Petition Against ‘Ex-Gay’ iPhone app Hits 135,000…and counting
43About the Author
Wayne Besen is the Founding Executive Director of Truth Wins Out and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth, 2003). In 2010, Besen was awarded the “Visionary Award” at the Out Music Awards for organizing the American Prayer Hour, an event which shined a spotlight on the role American evangelicals played in the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
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Hey Wayne,
100,000, Awesome! Almost every person I forwarded the petition to signed it and notified me within minutes. Your persistence is highly valued. I will certainly donate to your site for all your help.
Thanks!
End the discrimination now!
i am really impress that you got 100,000. congrats!
@iDavid & Emily: Thanks :)
You guys are morons.
The simplest thing in life you misunderstand, and worse you promote your missunderstood views.
For a species to exist it needs to reproduce – this is why there is natural attraction of a man & woman. BUT, people have fetishes, all kinds. Same sex couples are the most common. Enjoy your fetishes, but f**k off & stop pushing it on everyone else! WE DONT CARE!
You people are so confused you dont even know what sex you are – its simple, look in the mirror! If you want to have a sexual fetish, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!
Okay, now draw a picture illustrating your comment.
“You people are so confused you dont even know what sex you are – its simple, look in the mirror!”
Yup, that’s it.
Clearly a man who looks, dresses, acts, and presents himself like a man doesn’t know that he’s a man.
And everyone knows that the only thing that defines a woman is whether or not she’s had a penis inside of her.
You’re a brilliant one, you are.
There is no longer a place in our home for any Apple products. Not only was it appalling that this app was put out there in the first place but the fact that Apple did not immediately have it removed clearly shows that they don’t care enough.
My daughter is gay and the most beautiful and amazing person I have ever met, how dare they propose to “make her better”! Morons.
It should be allowed!
I agree that people who take on this type of ignorant and demeaning beliefs not only hurt those who are gay and those who are not. I agree there is no cure for “The Gay”. I agree that a person should be warned about the snake oil they are going to buy.
What I disagree with is that it should be banned.
When someone comes along and tries to tell you that the sky is neon pink, do you get angry and tell them they are complete morons? No, you laugh in their face and make fun of the asininery that they are trying to sell. You do not buy their products, but shun them. You make them look like fools for having foolish beliefs.
This anger that we all want to smack anyone who would shill this crap is justifiable. Unfortunately, it becomes ammo. It is turned and used as a platform. The anger at this stupid app has made it a national story so even more people heard of it.
I have dumb beliefs and so do you. No matter how you cut it some of my paradigm is way skewed, and so is yours. So sometimes I need an app for those skewed views. It doesn’t make it right, it just what I am in need of. If you don’t like the app don’t buy it. Slam it for being ignorant and hurtful, but allow people to choose who and what they want to be. Even if that is a messed up, self hating homosexual, who has deity issues.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It may not be mine, or yours, but it must be someones.
Please, let us not raise our voices in anger when we are hurt. No, instead stand on the strong foundation of compassion, and truth; and laugh in their feeble minded faces.
Thank you for reading this.
Ben
Living simple, to simply live
Loving all, so all can love
Letting life go free, for a life of liberty
Ben, this has little to do with being “hurt,” and everything to do with the fact that Exodus is specifically targeting children/teens right now, as well as the fact that the app explicitly goes against their own stated policies. I will expound on this in a long post tomorrow.
“Please, let us not raise our voices in anger when we are hurt.”
I beg to differ. Read this:
http://gretachristina.typepad.com/greta_christinas_weblog/2007/10/atheists-and-an.html
Granted, it’s about atheists, but it has parallels here and the message is the same.
So, yeah. Your concern has been noted.
Ben, why are you trying to stifle the free speech rights of American lgbt citizens? Your whole post begins on a false premise. Are Rush Limbaugh’s free speech rights being violated because ABC refuses to let him be the host of “Dancing With the Stars”? Hello? You are totally ignorant of what free speech is. Exodus can peddle their bs on street corners and run down churches. But every company on Earth isn’t obligated to give them a platform. That whole concept is so ludicrous. OMG, right now FoxNews is totally violating Lady Gaga’s free speech rights because they are refusing to allow her to replace Glenn Beck!!
I wouldn’t object at all to Exodus’ having an Android app, because Android is an open platform which anyone can develop for. The iPhone is a closed platform. Any software available for the iPhone has been passed by Apple (which is one reason why I’ll never buy an iPhone: I like to actually own things I buy). And Apple are very restrictive about the software they let through. They block a lot of stuff. So when they allow this, that sends a message that they’re endorsing anti-gay bigotry.
An unusual position for a tech company.
TRiG.
I respect the idea that, there is a process through which apple does process things. They have a certain criteria that must have been met by this app.
Do we allow then the bible as a app? It does spout some hateful things, and not just about gays. Do you disallow anything from Rush Limbaugh, because he is a hate filled corporate shill? Do you allow anything that has to do with taboo, or religion, or polotics, what about pedobear? What about KKK, Black Panthers, Westboro Baptist Church, Anti-muslim center groups, Conspiracy theorist, the list goes on. I find the whole idea of pedobear, horrific, but it suits someones fancy I guess.
Its not just about free speech, but fairness with it. I do not want it removed. If it is allowed to be removed because people felt intimidated by an app, then what is next. When christians get loud enough does the Koran get removed? How about apps that give information on birth control, and abortions as options?
This is not about free speech for the people making the app, but for the one using it. We are all in very different places in our lives, can we really judge another man’s paradigm? Do I allow him/her to make their own decision, or is it my moral/ethical obligation to force my views, because I feel an injustice?
I was once a pastor. Now, I am not an atheist, nor deitiest (not a real word). I believe that somewhere in the middle we must find a commonality. If you can show me tangible evidence to prove or disprove a god, then I may make a decision. Our pride has gotten in, and eaten at the human heart. We believe our beliefs must be true, therefore another’s wrong. It is what has caused the greatest rift in man, and taught us to hate.
No, it is not right, and yes you should let someone know how hurtful an action and thought is, but we should allow them to display their thoughts and ideas, otherwise it is in part social engineering. And if we really new where our consumer-ship dollars really went to support, you would be even more disgusted, truly.
Oh, and since when hasn’t christianity focused their beliefs on children? Hey, that was my job. I taught that homosexuality was a sin like any other, and it was in my belief that it was a matter of the heart and not genetics. I was taught to teach hateful mindsets towards not just towards homosexuality, but Catholics (our brothers), Jews (killing Christ), Arabs (they pray to another god), Mormons (a cult), Teachers (idiots because they teach evolution), Art, Sex, Environmentalism, Democrats, Liberals, All of California (too liberal a state), ect. It is not new that a religion would do this. Lets educate our kids then. Invest in our future by donating to organizations that help educate. We must move not only with our mouths but with our wallets. Here is a list of some great charities that work with sexual education, Queer rights, and other social justice issues.
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Empire State Pride Agenda Foundation
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
SAGE
http://www.stonewall.org.uk/
http://www.pflag.org
I love this discussion, and I am glad people are so worried that so dumb jerk would put this kind of thing out there. I really just want to point out hoe ignorant the ideas of this organization truly are I have read their stuff, its batty.
-Ben
sorry my last paragraph is so horrible I am getting sleepy.
“What about KKK, Black Panthers, Westboro Baptist Church, Anti-muslim center groups, Conspiracy theorist, the list goes on.”
They already don’t let those in (except Black Panthers? I dunno). They don’t let racist apps in. They don’t let defamatory apps in.
But apparently when it comes to gay people, that isn’t defamatory enough?
Except that isn’t true either, because they’d previously pulled the Manhattan Declaration app and other apps that were spreading lies about gay people.
You talk about fairness, but you don’t seem to realize that what you’re doing is asking for Exodus to have special privilege when it comes to circumventing Apple’s rules. Why?
“This is not about free speech for the people making the app, but for the one using it.”
That’s b******t, because then Apple should be forced to accept any app that is brought to them, with no choice to reject it. This isn’t about free speech, PERIOD. It’s about holding Apple to the f*****g rules that they put into place in the first place, and that everyone who submits an app has to agree to.
“Do I allow him/her to make their own decision, or is it my moral/ethical obligation to force my views, because I feel an injustice?”
If you’re knowingly watching people being manipulated and coerced into harming or even killing themselves, then you’d better damn well feel an ethical obligation to step in, or else I want nothing to do with you. When children are killing themselves because they “let God down”, why wouldn’t you want to step in?
“[W]e should allow them to display their thoughts and ideas, otherwise it is in part social engineering.”
This isn’t affecting Exodus’s free speech one teensy tiny little dot. They get to parade their b******t in the public square, but they don’t have the right to peddle it absolutely everywhere that they want.
And no, there IS no middle ground when it comes to treating people like human beings and watching children be preyed upon. Screw the wishy-washy b******t.
like
Sorry Ben, I got riled up about halfway through that. Please don’t take what I said personally. I’m glad that you’re on our side with regards to educating children and families positively about LGBT matters.
I just really disagree with your live-and-let-live stance and think this is something that really does need to be aggressively fought.
Ben—
With your background in the devisive terrorizing mechanics used by churches to destroy the moral fiber of our country, you ought to be at the head of the class to stop bigotry hate lies and separation tactics, all for which Exodus stands. It seems you learned nothing about righteousness while exacting your ministry, short of supporting the status quo.
PS Exodus is vulgar manipulative seductive anti gay religious psychosis in it’s most devious and vile form. The biggest mistake our forefathers made in relugious separation was allowing them rights to perform legal crimes against humanity. Anything to educate the public as this newsworthy app controversy is doing, is the best publicity possible.
“I just really disagree with your live-and-let-live stance and think this is something that really does need to be aggressively fought.”
Yes, live to let live. To allow one man have his choice in personal moral and ethic philosophy. To try to allow him the infringements on myself, and my neighbor, to be as minimal as possible, while allowing his fullest personal choice of pursuit of happiness.
The Ideas that are spewed by this an any other hate-filled group are old medicine, mumbojumbo, juju, magic. They are part of an old religion dealing with things in the old ideas. In ways that that cannot/will not see true individualized equality. They view angry hateful response as justification for their actions.
We are bigger than meeting them on a base level of just getting mad when a company allows other to get the knowledge that might be found offensive instead rebut it. Encourage groups that are making apps for kids who just have plan old questions. Encourage everyone to know more about their personal identity and how they identify gender.
This is a culture war. Then change the culture your in. Don’t help make stupid ideas make national/international news. There is no such thing as bad PR. We announce to the world that our countries voodoo doctors think they can hug “the gay” right out of a human, through the power of a man, said to have been dead, then rose into the heavens, always coming back much, much to soon.
We just announced to the world this idea because we were mad that the idea was so stupid. Have we not only encouraged people to go to that site, but especially to those who may be hurt by reading this slime.
Instead, solidarity. We laugh! “You Fools”, “You Self-absorbed Narcissist”, “You backwards people”. Letting media know that we think that this app belongs in the dumbest app catagorey. Make a story, sure, but make them look foolish. We agree that people of the human race are equals, not mater, any reason period.
Don’t encourage the view that they are interesting, and potentially able to “save” someone. Show the science,show the truth. If I tell you tomorrow is Saturday, you would show me a calendar. Bickering and pinching will not solve a war, but education absolutely will.
One fix:
This is a culture war. Then change the culture your in. Don’t help make stupid ideas make national/international news. There is no such thing as bad publicity. We announce to the world that our countries voodoo doctors think they can hug “the gay” right out of a human, through the power of a man, said to have been dead, then rose into the heavens, always coming back much, much to soon.
There’s nothing stupid about wanting Apple to be consistent with how they enforce their rules.
We don’t have to tolerate deliberate and harmful lies (defamation, which is against Apple’s Terms of Service) any more than racial minorities have to tolerate deliberate and harmful lies.
We deal with Exodus with ridicule and truth. We deal with their app by pointing out that it’s against Apple’s rules.
Sure, but make sure that we are fair and just in what is being called defamation, because therein lies a very fine line.
Saying that being gay is a disgusting disease that will earn you an eternity in Hell, that the “gay agenda” wants to prey on your children, and that you’re better off/healthier/more “holy” by denying it and living a life of loneliness, misery, and self-loathing?
Yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty big lie, there.
Ben,
What u r proposing would be similar to not protesting for our gay rights in the street, changing hearts and minds as we speak the truth. If we just stay home and laugh at voodoo priests, which happen to have a majority control over the people, where in the world do you think we would be in this culture war right now? I’d say about 1973. I think u r about 50 years in the future, then will be the time we can all crack a beer and laugh about this. But while kids are hanging themselves in their bedrooms, i’m afraid your brand of passive warfare may be way out of sync.
It´s catching on in Sweden too. Especially in the Mac blogging community. I´m still amazed that something like this is happening in 2011. Shouldn´t people be a bit more educated by now? I get sick just thinking about people being so narrow minded and just plain stupid.
http://www.dagensmedia.se/nyheter/dig/article3132163.ece
http://macworld.idg.se/2.1038/1.374970/homosexuella-till-attack-mot-apple
http://feber.se/mac/art/204801/apple_godknde_app_som_botar_ho/
La homosexualidad designa las relaciones entre hombres o mujeres que experimentan una atracción sexual, exclusiva o predominante, hacia personas del mismo sexo. Reviste formas muy variadas a través de los siglos y las culturas. Su origen psíquico permanece en gran medida inexplicado. Apoyándose en la Sagrada Escritura que los presenta como depravaciones graves (cf Gn 19, 1-29; Rm 1, 24-27; 1 Co 6, 10; 1 Tm 1, 10), la Tradición ha declarado siempre que “los actos homosexuales son intrínsecamente desordenados” (Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe, Decl. Persona humana, 8). Son contrarios a la ley natural. Cierran el acto sexual al don de la vida. No proceden de una verdadera complementariedad afectiva y sexual. No pueden recibir aprobación en ningún caso.
Ignacio: Why should anyone believe in a “sacred scripture” written in the bronze age by superstitious goat herders? And why should anyone pay attention to some “congregation of faith” of the roman church. Do you not realize that this “church” is the last living vestige of the roman empire, founded by Constantine not by Peter or Jesus? Why would anyone in the 21st Century give a rat’s a*s about what this self promoting, medieval-rooted, political organization has to say today? What credibility do they have? Enough examples of shielding child rapists and the promoting of right wing politicians to protect the Vatican’s interests exist in just the last 50 years to make any thinking person puke at the thought of them being a credible source of any moral statement. Get your head out of your a*s, bud.
Ignacio, su Biblia promueve la esclavitud y el genocidio. No es una guía moral, y francamente no me importa lo que usted piensa es bíblico y santo. Probar su caso con pruebas reales, no un cuento de hadas.
“… los hombres y mujeres con tendencias homosexuales «deben ser acogidos con respeto, compasión y delicadeza. Se evitará, respecto a ellos, todo signo de discriminación injusta». Tales personas están llamadas, como los demás cristianos, a vivir la castidad. Pero la inclinación homosexual es «objetivamente desordenada», y las prácticas homosexuales «son pecados gravemente contrarios a la castidad».
Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica y Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe (Carta sobre la atención pastoral a las personas homosexuales)
@Evan
Hi Evan, Thx for the “hat tip”. I will surely include “and staff” w my addresses to Wayne as it is needed. Thx for yours and your staffs great efforts
Wayne and/or Staff,
Is Courage.org owned by TWO? I’m just curious, whose idea was it to start this petition that is now going world wide?
Thanks
I think this could be the hammer we have been looking for to smash Exodus to bits. Though im no advertising expert it would seem taking the presidents charactor apart layer by layer right down to a sham ill consumated marriage would be pivitol in a full demolition project. Either way i don’t see a better spotlight happening again for this issue, ever. Good luck and God speed.
Great Apple! How many of those who sign against you now for this app will sign against an antimuslims app?
Paul Francus–if you really think Apple would allow an anti-Muslim app you’re really in a dream world. And, quite honestly, I bet there are a lot of the people who signed this petition who would sign it. Would you also like to ask how many Muslims signed this petition?
Ignacio….its just Catholicism…its not even REAL Christianity, just the pronouncements of drag queens living in Rome in gilded splendor. they are the moral reprobates of the worst kind.
Why would any moral person care what a bunch of rich men in dresses who protect and hide the names of the child molesters they employ thinks?
They have NO religious or moral authority now. None. De nada. Zip.
WOW! What a firestorm this topic has fostered. I particularly like the “supportive” comments for Exodus. Oh, and the fact that we are “morons” from the guy who just wants us to keep quiet and go away so he and like-minded others can enjoy their “freedom” to kick us around like a football unhindered by our complaints. He is worried about the demise of the human race because “we” don’t reproduce, of which I’m fairly certain he has done more than his share.
Live and let live? Gladly. Except that premise is based on my 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt mind thine own f*****g business.” AND while we’re at this “live and let live” thing, let’s be fair and be fully recognized and treated as equals under the law while we’re living and letting live. OK?
@iDavid:
No, Courage isn’t us. But we were the sole originators of the Change.org petition. :)
Ohh, Ignacio, tan cerca! Pero el intolerancia tiene de todas formas. : c
“Pero la inclinación homosexual es «objetivamente desordenada», y las prácticas homosexuales «son pecados gravemente contrarios a la castidad».”
La evidencia de que esto es cierto, por favor. Real, pruebas objetivas, no las opiniones de un hombre leyendo un texto mítico.
No parecen darse cuenta de que cuando alguien dice que ser homosexual es “objetivamente desordenada”, NO son “aceptar” las personas con “Respeto, Compasión y Delicadeza”. Se les está tratando con la vergüenza y la inhumanidad. Sustituir la palabra “homosexual” con la palabra “cristiano”y ver cómo se siente usted.
You gays p**s me off. Why can’t you play your sick games behind closed doors & shut the FK UP. We don’t want to know if you choose to make love to someone of the same sex, but you have to realize YOU AREN”T NORMAL, so stop pushing it on us! Why should you have rights acknowledging this? If you have rights, so should people suffering from Objectum-Sexuality. That a known, diagnosed problem with some people – should they be able to marry objects, and have the legal rights that come with it?? They have more right to then you people do.
There’s a reason 2 men, or 2 women can’t have babies – because nature knows it’s wrong, so you can’t spread your genes.
Have fun, enjoy what you want but don’t push it on the world, especially when you are warping children’s minds with your sexual fantasies. Dicks
@ Gianni
What does the law need to recognise about you people? That you take it in the bum? You want a certificate? Tell me specifically what you want out of the law? A gay pension? Discounts on STD treatment?
“treated as equals under the law”, how aren’t you? Do you want a new sex classification acknowledged? Male / Female and, Gays?
If this is about having kids, then GFY. Like I said, there’s a reason you cant have kids with 2 dicks & 2 bums. They need a mum, not 2 perverts.
Breiling, no one’s pushing you to be gay so stop your whining that gays are “pushing it” on you because they obviously aren’t. Gays don’t keep their sexality behind closed doors because you don’t keep yours behind closed doors. You start hiding your sexuality, pretend you don’t have a wife or girlfriend, never talk about who you find attractive, never hold hands in public or put up a picture of your shaggin’ partner and then maybe you can ask gays to do the same.
Go help the starving or homeless in Japan instead of waisting your time whining about people who aren’t hurting anyone, you useless sack of s**t.
Hey BBB: Guess what? When you don’t control for the fact that heterosexuals can have children with virtually no qualifications besides the fact that they got drunk, kids do BETTER with gay parents. Now, that might not feel right in your little tiny little wee brain, but, it’s a verifiable fact. When the controls are put back in so that gay 2 parent households are compared with straight 2 parent households, it comes out about the same.
Why are you so threatened by gays? Why do you keep coming back to a gay website? Is this the only way you feel like you can be around gay people without “sinning”? Sad.