Ford Has A Powerful Response To Online Hatred

Over two decades ago, Ford converted a Ka city car into a one-off truck to celebrate Cologne, Germany's LGBTQ+ community. The rainbow paint scheme says it all. That vehicle remains in the automaker's collection and now it's being joined by a Ranger Raptor with its own LGBTQ+ pride rainbow. Why? Because of a recent social media comment claiming the Ranger Raptor's Performance Blue color is "very gay."

The comment was clearly derogatory and hateful and Ford did more than just delete it. It created what Ford calls the 'Very Gay Raptor,' the truck you see here. Ford's position on anti-hate and homophobia couldn't be clearer. The truck's new exterior colors required more than just a simple paint job.

Designers placed a gold foil from Alphafoil to the truck's back half, a process that required some 60 hours of labor and 30 square meters of film. Ford's German division has been a longtime supporter of Christopher Street Day (CSD), an event dedicated to supporting and celebrating LGBTQ+ rights and awareness.

Cologne, which happens to be Ford's German home city, holds one of the largest CSD events in the country. Along with the Very Gay Raptor, Ford's GLOBE (Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Employees) network is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. Ford's commitment to diversity and workplace safety is ironclad.

The Very Gay Raptor was proudly displayed until just a few days ago during the city's Cologne Pride 2021 parade. The Ranger Raptor, regardless of body color, remains forbidden fruit in America. This overseas-only off-roader may be the dream truck for many, but Ford oddly decided not to bring it stateside.

Even though it's sold with a diesel, the automaker could have easily utilized one of its EcoBoost gasoline V6 engines for our market. Whatever its reason(s), it never happened but an all-new Ranger is just around the corner. Word has it a US-spec Raptor version is happening this time.