Apple pulls 'gay cure' iPhone app

[Ian David]

Apple pulls 'gay cure' iPhone app
Submitted by j on Wed, 2011-03-23 10:22

from The Guardian

Apple appears to have pulled an iPhone and iPad app promising "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus" after coming under fire from gay rights activists.

More than 146,000 people signed a petition calling on Apple to remove the so-called "gay cure" app backed by Exodus International, a Christian group that describes itself as "the world's largest worldwide ministry to those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction".

According to the Florida-based group, homosexuality is "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 app aims to give users "a useful resource for men, women, parents, students and ministry leaders" to "reconcile their faith with their sexual behaviour".

The app has been on sale since 15 February but was last night no longer available. Apple has yet to comment on the furore that the app sparked and was unavailable for comment. The company has strict rules on governing the content of apps and regularly blocks apps it believes may cause offence or contain risqué content. Exodus had been marked "4+" by the company, a grade that meant Apple judged it contained no objectionable content.

More:
http://www.oneiowa.org/news-events/apple-pulls-gay-cure-iphone-app

[joeybee12]

1. About freaking time...knr

[closeupready]

2. Good.

nt

[emulatorloo]

3. good n/t

[msongs]

4. evidently bad PR outweighed Apple's profit motives nt

[azurnoir]

5. good n/t

[RetiredTrotskyite]

6. Good to Hear!!

:kick: &R

[mtnester]

7. IMO that took WAY too long.

Glad it is gone, but dang.

[TheCanadianLiberal]

8. Sure we might not like it...but...

I don't support taking away their right to have it. Freedom of speech goes more then one way even if we'd like to believe otherwise.

[FreeState]

9. Freedom of speech is on Apples side here not the other way around

Apple is a store, they have a right to sell only what they deem is appropriate. Apple does not allow apps that attack minorities because it's disruptive to their business model.

[Lyric]

12. And it's worse than just attacking minorities.

This app targeted gay kids and encouraged them to believe that they could be "cured" if only they were faithful/repentant/sincere enough.

That's flat-out dangerous. Considering the gay teen suicide rate, it was incredibly irresponsible to ever allow it to begin with.

[Divine Discontent]

10. see, writing/calling them works. same with other issues we must fight!

[Lyric]

11. Glad to hear this. nt