'Is My Son Gay?' App Removed From Android Market
Amid numerous complaints from gay rights advocacy groups, the "Is My Son Gay?" app has been removed from the Android Market by Google.
Both the English and French versions ("Mon Fils Est-Il Gay?") have disappeared off the Android Market. AllOut.org, in an e-mail statement, declared victory over the application that they viewed as "being homophobic and relying on stereotypes."
Andre Banks, co-founder of AllOut.org, made a statement as well: "We are pleased that Google developers have heard the voice of the LGBT community and pulled the app. Apps such as these are outrageous and only serve to further negative stereotypes and homophobia."
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The gay rights organization recently launched a Twitter campaign that was meant to bring down the app. The group stated: "The app was slammed for being homophobic and relying on stereotypes, posing such inane questions as 'does he read the sports pages?' and 'does he care about how he dresses?'"
The app itself was plugged as a way for parents to determine if their son was homosexual or not. Twenty'Yes' or 'No' questions about their kid's personality, habits and friends would be asked of the parents. Some of the questions that were presented to parents were; "Does he like diva singers?" and "Does he watch football?"
After all the questions were answered, the app would then “determine” if they were indeed homosexual or straight.
The creators of the application, a French team by the name Emmne Moi, gave a statement to the Huffington Post about its apps' intention: "This app was conceived with a playful approach. It is not based at all on scientific research...Through humor, "Is My Son Gay?" and the forthcoming novel have the sole objective of toning down/improving the situation and helping mothers to accept their sons' homosexuality."
The French developers also revealed that the main person behind the app, Christophe de Baran, is actually homosexual himself: "He developed the program in part to help promote an upcoming comedic novel, also titled 'Is My Son Gay?' which treats 'difficult moments for families to go through, such as coming out' with 'fun and humor. The Android Market site still carries other apps like 'R U Gay Quiz' and the 'Gaydar Radar,' which identifies homos based on their pictures. But unlike "Is My Son Gay?" both of the aforementioned apps state upfront that their product is a joke."
Google did not find the app as humorous as the author and development team, though. The Android Developer Programs Policy clearly states, "Hate Speech: We don't allow the promotion of hatred toward groups of people based on their race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity."
A spokesperson from Google told CNET yesterday, "We remove apps that violate our policies."
