TotallyOz Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 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. In the petition letter addressed to Steve Jobs, the Apple chief executive, and posted last week on the Change.org site, objectors said: "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'. "This is a double standard that has the potential for devastating consequences. Apple needs to be told, loud and clear, that this is unacceptable." The objectors called on people to continue signing the petition last night. Noting that the app no longer appears to be available, they wrote: "Does that means Apple has pulled the app, like more than 140,000 customers have asked? It's hard to tell; Apple hasn't issued an official statement yet. Until they do, it's important that we keep up the pressure, so that Apple hears loud and clear that "ex-gay" therapy deserve no place in the App Store." Earlier this week Dr Gary Remafedi, director of the Youth and AIDS Projects, accused Exodus of distorting his research into homosexuality and called on Apple to remove the app. In a letter to Apple Remafedi, director of the youth and Aids projects and a professor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, said the app "erroneously cites my research in support of claims that homosexuality can be changed ... Associating my work with that of the ex-gay ministry and other unfounded treatments is professionally injurious and grievous." He told the Minneapolis-St Paul Star Tribune that he had challenged many misrepresentations of his work over the years and has had "100%" success in doing so. Apple had responded to his letter. "They said they are on it," Remafedi said. "I am simply pointing out a problem. I'm sure they will do the right thing." http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/mar/23/gay-cure-app-apple-iphone Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted March 23, 2011 Members Posted March 23, 2011 I was very surprsed when I first heard that Apple was peddaling this app. It seemed contrary to my view of the Apple mentality and the Cupertino atmosphere. It is good to see that they have done a 180 in this. Better late than never. I do think they need to address why they originally supported the app and why they have withdrawn that support before this is a closed deal. It is just pressure or have they had a heart felt reassessment of what they lend the Apple logo to for support. Quote
Members MsGuy Posted March 23, 2011 Members Posted March 23, 2011 TY, Apple set itself up for this hoorah when it decided to censor apps. And it not entirely clear to me why folks who run/patronize a site like MER would be cheering on censorship by internet mobs. Hmmmmm? Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted March 23, 2011 Members Posted March 23, 2011 TY, Apple set itself up for this hoorah when it decided to censor apps. And it not entirely clear to me why folks who run/patronize a site like MER would be cheering on censorship by internet mobs. Hmmmmm? I agree that Apple did set itself up. I thought it a mistake for them to censor apps. But once they decided to go down that road then they lend support to activities and causes by their choices, intentionally or not. If they are going to designate winners and losers then they have an obligation to make wise choices or bear the blowback when they fall short. Quote
Members MsGuy Posted March 23, 2011 Members Posted March 23, 2011 Ty, I doubt that Apple saw failure to ban an app as the equivalent of an endorsement of it by Apple but, yes, that's exactlly the pickle they got themselves into when they started down this road. ---- The notions underlying free speech are foreign to our natural inclinations. It requres quite a lot of education to accustom folks to permitting advocacy of stuff they personally find repugnant. Seems to me you are missing a "teaching opportunity" here to reinforce the idea that shutting up wrongheaded people is a dangerous business. ---- Damn, I'm starting to turn into Lucky. Time for me to exercise a bit of self-censorship and shut the hell up. Sorry, copyrighted image removed. TY Quote
Guest zipperzone Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Ty, I doubt that Apple saw failure to ban an app as the equivalent of an endorsement of it by Apple but, yes, that's exactlly the pickle they got themselves into when they started down this road. ---- The notions underlying free speech are foreign to our natural inclinations. It requres quite a lot of education to accustom folks to permitting advocacy of stuff they personally find repugnant. Seems to me you are missing a "teaching opportunity" here to reinforce the idea that shutting up wrongheaded people is a dangerous business. ---- Damn, I'm starting to turn into Lucky. Time for me to exercise a bit of self-censorship and shut the hell up. Sorry, copyrighted image removed. TY Careful there - you just posted a copyrighted image. God will get you for that Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted March 24, 2011 Members Posted March 24, 2011 Careful there - you just posted a copyrighted image. God will get you for that Thanks for the catch. You get the eagle eye award for the day. Quote
Members MsGuy Posted March 24, 2011 Members Posted March 24, 2011 Hahahahahahaha, sorry about that! I blame it on my great great great grandfather's pirate blood coming out in me. Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I wonder if they'll pull the ap I'm developing to cure heterosexuality? Quote
