Star Trek’s George Takei blasts anti-gay iPhone app
”Thx Tweeps for helping get the homophobic Exodus app pulled today. Full power to forward shields!”
Actor and gay rights activist George Takei, thanking his Twitter followers for their part in helping to get the Exodus International app removed from the iTunes store.
Takei had been putting pressure yesterday on Apple, Inc. to reconsider its decision to approve the “ex-gay” app. Over 140,000 people signed an online petition at Change.org
A few of Takei’s fans argued that removal of the objectionable program would be a form of censorship, but he disagreed:
“What’s next, an app that coverts Jews or whitens blacks? Pls read, sign & RT this petition. http://bit.ly/hMzDA6“
“@KlueBat If Apple had a no censorship policy, that would be one thing, but if they say no offensive apps, they must be held to it.”
“@starkruzr The petition is directed to Apple because of its double standard on allowable apps.”
“@AngryDB The point is, Apple already censors offensive apps. They cannot be two-faced about this and must be held to their own rules.”
“@srstarbird73 It is our free speech right thru petition that we are exercising.”
“@bamamark00 Exodus had a right to promote the app, and we had a right to protest it. Apple had to follow its own policies.”
Takei, soon to be 74, is best known as Sulu from the “Star Trek” franchise. He also appeared in the TV show “Heroes” and currently taking part in Nickelodian’s ”Supah Ninjas. And, as a Japanese American, he has also been asking for donations for Japan’s earthquake survivors.
And last September, while in the DC area, George Takei spoke with Metro Weekly about growing up gay and dealing with coming out to his fellow actors on “Star Trek.”
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