Apple Approves App to “Cure” Homosexuality

Added by Annika L. Krugel on March 22, 2011

An application for the Apple iPhone and iPad, developed to “cure” homosexuality, is being heavily criticised by gay and lesbian activists.

According to the anti-gay Christian organisation, Exodus International, who developed the application that was released to the iTunes store on February 15, it can teach its users “freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus”.

The application had been given a “4+” rating by Apple indicating that, according to the company, it does not contain any “objectionable content”. This is despite a statement released last year by Apple outlining detailed requirements on products sold in 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 statement reads.

US think-tank Truth Wins Out (TWO), said in a statement that “Exodus’ message is hateful and bigoted,” and the not-for-profit organisation has launched an online petition on Change.org against the app, which to date has been signed by 76,000 people.

Senior Policy Advisor from the NSW Gay and Lesbian Lobby, Senthorun Raj, said that the claim that sexual orientation can be “cured” through religious therapy, and the fostering of a culture intolerant of diverse sexualities, is quite worrying. “These attitude reflected in religious applications encourages people that being gay is a moral defect that can be cured. It shames people on the basis on who they are,” he told nine.msn.

An iTunes customer also reacted to the app saying: “What a shameful, deceptive app. What’s next, Apple? An app for KKK complete with GPS tracker of nearby black people?”