Apple knowingly disseminates hate propaganda



Anti-gay organization Exodus International's iPhone app

 Apple is openly and knowingly promoting hate propaganda. How does that make you feel about the Apple brand?

University of Minnesota researcher Dr. Gary Remafedi wrote a letter today asking Apple founder Steve Jobs and interim CEO Tim Cook to remove a controversial “ex-gay” app from its online store. The scientist claimed that Exodus International distorted his work in an effort to misrepresent homosexuality and confuse the app’s users.
When one clicks the Exodus app, it directs the viewer to a webpage that answers questions about homosexuality. One of the question sequences is, “If people are same-sex attracted but don’t ever act on it, does that make them homosexual? What if they do engage in same-sex physical intimacy? Are they homosexual then?”
In answering these questions, Exodus twists the findings of Dr. Remafedi to make it appear as if homosexuality is just a transitory phase in youth.

“Exodus depends on distorting the work of legitimate researchers and using junk science to trick its vulnerable clients into believing they can go from gay to straight,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director for Truth Wins Out. “Apple should not aid and abet the spread of deliberate scientific misinformation, nor should they create a pernicious platform for anti-gay lies.”

Dr. Gary Remafedi sent the following letter to Steve Jobs and Tim Cook this morning:

Dear Messrs. Jobs and Cook,
This message serves as a request to remove the Exodus International application from Apple’s iphone offerings because the website content is objectionable. It erroneously cites my research (Remafedi 1992) in support of claims that homosexuality can be changed.
Various professional organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental or physical condition. Programs which aim to change sexual orientation have been opposed because they are unwarranted, ineffective, unethical, and harmful.
Exodus’s website features an article (Buchanan 2010) which makes erroneous statements and conclusions and attributes them to Remafedi (1992). Statements were made to the effect to that many teens are confused about their sexual orientation and that sexual orientation is amenable to change.  Further, associating my work with that of the ex-gay ministry and other unfounded treatments is professionally injurious and grievous.
As a savvy consumer, I understand that corporations market phones both by offering a wide array of applications and by appealing to niche audiences like Exodus’s. In turn, Exodus applies the Apple “4+” smartphone application rating to its own website as an imprimatur (see http://exodusinternational.org/).
From my perspective, the risk of offending and harming consumers by providing a platform for erroneous information about an important health and social topic far outweighs the potential financial gain. Arguably, corporations have no affirmative responsibility to vendors under the First Amendment of the Constitution, but they are accountable for the quality and consequences of their products.
For the aforementioned reasons, I ask Apple to revoke the 4+ rating and delete the Exodus application from the iphone’s menu of applications.
Respectfully,
Gary Remafedi, M.D., M.P.H

I'm working on an app of my own that helps people escape the grip of Christianity. I'm sure with this precedent, Apple will have no problem publishing my app.

Truth Wins Out - Breaking News: Scientist Calls On Apple to Remove ‘Ex-Gay’ app That Distorts His Research

The cost of slamming a gay man head-first into a wall, nearly killing him, because he asked why he was being arrested for no reason: $400,000

City officials are recommending that $400,000 be paid to the man who suffered a head injury during a controversial inspection at the Rainbow Lounge gay bar almost two years ago.
The amount, if approved Tuesday by the City Council, would settle Chad Gibson's claim for damages against the city. Gibson says excessive force was used against him during his arrest at the south Fort Worth bar on June 28, 2009.
Don Tittle, the civil attorney for Gibson and Armstrong, said all parties have worked together for months to reach a resolution without a lawsuit.
"Everybody worked toward a resolution that was fair," Tittle said. "I thought that the city, at least in this regard, they recognized that there was significant legal exposure. I think there was also just an element where they felt like it was, on some level, just the right thing to do."
Tittle said Gibson is still seeking treatment for injuries.
"He had some significant injuries and is still getting treated and will be for quite some time," Tittle said.
"Approval of this settlement should not be construed as an admission of liability by the City of Fort Worth, any liability in this matter being, in fact, expressly denied," the document states. "This settlement is entered into only to avoid time-consuming and costly litigation."
The controversial inspection by Fort Worth police and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents sparked protests and allegations of police brutality.
But investigations by police and the commission concluded that no excessive force was used. An agent had said that Gibson fell and hit his head while handcuffed and vomiting outside the club.
Still, the commission fired two agents who participated in the inspection and their supervisor, citing policy violations, and Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead gave three officers one- to three-day suspensions.
Last year, city officials dropped misdemeanor charges of public intoxication against Gibson, Armstrong and two other arrested patrons. A misdemeanor charge alleging that Gibson had assaulted a commission agent was also dismissed.
Carolyn Beck, a commission spokeswoman, confirmed Friday that the state agency is also discussing settlements with Gibson and Armstrong.
Since the incident, Fort Worth police have created a department liaison to the city's gay community and added sensitivity training.

Fort Worth officials recommend paying $400,000 to man hurt in arrest at gay bar Fort Wor...