LGBT

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on LGBT:

Apple removes alleged gay conversion therapy app from App Store

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Apple pays $467k for doing business with blacklisted app developer
Apple removed the app after a petition from LGBTQ activists.
Photo: Apple

Apple has removed a free religious app from the App Store reportedly promoting so-called conversion therapy.

The app was created by Living Hope Ministries, a religious group based in Arlington, Texas. It offered users a “more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ” with the alleged goal of changing a person’s sexual orientation. Apple gave the app the boot following a petition from LGBTQ nonprofit group Truth Wins Out.

Watch Tim Cook address LGBT community at LoveLoud festival

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Tim Cook
Tim Cook in attendance at LoveLoud.
Photo: LoveLoud

Tim Cook made an appearance at Utah’s 2018 LoveLoud festival over the weekend, sharing a few thoughts with the crowd before introducing the band Imagine Dragons.

LoveLoud is a music festival celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. During his tenure as Apple CEO, Tim Cook has been a proud and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Watch his comments to the crowd below.

12 white dudes in room is totally diverse, says Apple VP of Diversity

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Apple is pledging to do more on the diversity front.
Photo: Apple

Creating diversity at Apple isn’t just about making sure more people of color get added to the mix, according to the exec put in charge of creating a more diverse and inclusive culture at the iPhone maker’s offices.

Denise Young Smith, Apple VP of Diversity and Inclusion, was part of a recent panel discussion on fighting racial injustice where she talked about her mission at Apple. White men currently account for 56% of Apple’s workforce, but Young Smith says that doesn’t mean the company isn’t diverse.

Apple shows LGBT Pride with rainbow Watch strap

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Sadly you can't buy the Watch strap anywhere!
Photo: Saksuhon

Apple once again showed its support for gay rights over the weekend by participating in San Francisco’s LGBT Pride festival. Numerous Apple employees, including Tim Cook, took part — and Apple even distributed custom limited edition rainbow Apple Watch bands to people on the Cupertino payroll who registered for the event.

Tim Cook is still America’s biggest LGBT power player

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LOVELOUD
Apple CEO Tim Cook will introduce the band Imagine Dragons Satuday at the LOVELOUD Festival in Utah.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook didn’t come out publicly until 2014, but he’s quickly become one of the most powerful leaders of the LGBT community.

Out Magazine ranked Tim Cook as the most influential LGBT person of 2016 in its 10th annual power list that charts everything from a person’s impact on the economy, political clout, and how they change our world view.

Apple criticizes ‘discriminatory’ Mississippi religious freedom law

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Apple is a strong supporter of the LGBT community.
Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter

Apple has voiced its displeasure at a new Mississippi law that lets government workers and some private citizens refuse to sell goods and services to LGBT citizens on the basis of their religious beliefs.

“We want Mississippians to know that our stores and our company are open to everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love,” said an Apple representative, arguing that the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act “empowers discrimination.”

Tim Cook receives award for his LGBT activism

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Tim Cook has been a tireless champion of the LGBT community.
Photo: Human Rights Campaign

Over the weekend, Tim Cook received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in Washington D.C. for his work as an outspoken voice in support of the LGBT community.

Cook — who came out as gay last year — delivered a great acceptance speech in which he talked about his decision to publicly reveal his sexuality as well as talking about the numerous advances LGBT rights have made within his lifetime.

Check it out below.

Russia’s upset again about Apple’s ‘gay propaganda’ campaign

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Won't someone think of the children?!
Photo: Apple

Apple is presenting gay propaganda with its same-sex emoticons — and Russia isn’t Putin up with it any more!

According to a new report, the Russian police are stepping up their investigation of Apple for “promoting homosexuality” with its range of LGBT-friendly emojis.

And the punishment could be a whopping 800,000 to 1 million rubles — which is roughly what Apple makes in 2.5 seconds, if our calculations are correct.

Russia is Putin its foot down about gay emojis

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Everybody loves emoji. Even the weird ones.
Emojis are the new subliminal messaging.
Photo: Technewz

When iOS 8.3 introduced new gay-friendly emojis, one person no doubt responding with a :( sad face was Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin’s not taking it lying down, however. According to Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor, the President has requested a full pro-Kremlin group investigation and crackdown on same sex emojis, concerned that they violate the country’s ban on “gay propaganda.”

Because if there’s one thing proven to make you trade girlfriends for boyfriends, it’s someone sending you a picture of two male smiley faces holding hands.

Apple backs LGBT equality act

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SF pride
Apple is a strong supporter of the LGBT community.
Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter

In an effort to outlaw discrimination against LGBT people under federal law, members of congress introduced the historic Equality Act of 2015 today, and they’ve got the biggest company in tech on their side.

By ensuring people can no longer be discriminated against due to sexual orientation or gender identity, the sweeping legislation would extend these rights to LGBT people in the 31 states that don’t offer those protections to LGBT citizens. The new bill already has 150 co-sponsors, plus Apple’s official endorsement.

Tim Cook leads 8,000 Apple employees in Gay Pride Parade

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Apple waving the flag for LGBT rights. Literally.
Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter

Apple was out in force yesterday as Tim Cook and 8,000 Apple employees participated in Sunday’s 43rd Annual Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco, following last week’s historic Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage across the U.S.

Apple employees carried LGBT rainbow flags as they took to the streets — considerably outnumbering the hundreds of employees from other tech companies such as Google, Facebook, Uber, and others.

iPhone to power nation’s largest LGBT health study

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The nation's largest LGBT study is powered by ResearchKit
The nation's largest LGBT study uses ResearchKit
Photo: The Pride Study

Thanks to Apple’s new ResearchKit software, breakthroughs have already been made in the study of Parkinsons disease and Asthma. Now, a team of researcher are planning to use the iPhone and ResearchKit to study a subject we still don’t know as much about as we’d like to: LGBT health.

Out and proud: Iceman is far from the only LGBT superhero in comics

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The Iceman cometh... out. Photo: Marvel Comics
The Iceman cometh... out. Photo: Marvel Comics

In this week’s All-New X-Men #40, long-time team member Iceman comes out as gay — his secret being revealed through an endearing conversation with telepathic teammate Jean Grey.

But Iceman’s far from the only LGBT character in sequential art history. As one of Cult of Mac’s comic gurus, I combed through the archives for six more examples of beloved LGBT comic book characters to demonstrate the medium’s continued commitment to diversity.

The revelation? That’s it’s far from the headline-provoking novelty it once was. And that there are more than you might imagine.

And to think some readers probably figured Tim Cook — with his Tony Stark-like tech fortune and desire to make the world a better place — was the world’s only gay superhero.

Internet comes out in support of Tim Cook for being ‘proud to be gay’

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Tim Cook. Photo: Apple
Tim Cook. Photo: Apple

Tim Cook squashed years of speculations and rumors this morning, only instead of doing it with an iPhone announcement, he made his first public declaration that’s he proud to be gay.

Cook never denied his sexuality, but the letter marks a huge moment for the LGBT community, equal rights, and society in general, as the world’s most powerful CEO committed to being an example and inspiration to those wanting to rise above adversity and bigotry.

The world’s reaction to Cook coming out like a boss has been overwhelmingly positive. Yes, the trolls and bigots have crawled out of their dark places to admonish Cook, but their voices have been refreshingly blasted out by accolades and congratulations from the world’s top CEO’s, celebrities, and activists applauding Tim’s courage.

Here’s how the world turned Tim’s coming out party into a celebration:

Tim Cook slams Alabama for slow evolution on LGBT rights

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Tim Cook has spoken out about the need for his home state of Alabama to better address LGBT rights in a speech delivered today at the Alabama Academy of Honor induction, in front of Governor Robert Bentley.

Cook discussed his admiration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and noted how, “I could never understand why some within our state and nation resisted basic principles of human dignity that were so opposite to the values I had learned growing up in Robertsdale, Alabama in a family that was rich in love and respect.”

He went on to say that, “We were too slow on equality on African-Americans. We were too slow on interracial marriage. And we are still too slow on equality for the LBGT community.”

Alabama remains one of the 18 states without marriage equality.

Apple celebrates LGBT rights in new ‘Pride’ video

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Back on June 29, thousands of Apple employees and their families marched in the San Francisco Pride Parade, coming from all over the world to support LGBT rights and to celebrate Apple’s commitment to equality and diversity. Tim Cook and Apple environmental adviser Lisa P. Jackson were two of the prominent Apple employees to attend, while Apple gave out $1 iTunes gift cards to onlookers at the parade.

Tim Cook shows ‘Apple Pride’ at gay pride parade

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Photo: Jackee Chang / Twitter
Photo: Jackee Chang / Twitter

Tim Cook has been an ardent supporter of LGBT rights while leading the ship at Apple. That continued this weekend, as Apple (in a display known as “Apple Pride”) participated in the San Francisco Pride Celebration & Parade, one of the many gay pride parades held Sunday across the United States.

Apple gave out $1 iTunes gift cards to onlookers at the parade, allowing them to download free songs from the iTunes Store. It also celebrated the event by including an “LGBT Gay Pride” station on iTunes Radio.