Protest Apple’s Sponsorship of Anti-Gay Phone App!

Protest Apple’s Sponsorship of Anti-Gay Phone App!

The notorious anti-gay organization “Exodus International” — which says lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people can and should be made heterosexual through prayer — has launched an I-Phone app designed to popularize its messages of hate.

Fortunately, Truth Wins Out (www.TruthWinsOut.org) has partnered with Change.org and local organizations like the Gay Liberation Network to protest Apple’s decision to sponsor Exodus International’s hate. In just a few short weeks, a petition against the app has gotten over 130,000 signatures, but still Apple hasn’t budged.

Therefore, this Saturday, GLN and local organizations around the country are going to protest at Apple stores to let their patrons know what their iconic brand name has been up to:

5 PM
Saturday, March 26
Apple Store
679 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago

Why Protest?

Apple’s sponsorship of the anti-gay app gives legitimacy to anti-LGBT hate speech that it doesn’t deserve. As the Change.org website notes:

“The Exodus website…boasts that its app received a 4+ rating from Apple, meaning that it contains ‘no objectionable content.’

“No objectionable content? We beg to differ. Exodus’ message is hateful and bigoted. They claim to offer ‘freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ’ and use scare tactics, misinformation, stereotypes and distortions of LGBT life to recruit clients. They endorse the use of so-called ‘reparative therapy’ to ‘change’ the sexual orientation of their clients, despite the fact that this form of ‘therapy’ has been rejected by every major professional medical organization including the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, and the American Counseling Association. But reparative therapy isn’t just bad medicine — it’s also very damaging to the self-esteem and mental health of its victims.

“This new iPhone app is the latest move in Exodus’ dangerous new strategy of targeting youth. In light of the recent wave of LGBT youth suicides, this tactic is particularly galling as it creates, legitimizes, and fuels the ostracism of LGBT youth by their families. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, LGBT teens who experienced negative feedback from their family were 8 times more likely to have attempted suicide, 6 times as vulnerable to severe depression, and 3 times more likely to use drugs (Caitlin Ryan, San Francisco State University, June 2009).

“Apple’s app guidelines released in September last year detailed rules on how the company decides what can and cannot be sold through its store: ‘Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected,’ the company states.

“Apple doesn’t allow racist or anti-Semitic apps in its app store, yet it is giving 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. Stand with Truth Wins Out – demand that the iTunes store stop supporting homophobia and remove the Exodus app.”

Please come to the protest, 5:30 PM, Saturday at 679 N. Michigan Avenue, and sign the petition:

http://www.change.org/petitions/demand-that-apple-remove-ex-gay-iphone-app#?opt_new=f&opt_fb=t

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Culture & Style, Politics & Activism, Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.