Apple iTunes store warns developers not to use word ‘bisexual’ in app descriptions
The Apple iTunes store has been criticised by a lesbian app developer, as she says when changing the description of an educational LGBT app, she was warned not to use the word “bisexual”, as the app may be banned.
Sarah Prager, an app developer launched the app two weeks ago, and said that when she was updating the app description on iTunes Connect, when she was warned not to use the word “bisexual”.
Prager said she saw the message: “The following is not recommended for use in this field: bisexual. Your app may be rejected if you use this term.”
“I was shocked because of I know Apple has an LGBT-friendly track record,”she said. She immediately created a Change.org petition asking Apple to remove “bisexual” from its warning list.
Prager continued: “While gay and lesbian rights move forward, the bisexual community is still struggling for visibility and acceptance. Treating the word ‘bisexual’ as spam instead of an identity contributes to the stigma.”
She has since launched a Change.org petition urging Apple to remove the word “bisexual” from its list of flagged terms.
The free app which is available through both the Apple and Google Play stores, does focus on specific events, however, also aims to trace a broader, mapped history of LGBT history.
The app has been downloaded 10,000 times in 60 countries.
