FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Contact: Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out
Phone: 917-691-5118, 920-265-6023
Email: wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Michael Jones, Change.org
Phone: 617-595-7868
Email: mjones@change.org
Truth Wins Out and Change.org Praise Apple For Wise and Responsible Decision To Remove Anti-Gay iPhone App
BURLINGTON, Vt. – Truth Wins Out and Change.org praised Apple today after the company removed a virulently anti-gay iPhone app launched by Exodus International that promoted “curing” gay people. The move came after 150,000 people signed a Truth Wins Out petition on Change.org calling on Apple to remove the app from iTunes.
“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.”
“We’re thrilled that Apple has removed this ‘gay cure’ app from the iTunes store after more than 150,000 people signed this petition,” said Mike Jones, Editor at Change.org, the platform used by Truth Wins Out to launch the petition. “The message Apple is sending here is clear: there is no place for ‘ex-gay therapy’ on the Apple platform.”
Exodus’ app was not only offensive, but it relied on twisting legitimate research in its effort to dehumanize LGBT people. For example, Gary Remafedi, a researcher from the University of Minnesota, asked Apple earlier in the week to remove Exodus International’s app from its online store because he claimed it grossly distorted his work.
Apple’s move to drop the app brings it in line with every respected mental health organization in the nation. The American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, and American Counseling Association have all rejected “ex-gay” therapy, saying that it can result in serious harm to the mental health of its victims.
“This is not a question of free speech, but of stopping a virulently anti-gay organization from peddling false speech at the expense of vulnerable LGBT youth,” said John Becker, Truth Wins Out’s Director of Communications and Development. “Exodus may pose as the victim, but they are a victimizer that has left a trail of shattered lives and broken families. We are grateful that Exodus has lost at least one platform with which to disperse its dangerous message.”
– 30 –
For interviews and exclusive quotes:
Wayne Besen, Executive Director, Truth Wins Out
wbesen@truthwinsout.org
(917) 691 5118
Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism and the “ex-gay” myth. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
Michael Jones, Editor, Change.org
mjones@change.org
(617) 595 7868
Change.org is the world’s fastest growing platform for social change, with more than 3 million readers a month. Change.org provides daily news and information about important social issues and empowers people to take action.
It’s still hard slogging, though, apparently, P&L, 24 years after publication, which is why Nazis like CA state senator Mark Leno want to use the force of the state to make sure everyone’s learning the “correct” history of the gays. No intolerance will be tolerated! Efforts supported, I’m sure, by Besen and his creepy sycophantic coterie of followers here.
Makyui:
You illicited me for ‘evidence of your god’. First of all, my ‘god’ is ‘God’, The Almighty, the ‘I AM’. Second, I was a bit curt with you as it was a near knee-jerk reaction for me to answer you in such a way and, for it, I apologize. But, here is an article that most would find unexplainable unless there is God:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.godvine.com%2FBaby-Pronounced-Dead-at-Birth-Comes-Back-to-Life-370.html&h=96a7d
Daniel;
I’m inclined to agree with P&D – just look at the hostility and hatred in here for those with an opposite point of view. For, they line up to the letter: re-read all the mentions of the KKK, homohobia, and disagreement being equal to intolerance. By the way, if I understand what the evaluation (that I’ve referred to here previously) said I am judged as being well-balanced and within norms for an average individual. So, does anybody else here have papers proving their sanity?
By the way; I’m in the process of reading the link P&D posted and it’s a real eye-opener. And, as for the ‘ex-gay myth’, there’s a very famous musician who started off as gay, then got married and then, although he had an affair with a backup musician, he fathered a son with the ‘other woman’ and stated that his life changed for the better upon becoming a dad. His name – Marc Bolan. And, he left homosexuality behind long before Exodus International was ever dreamed of.
Dean,
Really that is your proof. There are a number of explanations of how this could have happened. Errors by the doctors in initially declaring the baby dead among others. As for crediting it to your god that’s presumptive. If you are going to go with a supernatural reason why your god. Why not Allah or Buddha or Vishnu or the Flying Spaghetti Monster or the hundreds of other gods worshipped around the world. Again this doesn’t prove anything at all.
Dean, religion has always thrived by rushing to claim that a god is the facilitator of all otherwise unexplainable events. While I can understand how ancient people would develop the notion of gods, I also understand how clever people quickly learned to exploit the notion of gods to amass power and control over the less clever masses.
The fact that you showcase this nice baby-story is typical of how desperate religious people are to seize any scrap of “evidence” to prove their god’s existence. I do give you credit, though, for not trotting out a grilled cheese sandwich with a faint Jesus-image on it. The “God did it” explanation does not win by default for phenomena that cannot be otherwise explained.
If an awesome powerful god wanted to prove his existence, he could easily do so in a way that allowed no room for doubt. He could do far better than occasionally providing little scraps of “evidence.” But I guess he wouldn’t want to do that because then he wouldn’t be able to experience the glorious satisfaction of sending multi-millions of people to hell for being non-believers.
Lots of words, no viable alternative.
Just out of curiosity, what qualifications would you ascribe to a deity?
As for ‘the glorious satisfaction of sending multi-millions of people to hell for being non-believers’. This is a misconception/misunderstanding that dwarfs all others I’ve seen in here. It’s clear from The Bible that God doesn’t want anybody to perish, but even He knows that few won’t. This, due to mankind rationalizing his rotten and (dare I say it) sinful behaviour against others – his includes claimed Christians. And, as contained in Scripture, this hurts Him to no end, but He’s willing to accept the choices we make. If this doesn’t qualify as a patient, long-suffering and loving God, what sort of deity would be preferred to it?
Dean, in the first place, this website is in no way representative of the entire gay community–it attracts people who have dealt with the ex-gay movement. What you’re reading is anger at the people who want to continue this abuse–and you are one of those people. It’s a righteous anger at you and others who continue the ex-gay lies. That you still don’t get that after all this time just shows how completely oblivious you are. You post here a lot but you don’t understand much.
Dean, “what qualifications would you ascribe to a diety”? How about that it not be based on the imaginations of ancient people as they attempt to understand the world. The god of the Hebrew people is no more rational than the Greek pantheon. And the supposedly loving God of the New Testament makes no sense at all. I don’t ascribe any qualifications to a diety because I’ve never seen anything to prove that there is one. And if there is it cares nothing about us.
Dean, considering the fact that you keep coming on here to tell gay people that they’re evil or wrong and should change–I take your comment “just look at the hostility and hatred in here for those with an opposite point of view” as just another confirmation of your mendacity. You come on here with hostile intentions and you’re met with a hostile reaction–what a surprise. Do you really think the GLBT people who come on this site should react to your hate filled posts with rainbows and unicorns? What you’re seeing is a reflection of your own intentions.
Daniel;
Believe as you wish, that is your right. But, there’s a saying: ‘There are no atheists in foxholes’.
As you haven’t found worth in The New Testament, God’s words won’t reach you. Be thankful for the life you have and enjoy it. Don’t worry about anything else but what makes you happy. But, most importantly, don’t give a thought about death. At that point, according to the atheistic notion, you will cease to exist, so all your worries and suffering will be over.
Becky & Daniel;
To be told one has ‘the brains of a rotten chestnut’ within a handful of honest entries shows the sarcastic and vitriolic anger which I have seen repeatedly, here. To be accused of coming here with ulterior motives illustrates paranoid suspicion further as, instead of trying to learn background information on the issue, individuals such as A.C., P&D and myself are intreated to hostility and hatred that should only be reserved for people of the worst sort.
Does this mean I harbour ill will of any sort to those, here, who take part in this war of words? Hardly. But, I do truly understand your perspective as well as the need to attack one who isn’t your enemy. Read or watch my postings.
Dean from Canada:
I’ve had about enough of you today. Come back next week if you want to comment. If you slither back here today, I will delete all your past comments and block your e-mail.
Get an attitude readjustment over the weekend and try again next week.
Thanks for your cooperation.
Dean, you said to Daniel:
“Believe as you wish, that is your right. But, there’s a saying: ‘There are no atheists in foxholes’.”
That’s another well-worn scrap of “evidence” for God’s existence that people cling to. The sad thing is that they are forced to cling to scraps because there is no genuine evidence.
And even if the foxhole quote were true, it proves nothing. The number of believers in God’s existence does nothing to prove it – it only proves the believers were successfully indoctrinated.
Dean, it’s obvious that genuine evidence, reasoning, and facts are irrelevant trivialities in your world of magic reality.
There is no truth to the saying “There are no atheists in foxholes”. Atheists who’ve served in various wars have been correcting that lie ever since it was first uttered. To hear about all the atheists in foxholes contact Edwin Kagin who has worked tirelessly to debunk this myth.
http://www.edwinkagin.com/documents/atheists_in_foxholes.htm
Dean, really? You care that some stranger said you have the brains of a rotten chestnut? Really? Buck up! Stop being such a cry-baby. If you’re going to go on a website devoted to exposing the evil the ex-gay industry does and post ignorant, uninformed things trying to “church” the people on that site (many of whom have already been through the ex-gay and anti-gay religious mills) then being told your stupid is the least of your worries. If people are so mean to you why do you keep coming back? What are you? A masochist?
I’d have said “moron”, Becky, but “masochist” works too.
“Yes, we are quite tolerant and allow dissenting opinions”
Aaahh, until they don’t, that is, Dean. You’d have been more consistent and less ridiculous-looking if you’d just banned us at the get-go, Wayne. Like most leftist blogs do with any non-leftist commenters.
Dean’s gone for the weekend? I’m gonna miss him. Impressive…all the people he debated with. Rest, Dean. You’ve earned it.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/266474
P&L–he didn’t “debate” he just typed his bizarre conspiracy theories. You two are a lot alike. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is you.
You know becky. Sometimes we need a guy like that Dean from canada. Even if all we do is laugh at him. He got this room going. Neat that was. Just one guy did that. If I’m him then half the people in here don’t exist. They might be somebody else too.
No one needs a guy like Dean from Canada. He’s mentally ill and his ranting on the internet is only deepening his mental illness.
P&L being a bigot is nothing to be proud about. You should be ashamed of who you are and use the more accurate name “Fatuous & Loud”.
A.C. said “You’d have been more consistent and less ridiculous-looking if you’d just banned us at the get-go, Wayne. Like most leftist blogs do with any non-leftist commenters.”.
A classic case of projection. LGBT blogs universally allow opposing viewpoints and only ban after extreme and long standing abuse. Contrast that to religious right wing blogs which almost always moderate comments and never allow pro-LGBT comments to appear in the first place. The fact that you are still hear pushing your hate and idiocy is proof of the openness of LGBT blogs and its hilarious that you try to accuse this blog of not allowing dissenting opinions after you’ve been repeatedly allowed to behave like an a*****e here.
Yep, well said Priya. AC isn’t interested in free speech or fairness. Just a typical opportunistic right wing schmuck looking to push an agenda.
Truth is irrelevant to these types of losers. They will lie and cheat and do or say just about anything to gain an advantage.
Fortunately, our readers are too smart for such undesirables.
Right. You’re a fountain of tolerance. For bigots like Joe Jervis, for example. Just not for “intolerants” like me. Seriously, Priya, what color is the sky in your weirdly ignorant little world?
Most of your readers are robots, Wayne. Sorta comes with the territory in the mind of the bigoted leftist. So rest easy!
A.C.
You are a joke and a small-minded, unaccomplished nobody who thinks he’s slick because he can parrot propaganda from the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
The fact you used the term “leftist” tells us all we need to know about you. You are an uninspired, unoriginal loser without a single thought not first manufactured by Glenn Beck.
And, by the way, you aren’t even on the side of the majority anymore. Just a lone voice spewing discredited, fringe ideologies.
Thank God I’m not you!
One more thing, AC.
Say what you want, but at least my views are public and I’m accountable. Who are you? Some insipid loser who spends all your spare time on my blog (no time for your family?) talking trash.
At least I use my real name. What does AC stand for? a*s Crack?
It’s always adorable to me when right wing morons try to feign intellectual superiority.
It always begs the question: Why is it that higher levels of education correlate so strongly with more liberal views? Is it just the normal course of things, or is it, as most pantsh*tting wingnuts believe about most things, another vast conspiracy designed to make conservatives look like idiots?
Proud & Loud–what’s this “we” stuff. Are you pretending to be gay?
Becky – what’s with this single word stuff? Use the dictionary if you can’t understand ‘we’.
Oh Loud etc… you’re such a wit. I guess you are the proof that gay people aren’t always smart.
Oh Becky…you assume too much. You know what happens when we assume.
To A.C. & P&L (my apologies for referring to you as P&D previously);
If your desire is to stay here, my best wishes and prayers to you. If you look me up on the information superhighway I’m sure you’ll have abundant fortune in finding me. Better yet would be if we meet in person.
Wayne Besen;
After seeing presentations and reading biographies on you and how you came from what was referred to as a ‘privileged’ family, it’s no real surprise to find you as I have. It’s good to know that my evaluative skills are in no way getting duller as I age. Know this, though: I’ve known not a few like yourself who have also come from the same kind of privilege and ‘respectable’ homes and they taught me a heck of a lot about power, and how it can be used, maintained and even expanded on in manners most effective. It’s actually quite easy once one learns a few basic tools…
On second though, nevermind. Forget I said anything and put these silly lines out of your mind.
For everybody else here:
Nothing.
BYEEEEEEEEEE!:D
Dean:
Yet another lie. I came from a middle class home, not a “privileged ” home as you falsely stated. The main privilege was that I had two loving parents.
Like a typical right wing scumbag, you operate off misinformation, fear, smear, and innuendo. As a result, you are officially banned from this site.
We don’t need liars who come equipped with their own facts. It will not be tolerated.
LOLOLOL Dean. If you’re talking about my use of the word ‘privileged’ earlier, then the word doesn’t mean what you think it means. I was talking about privilege in the sense that (Christian, in that case) people are given special privileges just because they’re Christian.
Your complaints about how you know so much of Wayne’s supposed privilege and power are hilariously ironic, all things considered.
P&L–your support for Dean already mad an a*s of you.
I’ll still miss him. No matter what you say about him. Hey Makyui, was he referring to bios and presentations you did? Hey Wayne, where the rules of conduct?
Hey A.C. I think I found that Dean from Canada. I’m not sure. Interested?
I just finished reading The Pink Swastika. I’m shocked. I almost joined truth wins out. After reading this book I did an about face. Especially after what I saw since coming here. You all should read it too. This old war horse isn’t joining the losing side in a war.
I read it for a mixture of black comedy (for it is a joke) and did so after a Jewish heterosexual friend in Haifa told me to read it.
“They are lying about how people like you were killed, and blaming you for your own persecution…..it is only a step away from blaming us for our persecution and deaths, so you should read this”
He is a conservative, hetero Jew “Proud and Loud” and became a Gay rights activist after reading the piece of lies and misinformation called “the Pink Swastika”.
Anyone with sense, and real knowledge of history, would do the same
So Loud…, do you believe everything you read? I suggest you read “The Men With the Pink Triangle”–at least it’s historically accurate and not right wing propaganda.
Loud and Proud:
I’m so glad that you did not join this organization. We want to be proud of our members — as we want them to be proud of our work.
Anyone who actually thinks the Pink Swastika is a good book is not a good fit for Truth Wins Out. Please try the Nazi Party, the Klan, or the American Family Association. I think you will share more in common with such organizations.
Loud and Proud–I’m having a hard time figuring out what exactly you’re proud of?
I can tell what you’re loud about though.
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/newage.htm
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