Ride with Pride!

[TXgolfer]

but you're not. and I don't see any outrage from actual, real gay people

and I believe you are being dishonest with yourself. you know why? looking at your post from other thread called "10 things you shouldn't say to a deaf person"... you said


well you're deaf and you don't get offended and bothered by it. then if you were gay.... you wouldn't get offended and bothered by it. heck - it'll probably make a good conversation starter for you!

Nope, the clear difference here is that gay people are being used. If they are not upset, they should be. Now, if they company came out and said. "We at Amtrak celebrate diversity and support gay marriage". And that was all they did....Cool. If they came out with a special discount... Also cool. But what the company did was pretend they were doing something special by offering a "special rate" that they already offered...That is just wrong.

 

[Jiro]

Nope, the clear difference here is that gay people are being used. If they are not upset, they should be. Now, if they company came out and said. "We at Amtrak celebrate diversity and support gay marriage". And that was all they did....Cool. If they came out with a special discount... Also cool. But what the company did was pretend they were doing something special by offering a "special rate" that they already offered...That is just wrong.

so.... what's the difference if it's a heterosexual couples?*

and "special rate" has been around for quite a while. I think it's a common knowledge.

 

[TXgolfer]

so.... what's the difference if it's a heterosexual couples?*

and "special rate" has been around for quite a while. I think it's a common knowledge.

What?

 

[rockin'robin]

What?

 

[Jiro]

What?

avoiding to answer my question, I see.

 

[Reba]

so.... what's the difference if it's a heterosexual couples?*

The implication from the ad is that it's a something new for homosexual couples, which it is not.

and "special rate" has been around for quite a while. I think it's a common knowledge.

If it was common knowledge, then why would it have to be advertised as something new for same-sex families? (re: post #10)

 

[Jiro]

The implication from the ad is that it's a something new for homosexual couples, which it is not.


If it was common knowledge, then why would it have to be advertised as something new for same-sex families? (re: post #10)

something new? so if they advertised with mixed-races families... is it something new too?

 

[TXgolfer]

avoiding to answer my question, I see.

Umm...no...That's asking what the question is......It made no sense.

 

[Jiro]

Umm...no...That's asking what the question is......It made no sense.

actually it does. it's a perfectly valid question. "what's the difference if it's a heterosexual couples?"

you're offended if it were gay couples with kids... but not heterosexual couples. but if you don't understand the question, then explain to me exactly what you don't understand.

 

[TXgolfer]

something new? so if they advertised with mixed-races families... is it something new too?

You seem terribly confused..... The point is that it is NOT something new. They simply repackaged an offer they already make and tried to make it look like they did something special. It's pretty disingenuous of Amtrak. If they are not going to make a special offer specifically for gays, they should just make a statement in support of them rather than pretending to do something special.

 

[TXgolfer]

actually it does. it's a perfectly valid question. "what's the difference if it's a heterosexual couples?"

you're offended if it were gay couples with kids... but not heterosexual couples. but if you don't understand the question, then explain to me exactly what you don't understand.

See, obviously you have totally misunderstood. I am not offended by any of it......accept that if they are going to say they are offering a special fare, they. Should offer one.

 

[Steinhauer]

Umm...no...That's asking what the question is......It made no sense.

They never do ....

 

[Jiro]

See, obviously you have totally misunderstood. I am not offended by any of it......accept that if they are going to say they are offering a special fare, they. Should offer one.

yes you are.....

IMO there is something wrong with it....As Reba said it is pandering. In a way it's a bait and switch.....they already offer that discount to everyone. If I were gay I would be offended and feel used by such a publicity stunt.....especially if there was no added value for me as a customer. They can advertise however they want....I couldn't care less. And if I ever choose to take the train I certainly wouldn't boycott over something so trivial. But to act like they are making a special offer to show their support is disingenuous at best.

 

[TXgolfer]

yes you are.....

You know what "if" means right? This is hilarious.....and proof that you just try to cause trouble. Here we are SUPPORTING and DEFENDING gays and you are still quibbling....

 

[Jiro]

You know what "if" means right? This is hilarious.....and proof that you just try to cause trouble. Here we are SUPPORTING and DEFENDING gays and you are still quibbling....

ah.... this reeks of.... what's the word.... oh yes - backpedaling... and dishonesty

and there's no we. I'm basically the only one here who are strongly supporting and defending gay people. you do not support gay marriage. you do not support White House's decision not to support DOMA. you do not support this.

 

[TXgolfer]

ah.... this reeks of.... what's the word.... oh yes - backpedaling... and dishonesty

and there's no we. I'm basically the only one here who are strongly supporting and defending gay people. you do not support gay marriage. you do not support White House's decision not to support DOMA. you do not support this.

In this thread.....on this issue...I have been supporting them the entire time. sorry if that bothers you. But these are the facts.

 

[Jiro]

In this thread.....on this issue...I have been supporting them the entire time. sorry if that bothers you. But these are the facts.

supporting them? how? by saying that if you were gay, you'd offended by it? comical.

in case you didn't notice.... not a single gay ADer is not offended by it. I haven't heard of any backlash or whatsoever against Amtrak's gay ads.

Countering Chick-fil-A, Amtrak and other firms bask in gay pride, and gay dollars - NY Daily News

That same month, Target’s website began selling t-shirts with rainbows and slogans like “harmony” and “pride” as part of a fundraiser to support a marriage equality group.

Even formerly conservative companies are opening their marketing camapaigns to gay and lesbian customers, whose buying power is expected to reach $790 billion this year, marketing firm Witeck Communications told the Los Angeles Times.

Hotel mega-chain Marriott International, which once had Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney as a corporate board member, this spring launched a massive campaign targeting gay travelers. The "Be You, With Us," is widely promoted on the corporate website, which also declares “We’re proud to say Marriott was one of the first hotel companies to offer equal benefits to same-sex couples nationwide.”

So far, Amtrak said it hasn’t seen any backlash to the “Ride With Pride” campaign.

“Our policy is to welcome all segments of the population,” Cole said.

 

[Jiro]

Woo-Woo! Amtrak Rolls Out Gay And Lesbian Ad Campaign / Queerty

Riding the rails just got friendlier, as Amtrak has released a new ad campaign geared toward LGBT families.

Two “Ride With Pride” ads have been commissioned—one featuring a lesbian couple and their child, the other with a gay-male pair. A link to AmtrakRideWithPride sends visitors to a micro-site with info on East Coast destinations, Amtrak’s gay-inclusive initiatives and rewards programs.

“At Amtrak, diversity is not just a corporate buzzword, it’s a priority,” reads a statement on the site. “We understand that valuing diversity is not only a good thing to do, but a business necessity beyond compliance that plays a vital role in customer service delivery and ultimately the success of our operations. …Our business diversity philosophy means commitment to ensuring our company embraces a culture of respect and appreciation for differences and similarities of all people.”
All aboard!

comments

The new ads are tasteful and, more importantly, Amtrak’s underlying policy, which can be viewed in detail at amtrakridewithpride.com, is thoughtfully crafted and expressed.

Click on the “Amtrak Diversity” button (and there is a place at the bottom of that page that says “Click here to read more”). For a more person-to-person take on this kind of travel experience, click on “Out and About.”

Now we’ll see if One Million Moms have to add another name to their roster of boycotts.

 

[TXgolfer]

ah.... this reeks of.... what's the word.... oh yes - backpedaling... and dishonesty

I guess you are still misunderstanding......I am not gay....therefore I am not offended. Hence the very important "if". IF, I were gay the company pretendlng to make a special offer just for me would offend me. Similarly...If Amtrak came out and said they were supporting the deaf with a special Deaf fare, yet it was the same fare offered to anyone....I would be offended.

 

[Jiro]

Amtrak promotes gay family travel with groundbreaking ads - Elsewhere

.C. Penney did it and now so has Amtrak. It has launched a promotional campaign that includes gay families.

As part of an effort to market its standard discounted family travel program, for the first time, the national passenger rail company included gay families in its materials. In an online ad sent by Instinct magazine to its email subscribers, a photo of same-sex parents with their child is featured.

Two version of the ad, one with a picture of a male couple and another with a female couple, were distributed. Both versions include the headline: Priceless Family Moments Are Now Affordable. The ad goes on to promote Amtrak's 50% off campaign for children age 2 to 15 who are traveling with an adult, and directs readers to its gay travel website www.AmtrakRideWithPride.com.

Amtrak, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. In began its initial Ride with Pride campaign in 2010.

In other Amtrak news, the company announced yesterday that it's launching an eTicket program for all trains within its national network including on the Northeast Corridor, state-supported routes and long-distance services. The eTickets provide passengers with the convenience to skip the line at the ticket window and go straight to the gate by printing their tickets whenever, wherever or by using a smartphone to present the eTicket to the conductor.

When a customer makes a reservation, the eTicket will be e-mailed as a printable document. Passengers using their smartphone or other mobile device can present the eTicket to the conductor by simply opening the document from their e-mail. A lost or misplaced eTicket can easily be reprinted. eTickets also can be printed at Amtrak ticket offices and Quik-Trak kiosks. Some customers, including those traveling on a group ticket or passengers purchasing Multi-Ride tickets, will continue to receive a conventional paper value ticket.