IPhone App under fire from Gay groups-Wall Street Journal (blog)

Gay rights activists call for Apple to, delisting an iPhone app by an organization that says it wants rid of people of "unwanted homosexuality," that the program against the tech giant guidelines for what can be sold in the App store is charging.

The free app is provided by Exodus International, a Ministry group that "homosexual tendencies cites as one of the many who are experiencing cases humanity conditions," according to its website. The app contains updates from the group, as well as an overview of upcoming events in which pastors, advisors and others can be trained. Exodus also contains the stories of people who write that the service released them "from the bondage of unwanted persons of the same sex attraction."

Gay rights groups such as truth wins out have organised an online petition for Apple to remove the app from the storage; Monday afternoon the petition had over 100,000 signatures. The petition says the app is "hateful and bigoted", and the message that homosexuality is something to overcome would be particularly harmful to young people. "It makes, legitimises and fuels the ostracism of LGBT youth by their families," says truth wins out.

The groups cite Apple guidelines which say apps cannot be "offensive, narrow-minded or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harm's way."

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a spokeswoman for Exodus said that the Organization has received no communication from Apple about the app. "our hope is that Apple is the application to stay on the iTunes platform will toestaandie represents a tolerance of religious beliefs, "said the spokeswoman."Our mission is to provide people live their entire life, including their sexuality, in accordance with their faith to help. "

From a technology point of view the debate raises important questions about Apple's model for the App store. The technology giant has embraced a model in which the tight checks what is being sold at the shop-in contrast to the Google Inc. 's Android market, where almost anything goes.

The guidelines put Apple in the position of judging what is offensive — a precarious spot when sensitive issues like gay rights and religion are involved. In the past, Apple has removed other apps when many people complained about their content; the Guardian points out that an app called Manhattan Declaration against gay rights and gay marriage was withdrawn from the store last year.

Facebook has also come under fire over content and offensiveness. But Facebook in general are down on the side of the promotion of the speech, and of Exodus International maintains a page on the site, social networks, apparently without incident.

Apple probably would not be faced with such questions about apps in the store as it took a similar to Google or Facebook's attitude, but that is the price that Apple charged for curating products for customers.

Also, it seems less likely that Apple would see this control if it doesn't, well, Apple. After all, an opportunity for the international of Exodus app largely the same content that is available on the website of the group. But put it on a hip platform like the iTunes store and link it to a Apple logo, and it's a different ball game.

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