Apple Brainwashes Gay Cure App from iTunes

[Greg Tito]

Apple Brainwashes Gay Cure App from iTunes

The app which claimed to "help homosexual strugglers" was deleted from Apple App Store and iTunes after protests.

Despite Apple's somewhat draconian monitoring of its App Store [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96435-Edge-by-Mobigame-Again-Pulled-from-App-Store], there have been a lot of questionable Apps that have somehow filtered through and made available to the public. The latest of these is Gay Cure, which was uploaded by Exodus International, a Christian group from Orlando, FL. It debuted on February 15th, and immediately received attention for its inflammatory title and premise that homosexuality was a disease to be cured. A petition organized by Change.org garnered 140k signatures asking Apple to remove the app, who had somehow given Gay Cure a 4+ rating meaning that it contained "no offensive material." Last night, the leader of Exodus International Alan Chambers said on Twitter that it had officially been removed.

"It's official, the @ExodusInl App is no longer in the @AppStore. Incredibly disappointing. Watch out, it could happen to you. #freedom," Chambers' Tweet read [http://twitter.com/#!/AlanMChambers/status/50367690149347329].

Later, in a statement released today [http://exodusinternational.org/2011/03/apple-suppresses-diversity-by-pulling-iphone-application/], Chambers further complained about his app being removed. "We are extremely disappointed to learn of Apple's decision to deny equal representation in the public square," he said. "Discrimination of thought and belief obstructs essential dialogue and authentic diversity." Chambers goes on to point out that the App Store contains all kinds of Apps dedicated to celebrating LGBT culture.

"Ultimately, this issue comes down to what we, as a culture, believe about equality and the freedom to express our beliefs," said Chambers. "It is our hope that Apple will reconsider its decision and allow our organization to be part of the ongoing conversation about the challenging issues many face today."

I think what Chambers and Exodus International are missing is that none of the Apps about the homosexual community claim to "cure straightness" or somehow imply that being straight is not God's will.

Apple hasn't commented on the removal of Gay Cure. The app just disappeared without an announcement, statement or any fanfare at all. I hope that the person responsible for approving the application was at least reprimanded or instructed to avoid such inflammatory apps in the future. The last time an anti-homosexual app was removed, the Manhattan Declaration in Nov. 2010, Apple said at the time, "We removed the Manhattan Declaration app from the App Store because it violates our developer guidelines by being offensive to large groups of people."

For the record, I don't think that it's wrong for a church or Christian group to proselytize however it wants, but the title of the App in question made too many assumptions for it to be admissible. Whether you think homosexuality is wrong or not is up to you, but asserting that it is something which can or should be "cured" is just bollocks.

Source: EdibleApple [http://www.edibleapple.com/apple-removes-gay-cure-app-from-itunes/]

Permalink

 

[Dogstile]

Eh, apples store, apple can choose what to host.

Although removing something simply because it might offend people is just silly >.> Grow up guys

 

[bobknowsall]

Seems reasonable enough. Pity it slipped through the net in the first place, really.

Disagreeing with gay culture is one thing, but claiming homosexuality is a disease? That's going a bit too far.

 

[Arizona Kyle]

good lord something about gays and church that doesnt include WBC

that is truly a miracle lol

 

[Sanzee]

I disagree with this app wholeheartedly.

 

[JaymesFogarty]

This is disgusting! People should not be able to use 'religion' as an excuse for casual discrimination! There's a line that you shouldn't be able to cross like that; whether you follow Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or any other religion. It's like the old saying goes;

Spoiler

"Religion is like a man's penis. It's perfectly fine to admit you have one, but please don't start lecturing me on mine, and for gods sake don't try ramming it down my throat!"

 

[ScoopMeister]

What were they thinking approving that app at all in the first place? And what were those exodus people thinking making it? It would be interesting to know how this app claims to 'cure' homosexuality, though.

 

[bug_chaser]

The app was actually a pretty cool game, but I couldn't get the hang of level 8 so now, while I am no longer gay, I have a strange attraction to sheep.

 

[Outlaw Torn]

Is there an 'app' to cure christianity/stupidity too? I'd imagine this fellow wouldn't be very pleased if there was.

 

[Sknyjdwb]

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" I think this app should be allowed, free speech and all. I also think there should be a "GayDar" App that lets homosexual people find each other.

 

[Exterminas]

Mhm.
While I disagree with this man's position I have to agree that persons like him should have the right to spread their words.

Why?
Because I rather had some idiot running around, shouting bullshit than leaving the dicision about what statements should be considered bullshit to apple.

At some point being a democratic society has to imply that people in that society are capable of recognizing bullshit on their own. How else could you expect them to hold up to the responsibility of voting?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I think Alan Chambers has every right to have his app there on App Store. He is talking about freedom of information, and that's true: he should be able to place his app there.

All he needs to do is prove that his claims work. He just needs to cure one gay person.

Anyone really, as long as we can be sure that this app can turn a homosexual person into a straight person, I've no trouble at all with it being on the app store. In fact, I'll welcome it. I'm sure that he won't mind reverse-engineering it so you can turn people gay as well, if you so desire.

I mean otherwise, he'd be trying to release an app. that would be attempting to do something that it was incapable of, and he could be sued for damages - and we wouldn't want that to happen, would we?

 

[Jezzer]

You're free to make whatever apps you want. That doesn't mean Apple is obligated to host them. You can believe whatever crazy thing you want, but nobody is guaranteeing you an audience to share the lunacy. Before anybody gets started on First Amendment rights, the First Amendment protects your speech from the GOVERNMENT, not from the world at large.

 

[Verlander]

Stopping someone from discriminating isn't discrimination in itself. That's how I roll.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

While I think Apple can remove the app from the store, I question the wisdom in doing so. To remove a viewpoint (controversial as it may be) is rather foolish, as it draws attention to the issue. Heck, I have seen several apps that promote Cannabis usage, and yet an app to ?cure? gay is not allowed?

 

[archabaddon]

It made an Exodus from the App Store. For great justice!

 

[Legion]

I don't think there's anything wrong with this app. If you don't like it, don't use it. I'm not saying I agree with it. In fact, I disagree with it. But people should have the right to believe what they want.

Like all Jewish people should be exterminated? Like all Muslim's are terrorists? Like all black people should be slaves?

Belief an be an extremely powerful thing, so no, I don't think ignorant beliefs should be tolerated.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I don't think there's anything wrong with this app. If you don't like it, don't use it. I'm not saying I agree with it. In fact, I disagree with it. But people should have the right to believe what they want.

Like all Jewish people should be exterminated? Like all Muslim's are terrorists? Like all black people should be slaves?

Belief an be an extremely powerful thing, so no, I don't think ignorant beliefs should be tolerated.

I hear that quite a bit now, but no one seems able to define an "ignorant belief" to me. Why is it that, for example, your view is fine, but another view is "ignorant" and thus not tolerated?