Google is facing criticism for having an app promoting gay conversion therapy available in its Google Play store.
The Christian group Living Home Ministries, which is based in Texas, produces the app. LGBT rights organization Truth Wins Out started a Change.org petition to have the app removed. The petition says the app “repeatedly belittles transgender people as suffering from ‘gender confusion.’ The group refers to gay men as ‘sexually broken guys’ who can ‘walk out of false identities’ and claims, without evidence, that the ‘gay lifestyle’ is ‘spiritually and physically harmful.’”
Truth Wins Out says that when they petitioned Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to remove the app from their stores,” the companies acted with responsibility and swiftly removed it from their online stores. The surprising silence from Google is in stark contrast with the corporation’s stated policies of inclusion, respect and diversity.”
Newsweek reports that the app asks users to “accept the reality that emotionally healthy life can feel boring in the beginning. After the drama and excitement often associated with gay lifestyle, making responsible, God-honoring choices feels black and white in comparison to a Technicolor life.”
The petition for the app’s removal has received more than 40,000 signatures of its 50,000 goal.
According to Google Play’s policy, the store does not promote apps that “incite hatred against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or any other characteristic that is associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization.”
