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iOS 6 Now Features Gay & Lesbian Emoji (Also, Cute Monkeys)

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emoji

This is really great. Apple has taken the initiative in iOS 6 to update the operating system’s selection of emoji — or visual characters — to now not have some options for gay and lesbian users, including a gay and lesbian couple holding hands. Sweet!

That’s not all, of course. There’s also some cute new monkey who can do no evil, see no evil, and hear no evil, apparently. Hope they can’t smell evil, either, because they are just a few columns down from a grinning, anthropomorphical piece of crap.

I wish there were some gay and lesbian monkey emoji, but I guess Apple had to leave something back for iOS 7.

Source: Techcrunch

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22 responses to “iOS 6 Now Features Gay & Lesbian Emoji (Also, Cute Monkeys)”

  1. RadTech5000 says:
    June 14, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    That’s great news! I hoping now that Tim Cook is in office we will see more support of the LGBT community. Way to go Apple! =)

  2. Tim Meesseman says:
    June 14, 2012 at 6:42 pm

    That’s great news! I hoping now that Tim Cook is in office we will see more support of the LGBT community. Way to go Apple! =)

    No… gays and lesbians should be treated as human beings like the rest of us, not put up on pedestals just because they’re gay. Why the media constantly feels the need to separate them from the general population is beyond me.

    To make myself clear, I am NOT anti-gay. I just hate the fact that everything has to be so politcally correct. I guess we need to add emojis that include white, black, brown, and every other skin color we can think of. Wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.
  3. joewaylo says:
    June 14, 2012 at 6:47 pm

    @John_Brownlee “but I guess Apple had to leave something back for iOS 7.”

    iOS 7? Apple already started their next version? o.O

  4. Lane Jasper says:
    June 14, 2012 at 7:03 pm

    They’re just “brothers and sister” icons!! duh!  Just kidding…This is great Apple!! way to support LGBT Community!!

  5. Chris Owens says:
    June 14, 2012 at 8:08 pm

    I don’t really expect straight white men to understand what it’s like to be a minority, to never see you or your relationships portrayed or celebrated.  It’s not a matter of being politically correct; it’s a matter of inclusion and making sure everyone has a place at the table.  It’s about equality, not being put upon a pedestal.  If anyone is on a pedestal, it’s white heterosexuals.  They’re put upon nearly every pedestal.  But the moment a door even cracks open a little bit to allow us in, you do this double-talk thing where you say you’re not anti-gay, but you don’t understand why you have to see same-sex couples express affection or be portrayed in the media.  If you’re not comfortable seeing it, or think it’s ridiculous that we should expect same-sex Emoji characters, then on a very real level you are anti-gay.  

  6. Daibidh says:
    June 14, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    No… gays and lesbians should be treated as human beings like the rest of us, not put up on pedestals just because they’re gay. Why the media constantly feels the need to separate them from the general population is beyond me.

    I’m not sure I really understand what you’re saying here.  How is adding two MILDLY lesbian and gay emoticons to the whole host of straight emoticons putting anyone on a pedestal or separating them?  Wouldn’t that just be including them more into the mainstream… a place we all rightfully should be?

    We may not have the right NOT to be offended but we certainly have the right to be as inclusive as we wish.  The media is only reporting on our continual social evolution as it pertains to the changing attitudes of acceptance.  Change is inevitable in any society.  Two measly emoticons are just one small link in the chain that binds us all together as a species.  I’m pleased.  You should be too.
  7. Julien Anton DeFrancisco says:
    June 14, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    That’s great news! I hoping now that Tim Cook is in office we will see more support of the LGBT community. Way to go Apple! =)

    Frankly, I could care less but I understand how some people believe it is import to fight, advocate and educate (I once did) this however was not the point being made, nor did Apple put on airs for including the icons. I didn’t realize the Apple community used Emoticons or whatever they call it.
    No… gays and lesbians should be treated as human beings like the rest of us, not put up on pedestals just because they’re gay. Why the media constantly feels the need to separate them from the general population is beyond me.

    To make myself clear, I am NOT anti-gay. I just hate the fact that everything has to be so politcally correct. I guess we need to add emojis that include white, black, brown, and every other skin color we can think of. Wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.

  8. Tim Meesseman says:
    June 14, 2012 at 8:30 pm

    I don’t really expect straight white men to understand what it’s like to be a minority, to never see you or your relationships portrayed or celebrated.  It’s not a matter of being politically correct; it’s a matter of inclusion and making sure everyone has a place at the table.  It’s about equality, not being put upon a pedestal.  If anyone is on a pedestal, it’s white heterosexuals.  They’re put upon nearly every pedestal.  But the moment a door even cracks open a little bit to allow us in, you do this double-talk thing where you say you’re not anti-gay, but you don’t understand why you have to see same-sex couples express affection or be portrayed in the media.  If you’re not comfortable seeing it, or think it’s ridiculous that we should expect same-sex Emoji characters, then on a very real level you are anti-gay.  

    Except that wasn’t my point at all… I’m fine with these new emojis. I was referring to RadTech’s comment about hoping Tim Cook spreads his homosexuality throughout the company. Equality is one thing, but RadTech is suggesting, as I said, highlighting them everywhere like they’re special.

    Also, I’ll say this. The claim about me being a white male and therefore not having a valid opinion, is bull crap. I’m perfectly capable of putting myself into other people’s shoes, and I’m sick and tired of being told this. I hope you understand the irony here… that because I’m a certain gender and race, “I wouldn’t understand”. That’s no less discrimination than what you claim I’m guilty of.
  9. Tim Meesseman says:
    June 14, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    No… gays and lesbians should be treated as human beings like the rest of us, not put up on pedestals just because they’re gay. Why the media constantly feels the need to separate them from the general population is beyond me.

    I’m not sure I really understand what you’re saying here.  How is adding two MILDLY lesbian and gay emoticons to the whole host of straight emoticons putting anyone on a pedestal or separating them?  Wouldn’t that just be including them more into the mainstream… a place we all rightfully should be?

    We may not have the right NOT to be offended but we certainly have the right to be as inclusive as we wish.  The media is only reporting on our continual social evolution as it pertains to the changing attitudes of acceptance.  Change is inevitable in any society.  Two measly emoticons are just one small link in the chain that binds us all together as a species.  I’m pleased.  You should be too.
    As I said elsewhere, I was not referring to the emojis at all. I was referring to RadTech’s comment about Tim Cook making everything pro-gay. Tim Cook doesn’t even talk about the fact that he’s gay, so I doubt he’s the type that thinks he’s special just because he is.
  10. appledrunk1 says:
    June 14, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    If you guys want to see those homosexual icons (or just use the other awesome features of iOS 6) you can register your UDID to install the beta here:

  11. Yellowcows says:
    June 14, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    Look how awesome Yahoo’s emoticons are compared to those worhless emoji !

  12. Drmstix303 says:
    June 14, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    No… gays and lesbians should be treated as human beings like the rest of us, not put up on pedestals just because they’re gay. Why the media constantly feels the need to separate them from the general population is beyond me.

    To make myself clear, I am NOT anti-gay. I just hate the fact that everything has to be so politcally correct. I guess we need to add emojis that include white, black, brown, and every other skin color we can think of. Wouldn’t want to leave anyone out.

    Very well put my friend!

  13. YSR50 says:
    June 14, 2012 at 10:45 pm

    I’m just happy we’ll finally be getting a pizza emoji

  14. Macguy123 says:
    June 14, 2012 at 10:47 pm

    Glad to see this :) Not that I would use it but the times are changing, and it’s nice to see it integrated into IOS6. You don’t have to use it, but if you want to its there. Nice to see some diversity. 

  15. Brianna Wu says:
    June 14, 2012 at 10:56 pm

    I don’t really expect straight white men to understand what it’s like to be a minority, to never see you or your relationships portrayed or celebrated.  It’s not a matter of being politically correct; it’s a matter of inclusion and making sure everyone has a place at the table.  It’s about equality, not being put upon a pedestal.  If anyone is on a pedestal, it’s white heterosexuals.  They’re put upon nearly every pedestal.  But the moment a door even cracks open a little bit to allow us in, you do this double-talk thing where you say you’re not anti-gay, but you don’t understand why you have to see same-sex couples express affection or be portrayed in the media.  If you’re not comfortable seeing it, or think it’s ridiculous that we should expect same-sex Emoji characters, then on a very real level you are anti-gay.  

    Astonishingly well said, Chris. You see this kind of hostility as a woman as well. Anything that’s inclusive at all towards women is a threat to white heterosexual men. The worst part from the tech crowd is that they think they are too smart to be sexist. They’re not. They’re also not too smart to be anti-gay. 

    This is great. I totally support inclusion. If you’ve ever stopped to think about it, it’s really stunning how much heteronormality encompasses our language and our assumptions. 
  16. Lane Jasper says:
    June 14, 2012 at 10:57 pm

    They’re just “brothers and sister” icons!! duh!  Just kidding…This is great Apple!! way to support LGBT Community!!

    IT was a joke morons…I support all walks of life period! DUH!

  17. Gavin Black says:
    June 15, 2012 at 3:38 am

    So… why do the gay couples have no mouths, but the straight couple does?

  18. Kevin Harris says:
    June 15, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    I find it hard to believe these icons are included in iOS 6. They are not Apple quality, they look more like the crap you’d download off the internet. This is a hoax.

  19. jason_burns says:
    June 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm

    How do you get a gay or lesbian out of a pic of two guys or girls holding hands?  Don’t friends hold hands in some cultures.  Children?  That does not mean they are gay and lesbian icons. 

  20. Jonathan Press says:
    September 19, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    Why are the heterosexual couple smiling whilst the lesbian and gay couple have no expression on their faces!?!?!

  21. Paige Connor says:
    October 6, 2012 at 3:13 am

    Why are there still no brown-skinned emojis?!?!?!?!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-20sfzkDTu8

    this youtube video addresses that

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