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via Apple
More than 150,000 people signed a petition demanding that Apple remove a so-called "gay cure" app from its App Store, and as of Tuesday night, it was gone.
While Apple hasn't made an official statement on the app's removal, Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, the Florida-based group for which the app is named, confirmed the removal of his group's app via Twitter:
It’s official, the @ExodusInl App is no longer in the @AppStore. Incredibly disappointing. Watch out, it could happen to you. #freedom
Contrary to findings by such medical organizations as the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Counseling Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Exodus International's ministry describes homosexuality as "a multicausal, developmental issue and that any individual can experience freedom through the support of caring individuals and the healing power of Jesus Christ."
The group's eponymous app purported "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus," and bore a "4+" rating from Apple (meaning it contained to no objectionable content).
Human rights activists begged to differ.
"Apple doesn't allow racist or anti-Semitic apps in its app store, yet it gives the green light to an app targeting vulnerable LGBT youth with the message that their sexual orientation is a 'sin that will make your heart sick' and a 'counterfeit,' " reads the petition posted on Change.org, an activist support organization.
According to Dr. Gary Remafedi, director of the Youth and AIDS Projects, the Exodus app "erroneously cites my research in support of claims that homosexuality can be changed." In a letter to Apple requesting the app's removal, Dr. Remafendi wrote, "Associating my work with that of the ex-gay ministry and other unfounded treatments is professionally injurious and grievous."
"I am simply pointing out a problem. I'm sure they will do the right thing," Dr. Remafedi told the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and stated that in the past he's had "100 percent" success dealing with such misrepresentations.
As a non-government affiliated company, Apple is not bound by the First Amendment and can accept or remove content as it deems fit. Apple has a reputation for its capricious App Store content acceptance and rejection, and given recent history, it remains confounding that Apple allowed "Exodus International."
A similar program, the "Manhattan Declaration" app, by a group that condemns same-sex unions, was yanked from the App Store last year after receiving petitions initiated by Change.org saying that app was offensive.
Late last year, Apple pulled the pro-heterosexual marriage app from the App Store for the iPhone, with the Manhattan Declaration group calling Jobs "Big Brother," and releasing a video that portrays Apple's CEO as sinister as Kim Jong-il.
More Apple App Store controversy:
- Apple criticized for allowing iPhone 'gay cure' app
- Steve Jobs targeted in anti-gay iPhone app war
- Apple pulls anti-gay app from App Store
- WikiLeaks App yanked from iTunes Store
Helen A.S. Popkin goes blah blah blah about the Internet. Join her on a Facebook or Twitter, won't you?
Leave a Comment:
I'm not an Apple user. I dont have an iphone or an ipad or an i anything. But a good many of my GLBT brothers & sisters do. I'm very pleased that Apple chose to remove this very dangerous application from their inventory.
I am so in love with Apple's policy. I wish Christian leaders applied the same policy with their congregation as Apple did with this ignorant racist hater.
what a sad statement for apple... they will fold the the pressure to remove an app that someone has to consent to download or buy... if you don't like the app... don't buy it. This app was not being forced on anyone. If you disagree... disagree with your dollars... Prohibiting Apps based on content you don't agree with is tantamount to burning books years ago. Trying to restrict information rarely if ever has the limiting effect that the banners would like... instead energizes the other side because they are being oppressed.
I find the groups who oppose the free speech of those dissagree with them offensive. Can they be somehow censured, instead of indulged?
who cares ?
That's not a surprise they caved. Cause Apple's pretty gay too!
"Contrary to the majority of scientific evidence" is this also the same scientific evidence used to support global warming as well?
-Just curious.
It is just mind boggling that "one side" always finds the "other side" objectionable when ever it seems that we disagree with a position. It seems that everything "we" disagree with is either "unconstitutional" or "objectionable". It seems that the ones "preaching" tolerance are the ones with the least to lose. I guess Apple has the right to remove anything they wish, and I don't own or use anything with that logo and will by "choice" continue to do so. Enjoy the freedom you have to disagree!
Next ;the Creationist app GLAAD NAZIs
Oh no, without this ap I'm condemned to an abhorrent life of wanting to kiss boys. I was just starting to like girls. I guess there's just a bunch of heterophobe bigots taking over the world.
A religious app removed for it's lack of compassion for fellow man/woman(or both). It's Bible Thumping Creator probably does not see the irony.
Hmmm- Exodus International claims that homosexuality is due to "a multicausal, developmental issue and that any individual can experience freedom through the support of caring individuals and the healing power of Jesus Christ."
My best response to that statement is: Completely Delusional Bullsh*t!
Somehow, a sizable portion of U.S. citizens are in the dark concerning "Freedom Of Speech." The law is simple...the GOVERNMENT shall make no law abridging free speech. It does not apply to non-governmental entities. So knock off the "free speech" indignation and try to understand that owners of non-governmental forums and businesses have no duty to offer participants in their enterprise free speech.
With that said, Apple simultaneously travels two paths. One, is that they pay attention to the content of what they allow to be provided through their services, giving customers some assurance of safety and "decorum." Two, a heavy-handed approach limits third party participation and can stifle innovation. Making a choice to use Apple products involves being an informed customer who is aware of their controlled-system approach. If that is too limiting, then use your right of "free choice" to choose another vendor.
Apple caves and only with a smal response of 150,000 users. It's a matter of perspective and the fact is people cannot reproduce if they are both the same sex period. If someone develops an application that does not incite hatred and is there to help people, why do people jump on it? Apples trying to sell products is on the profit margin, but overall the argument is weak at best.
There may be groups that have nothing better to do than to complain about their rights, when the argument that is posted represents a minority with interpretations that are not grounded in all of history and common law that goes across all cultures.
NOT A FREE SPEECH ISSUE NUMBSKULL
Geez, where do you guys get educated?
(rhetorical)
Why are fundamentalists of all religions so obsessed with the sex lives of everyone else?
Fundamentalist religion: it's all about power and control, nothing else.
What if Christ was gay? There's no conclusive evidence or anything he's reported as saying that definitely proves he wasn't.
Based on just percentages alone, there's a good chance that between him and the apostles that one of them could have been. There definitely have been a fair share of gay clergy.
That would certainly change the arguments made by religious anti-gay groups.
Hell yes they made the right decision to pull that application. I don't care WHAT the topic is about, you CANNOT forcefully impose your thoughts or beliefs onto another human being. The crusades ended over 700 years ago, and now is the time to live your OWN life the way YOU want to, and let others do the same. There are common sense laws for things such as rape, murder, theft, etc.... and then there are ridiculous laws, such as imposing a sanction on someone that tells them what they can and cannot do with their own bodies. Mind your own damn business and keep your beliefs off my body, out of my home, and and out of my affairs. If I do something wrong, I MYSELF will be who pays the consequences, right? You are unaffected. So leave other people alone. They don't want your version of "help". Besides, if someone is happy, who are you to tell them they're not? Who are you to tell them they need help? And don't answer that with "I'm a Christian." Trust me, it's not a good mark on your resume, and certainly does NOT qualify you to be addressing someone with such an imposition. Live and let live...or pay the consequence.
What a waste of development time.
Pretty soon we'll have the masturbation cure applet too.
So it seems that apple is now in the business of deciding which information people will be able to have and which they will not.
It comes across as some what hypocritical to discriminate against one group of people who believe one unprovable set of arguments to be true , for the sake of preventing discrimination against another group of people with an equally unprovable set of arguments that they believe to be true. Given the millions of people who use these devices ,150000- people signing a petition is rather a small number to have had that much influence.
It will not be long before they re-write all the books and replace them with their politically correct re-written versions, and nobody will ever know.
I'd believe a scientist before I'd believe a minister. After all, the BuyBull says that the world is flat, is 5,000 years old, and has the Sun revolving it (and not the other way around). So, yeah, of course the BuyBull is right in medical and psychological topics, har har.
From the article "Contrary to the majority of scientific evidence, Exodus International's ministry describes homosexuality as "a multicausal, developmental issue and that any individual can experience freedom through the support of caring individuals and the healing power of Jesus Christ." "
So, what is the majority of scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a "multicausal, developmental issue"? No gay genes have been found. Brain scans by a homosexual scientist show that homosexual male brains are different in particular areas. Other studies point to developmental causes and show an increase in the incidence of homosexuality as a function of the number of males born to a mother as well as the duration between them.
So, what is wrong with this app? It offers comfort to those that would prefer not to be gay. If there is a spectrum to homosexuality, resocialization would certainly help the edge cases just as resocialization is used to treat other disorders, sexual in nature or not.
Can I have my KKKhristianCure app added?
Whether you agree with the app is kind of irrelevant, the Mac App Store is a closed network, only filtered by Mac themselves. It's not the general internet where you can find no end of questionable material. No real company who caters to todays mainstream would seriously post a piece of software such as this on their store. It's just not going to happen.
Imagine walking into Best Buy and seeing this available for purchase, yeah, doesn't sound very likely does it?
Oh my goodness stop the presses Apple removed an App option.
Enough is enough with the GLBT in your face every day.
Here is an observation:
Homosexuality is not a disease.
Homosexuality is not determined by DNA
Homosexuality is a choice people make based on their personal experiences. If you are ostracized or berated by one group you will probably choose to be a part of another. If you have been rejected or mistreated by an opposite sex authority figure (s) or peer (s) you will probably prefer to be in the safe company of others who have been as well. I have yet to know a gay man or lesbian who has not had a horror story or two about mistreatment and sought out safety. It is a sane and rational behavior.
But, enough already accept yourself and to hell with the rest of the world.