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Space Bar
Joined: 20 Oct 2010
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 Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:27 am Post subject: Gay cure iPhone app |
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"Ex-gay" iPhone app
Exodus International, the notorious "ex-gay" organization, has just released an iPhone app that, according to its website, is "designed to be a useful resource for men, women, parents, students, and ministry leaders." The Exodus website further 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. |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Gay cure iPhone app |
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| Quote: |
| 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. |
Fair criticism. Does that mean this app will be their next target? Bad science = bad app, right?
| Quote: |
| 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). |
Ah, yes, never attempt to change someone's behavior, as that's likely to result in anxiety and all the unwanted side-effects associated with it. I guess this app is offensive, too?
| Quote: |
| 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. |
Absolutely. Hating someone for his race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and/or sexual orientation is obviously perfectly equivalent to disapproving of a particular behavior, attempting to convince people that the behavior is wrong and in some way harmful, and offering council to change the behavior. *edit* After actually checking the app description, it appears that only the last of those three actually applies. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| When the Catholic Church released it's confession app, I was disappointed to see it cost money, which preventing me from having a little fun with it. Fortunately this one seems to be free. I'm going to download it after work and see what the fuss is about. |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Gay cure iPhone app |
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| geldedgoat wrote: |
| Fair criticism. Does that mean this app will be their next target? Bad science = bad app, right? |
Didn't check it out, but if the app is suggesting homeopathy will cure your cancer or something, then yes, it should be.
| geldedgoat wrote: |
| Ah, yes, never attempt to change someone's behavior, as that's likely to result in anxiety and all the unwanted side-effects associated with it. I guess this app is offensive, too? |
Yes, because being an alcoholic is the same thing as being gay. 
| geldedgoat wrote: |
| Absolutely. Hating someone for his race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and/or sexual orientation is obviously perfectly equivalent to disapproving of a particular behavior, attempting to convince people that the behavior is wrong and in some way harmful, and offering council to change the behavior. |
It's not an abstinence coach, it's a cure for teh gay! If the behavior is a direct, natural result of one's sexual orientation, then what is the difference between trying to change the behavior and trying to change the sexual orientation? Is it OK to be homosexual as long as you never act on your impulses?
| geldedgoat wrote: |
| *edit* After actually checking the app description, it appears that only the last of those three actually applies. |
Offering council to change ones behavior would imply that said behavior is wrong, or should be disapproved of. Otherwise, why would you change it? Whatever happened to just being yourself? |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Okay, since the app was so small I was able to download it here instead of waiting until I got home. I'm not impressed with its quality. It's load times are ridiculous and there is a dearth of meaningful content (which consists mostly of banal cliches). If I were an actual homosexual who genuinely wanted the help they claim to be offering, this app would have let me down.
I'm struggling to find anything especially offensive, though, and I'm actively searching for it due to the way it was portrayed by articles. The primary problem I have with gay "cure" therapy -- and the reason I suspect it's often harmful -- is that it's often handled in somewhat coercive fashion, but nothing here could really be construed that way.
As someone who doesn't take issue with the homosexual lifestyle (at least in-and-of itself; I dislike "pride parade" culture), I don't see any real reason why Apple should ban this application. If you're a homosexually-inclined Christian who is struggling with that fact about yourself, this app could (if it were intelligently designed instead of being total trash) help you reach out to people in a somewhat anonymous fashion without going through a coercive and demeaning "reorientation camp." If you aren't such an individual, it's not really for you, and it's not suggesting anyone harm you or discriminate against you, so who cares? |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: Gay cure iPhone app |
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| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| geldedgoat wrote: |
| Fair criticism. Does that mean this app will be their next target? Bad science = bad app, right? |
Didn't check it out, but if the app is suggesting homeopathy will cure your cancer or something, then yes, it should be. |
It's your opinion that every app must now pass a scientific review before it gains approval by Apple?
| Quote: |
| geldedgoat wrote: |
| Ah, yes, never attempt to change someone's behavior, as that's likely to result in anxiety and all the unwanted side-effects associated with it. I guess this app is offensive, too? |
Yes, because being an alcoholic is the same thing as being gay. |
In this context, yes, it is. Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary therapy group with the goal of changing a particular behavior. This app is a voluntary therapy application with the goal of changing a particular behavior. If the criticism is that telling someone a particular behavior is wrong will cause anxiety and an increase in suicidal tendencies, drug use, etc, then any application attempting to change a particular behavior should be banned.
| Quote: |
| It's not an abstinence coach, it's a cure for teh gay! If the behavior is a direct, natural result of one's sexual orientation, then what is the difference between trying to change the behavior and trying to change the sexual orientation? |
The difference is not between attempting to change a sexual orientation and attempting to change a behavior resulting from a sexual orientation; the difference is between attempting to change a behavior resulting from a sexual orientation and advocating hatred, violence, and/or discrimination against individuals with a particular sexual orientation.
| Quote: |
| Offering council to change ones behavior would imply that said behavior is wrong, or should be disapproved of. Otherwise, why would you change it? Whatever happened to just being yourself? |
You misunderstand. The application is described as offering council to those seeking help. It is not described as attempting to convert unwilling homosexuals. Seeing as how I haven't actually downloaded it, I'll defer to Fox's experience with it.
| Fox wrote: |
| As someone who doesn't take issue with the homosexual lifestyle (at least in-and-of itself; I dislike "pride parade" culture), I don't see any real reason why Apple should ban this application. If you're a homosexually-inclined Christian who is struggling with that fact about yourself, this app could (if it were intelligently designed instead of being total trash) help you reach out to people in a somewhat anonymous fashion without going through a coercive and demeaning "reorientation camp." If you aren't such an individual, it's not really for you, and it's not suggesting anyone harm you or discriminate against you, so who cares? |
This is entirely my opinion as well. I have nothing against homosexuals or homosexuality; I just don't see how comparing this app to any kind of bigotry is any way appropriate. |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:39 pm Post subject: Re: Gay cure iPhone app |
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| geldedgoat wrote: |
| It's your opinion that every app must now pass a scientific review before it gains approval by Apple? |
Obviously no, but the way I understand it is that Apple screens their apps pretty closely. It'd be quite the gaff if someone didn't get treated at a proper hospital and died because of an approved app. Of course this is all moot since for all I know the app in question might be a guide to relaxing through aromatherapy, which as far as I know is pretty harmless.
| geldedgoat wrote: |
| In this context, yes, it is. Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary therapy group with the goal of changing a particular behavior. This app is a voluntary therapy application with the goal of changing a particular behavior. If the criticism is that telling someone a particular behavior is wrong will cause anxiety and an increase in suicidal tendencies, drug use, etc, then any application attempting to change a particular behavior should be banned. |
I suppose I agree. I'm all for letting morons be morons.
| geldedgoat wrote: |
You misunderstand. The application is described as offering council to those seeking help. It is not described as attempting to convert unwilling homosexuals. Seeing as how I haven't actually downloaded it, I'll defer to Fox's experience with it.
| Fox wrote: |
| As someone who doesn't take issue with the homosexual lifestyle (at least in-and-of itself; I dislike "pride parade" culture), I don't see any real reason why Apple should ban this application. If you're a homosexually-inclined Christian who is struggling with that fact about yourself, this app could (if it were intelligently designed instead of being total trash) help you reach out to people in a somewhat anonymous fashion without going through a coercive and demeaning "reorientation camp." If you aren't such an individual, it's not really for you, and it's not suggesting anyone harm you or discriminate against you, so who cares? |
This is entirely my opinion as well. I have nothing against homosexuals or homosexuality; I just don't see how comparing this app to any kind of bigotry is any way appropriate. |
Not having seen the app either, I'll concede it sounds pretty harmless. |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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Saved from a lifetime of gay by a smartphone app.
Isn't technology amazing? |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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| What the H-E-double-hockey-sticks is going on in your avatar? |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| What the H-E-double-hockey-sticks is going on in your avatar? |
I'm so glad you asked:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=88793&start=0
(In my avatar pic it kind of looks like the guy is pleasuring himself while wearing a panda suit while watching others dressed as pandas read a book (porn mag?) to a real panda.
If that is indeed what is actually happening then I want to go on record right now as saying that I in no way approve of or support such activities.
Thank you. |
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Space Bar
Joined: 20 Oct 2010
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| The app got pulled from the iTunes store. |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| The app got pulled from the iTunes store. |
Found an article on it here. I'm disappointed that Apple caved, though I can't say I'm terribly surprised.
I am curious though... I wonder if Apple realizes this has made iStuff that much gayer.
| The article wrote: |
| �This group believes they can pray away the gay, it�s incredibly offensive to gay and lesbian Americans,� Besen said. |
The belief that prayer can change a behavior is offensive to those who choose to embrace that behavior. If the world were populated by more people with the ability to comprehend even the simplest of logical argument structures, the gay community would suffer horribly from this insanity. Unfortunately, it's not, so these self-appointed gay leaders will probably get to continue with their smear campaign disguised as an anti-smear campaign. |
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Space Bar
Joined: 20 Oct 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| geldedgoat wrote: |
| Unfortunately, it's not, so these self-appointed gay leaders will probably get to continue with their smear campaign disguised as an anti-smear campaign. |
That seems to be related to
Anti-Gay Christian Bigots To Hold Conference On How To Not Be Called Anti-Gay Christian Bigots
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| Gay porn researcher Peter LaBarbera will hold a two day conference where anti-gay Christian haters will discuss how they can get people to stop calling them anti-gay Christian haters. |
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