic touch that were with clothing optional. All the other workshops were part of the program, but that's only a small portion of what went on," Ferrer told CNSNews.com.
As for the instructions on how to host "Sensual/Sex Parties," Ferrer said they were an important part of "providing the information that our community needs...talking about sex and how to do it, how to communicate effectively about sex and sexual issues, how to prevent STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) and transmission of HIV," Ferrer explained.
"Some might be shocked by the openness and the tenor of some of the discussion, but if you can't talk about it, you shouldn't be doing it," Ferrer added.
The goal of the bisexuality conference was straightforward, according to Ferrer.
"Our focus behind the conference is to educate people, to show them how to engage in whatever practices they need to in the safest way and most responsible manner possible," Ferrer said.
Robert Knight, director of the conservative Culture and Family Institute, said U.S. corporations like American Airlines are wrong to believe they can reach out to the homosexual and bisexual "niche market" without harming their company images.
"As Americans learn more about the realities of the 'gay lifestyle,' they will conclude that corporate America is willing to make a buck over the dead bodies of hundreds of thousands of men who took their advice and went on practicing dangerous sex," Knight told CNSNews.com.
"Perhaps when parents see their sons and daughters lured into homosexual experimentation, they will look at American Airlines, Subaru and the other corporate promoters of homosexuality as the cynical, uncompassionate entities that they really are," Knight added.
LaBarbera noted that American Airlines has a long history of supporting homosexual causes and believes most corporations are currently in "diversity modes" and "just looking for politically correct things to support.
"The corporations are thinking - it's just gays, it's not a big deal. They don't really understand the depravity of the stuff that they are supporting," Knight added.
AVIS Rent A Car System, Inc., was also listed as a sponsor of the bisexuality conference. However, a spokesman for the corporation said nobody would be available to comment on the sponsorship.
LaBarbera believes American Airlines will tout its support of the conference to a select clientele but otherwise keep a low profile with the general public.
"If [American Airlines is] so proud of [its sponsorship], why don't they answer your calls? Where is the pride now?" LaBarbera asked, referring to the airline's decision not to comment. "Aren't they proud of their support for the bisexual conference?"
Ferrer dismissed the critics of American Airlines.
"I guess they are just sore because somebody is finally paying attention to sexual minorities in this country," Ferrer said.
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It continues to appall me that these folk can discard sexual morality, the need for moral purity and fidelity, with such wanton, matter of fact, self-righteousness.
And where American Airlines or Avis fit into the picture is beyond me. When corporations like Disney court these bottom feeders as equals, I get so disgusted and feel like I've just been slimed, to use a "ghostbusters" term.
Hey, I thought it was BI-forward.
Rimshot!
I'll say! There was a thread on this conference last week. The article raised concerns voiced by opponents of this conference such as possible transmission of disease at these touchy-feely work shops. Supposedly the hotel had asked and been assured that no ejaculations would actually take place during the workshop.
Uh huh. Right.
Prairie--I need to re-think using American Airlines again.
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Does this guy realize how close he is to having it right?
Hint. You can't talk about it!
This is a form of polyamory.
As a share holder in American Airlines, I'd love to know what the company is doing wasting money promoting a lifestyle that will only antagonize a huge portion of its potential market.
Executive Meeting:
EX A: "I know, let's go out of our way to P__ a large portion of our customers O___, and see if they'll take it so seriously as to stop flying our planes."
EX B: "What a great idea! I make a motion that we P__ our customers O___!"
EX C: "Me too..me too!"
Chair: "All in favor of this exciting new initiative say, 'Aye.'"
All: "Aye..aye...aye..aye...."
Chair: "This motion carries. Now let's discuss lying about expenditures on plane maintenance. A good crash would get our name in the headlines for weeks. You can't buy that kind of publicity."
EX C: "Me too....me too...me too..."
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