"Gay Cure" App Being Pulled from iTunes
Late last night we reported that a heavily criticized "gay cure" iPhone app had been removed from iTunes by Apple, after an online petition on Change.org gathered more than 146,000 signatures. The offending app -- the creation of Exodus International -- was an effort to reach tech-savvy LGBT young adults, with a message that they could "change" their sexual orientation and be "freed from homosexuality."Apple has yet to release a statement on the matter, but major international media outlets have covered the story of the app being pulled from iTunes. Fox News was among the first with an article, and they spoke to a staff member at Exodus International who confirmed that their app developer was told that the app was pulled.
"We received notification from our developer that Apple has indeed pulled the app from the store," said Exodus' Jeff Buchanan.
Several other press outlets were quick to pick up this story, too. The Guardian was out with a story last night, noting that pressure from more than 146,000 people who signed the petition on Change.org sent a loud message to the tech giant.
"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," The Guardian reports.
Many others have picked up on the story, too, including the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, Metro (UK), the Advocate, Metro Weekly, Cult of Mac, Fast Company and others.
Stay tuned as we wait for Apple to make an official statement confirming whether the app has indeed been pulled. In the meantime, Truth Wins Out, the group that started the petition on Change.org, has issued a statement commending what looks like Apple's decision to remove this "gay cure" app.
"Apple made a wise and responsible decision to dump an offensive app that demonized gay and lesbian people,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “The real winners today are LGBT youth who are safer and less at risk for receiving Exodus’ malice and misinformation.”
Indeed, let's hope that Apple is sending the message that "gay cures" and "ex-gay" therapy have no place on the iTunes platform.
Photo credit: Yutaka Tsutano
Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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