Apple Rejects Homophobic iPhone App for the Second Time

[onehandle]

Source: Glaad

Apple has upheld its decision to reject an anti-LGBT, anti-choice iPhone App despite protests from Christian organizations and a revision of the original application by its creators.

The “Manhattan Declaration” application “reaffirms the moral teachings of our Christian faith on the sanctity of human life, marriage and sexual morality, and religious freedom and the rights of conscience,” quotes the Christian Post. The Declaration is a 4,700-word statement signed by many Christian religious leaders and citizens that claims to speak “in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. It issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas.” It calls relationships among LGBT people “immoral sexual partnerships,” and says marriage “is not a civil right” for them, among sending other anti-LGBT messages. The declaration was written in late September 2009, and the application was created this year.

Apple initially approved the application in October, but rejected it in November in response to an outcry from the LGBT community and its allies as well as petitions with almost 8,000 signatures, calling it offensive. The edited version removed a poll which asked users their opinions regarding LGBT relationships and abortion and awarded them points for “correct” answers (which opposed equality for LGBT people). The revised version was submitted along with its own petition.

Apple rejected the second submission on the same grounds as the first, noting that the app is likely “to expose a group to harm” and “to be objectionable and potentially harmful to others.” The Manhattan Declaration website posted a statement on December 23 announcing Apple’s rejection of the app, and the makers of the content plan to take the issue to the Apple’s App Review Board after the holidays. Media coverage of this second rejection does not seem to have been picked up by many conservative outlets as of yet.

Read more: http://glaadblog.org/2010/12/29/apple-rejects-homophobic-iphone-app-for-the-second-time

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[glen123098]

2. Yeah this group is shit, but I still don't approve of Steve Jobs' censorship of his products.

Therefore I have no products made by Steve Jobs. I only support open products, that I can use how I want. I dont like it when any group gets censor, regardless of if I agree with them.

[ZombieHorde]

4. Should schools be allowed to sensor their students? For example, should a school be allowed to ban

the "n" word?

edit: How do you feel about DU deleting posts?

[Canuckistanian]

7. DU is an exception. We all agree to the posted rules.

And DU is NOT a consumer product, offered with no constraints on third-party content. We have banned sources and content providers. But we agree to it.

As for the "n-word", it's a social taboo, not a law. And schools have always had wide latitude to enforce social norms.

[glen123098]

9. DU has the right to delete posts its their forum.

Steve jobs also has the right to censor his products. I also have the right to not buy them, and I am exercising that right.

[Canuckistanian]

6. Agreed

When they banned the Wikileaks app, they crossed the boundary of active censorship.

And as much as we don't like this app, it's the same story. Let consumer groups or the law decide what appropriate content is.

NOT some unaccountable, nameless corporate entity.

[primavera]

8. Rubbish

So called "free speech" has always been subject to constraints. One cannot threaten others and claim protection under the 1st amendment. One cannot incite others to acts of violence and call it free speech. Once cannot perpetrate fraud and call it free speech. There are many, many instances where free speech is "censored," as you put it, and it is entirely appropriate that it should be so.

[Kablooie]

10. Apple offers a service to distribute apps and they have a right to set rules.

They even distribute apps for free if you don't charge your customers.

If you don't like their terms you are free to distribute it on your own and many do.

[HEyHEY]

11. Whatever, it's his company, he can do what he wants.

[struggle4progress]

3. More organizing by rightwingers under the guise of noisy outrage

[AlbertCat]

5. a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions

Fine, do that.

As long as one of your convictions does not seem to be to tell everybody else what to do.

Apparently that is one of their convictions.... so....