Both the Android Market and iTunes are like flea markets: there’s some good stuff up front and lots of junk the more you rummage around the piles of crap in the back.
And the junk just seems to multiply the more you look.
Case in point: Google recently yanked “Is My Son Gay?” from the Android market after allout.org launched an online campaign about the homophobic quiz app. (Questions included “takes a long time to do his hair,” or if he “likes football” rather than “musicals.”)
The trouble is that both iTunes and the Android Market have apps that are just as offensive.
Case in point, the Android Market has a bunch of “gay quiz” apps still available that seem ripe to cause trouble – here are a few we found.
Gay or Straight, free app in the Android Market.
From the description: “Always wanted to know how gay somebody is? Find out now who is gay, straight, or bi-sexual in this fun application! Through unique tests this application will determine how gay the person is.”
It’s been in the store since November 2010, with an average rating of 2.3 stars: “It’s a nice app for making people think they’re gay. It’s all determined by the name you put in…” says one user.
Gay Meter Fingerprint Scanner, in $0.99 Android Market.
Description: “Ever wonder if a girl or guy was gay, straight or bisexual? Just have anybody in a bar, club, at the office or at home put their thumb on this Gay Meter and it will read the fingerprint or thumbprint and tell you just how gay they are. It’s like having instant gaydar to tell if someone is gay, homosexual, heterosexual, bi-or lesbian.”
The app sounds like a dumb party trick (rightly placed in the “tasteless” category of the store), but imagine this pulled on some unsuspecting high school kid who gets taunted for the results.
Gay or Straight Detector, $0.99, Android Market
This one works by “detecting” whether someone is gay or straight – by judging their photo.
The description: “This is an amazing app that will take a picture of anyone and determine whether or not they are gay, straight, etc. Now you can stop wondering whether a guy or girl is gay or not without asking them.”
GayDar Extreme, $0.99, Android Market
Another one that would be a total nightmare at school: “Gay-Dar is a simple joke you can play on your friends. By tilting your phone, the results will change and show you different levels of gayness or straightness. Once you hit “Totally Gay!!!” a loud siren will sound.”
Are You Gay? $1.99, Android Market
This one tries to offset potential criticism with a bizarre description: “Are You Gay” was conceived and developed by a panel of infamous drag queens, red necks and religious bigots. The game is meant to be a fun, “tongue-in-cheek” party game. In 10 easy questions it will tell you EXACTLY how gay you really are. Think you’re “butch?” Think again!”
The iTunes market – with all public ousting of erotica can’t keep aps like Premier Male Massage from the store – is also no stranger to these apps. While iTunes offerings fewer, they include the stereotype-ridden How Gay Are You Quiz, the Steakhouse or Gay Bar game and Supergay & The Attack of His Ex-Girlfriends .
