'Is My Son Gay?' Android app pulled

4 Oct 2011, 1:29 pm   -   Source: SBS, Lisa Zilberpriver
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The app caused widespread outrage among the gay online community. (Android Market)

The app caused widespread outrage among the gay online community. (Android Market)

A controversial app for Android smartphones that purported to help mums 'calculate' if their sons were gay has been pulled by Google, the developers say.

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A controversial app for Android smartphones that purported to help mums 'calculate' if their sons were gay has been pulled by Google, the developers say.

'Is My Son Gay' was released early last week, causing an uproar on Twitter and a host of online responses that slammed it for being homophobic and relying on stereotypes.

The app posed 20 questions, including 'does he care about how he dresses?' and 'does he read the sport pages?'. It then offered three results; 'gay', 'normal and modern' and 'not gay'. The last option assured mothers they 'did not have to worry' because they would have grandchildren.

On Monday, the app page was no longer available on Android Market. A representative of the company that developed it, Emmene-moi, told SBS that Google had pulled it from the site unilaterally. 

Google has declined to comment.

Android Central, a website that offers news and reviews on Google and Android products, was quick to distance itself from the app after a barrage of tweetes erroneously blamed it for the app.

"Demand that @Google & @AndroidCentral dump homophobic "Is My Son #Gay?" app NOW, no excuses! #LGBT," the tweets said.

"We do not have the power to remove (or approve, for that matter) applications for the Android Market. That's Google. We're not Google. We're not Android ... We('ve) suggested more effective ways for letting Google you found the app was offensive, such as flagging it as inappropriate in the Market. We're willing to bet more than a few of you did so," responded site editor Phil Nickinson.

There are various 'gay calculators' still available on the Android Market site, including 'R U Gay Quiz' and the 'Gaydar Radar' that claims to establish homosexuality by taking a picture of a person. However, unlike 'Is My Son Gay?' both apps explain upfront that they are jokes.

Christophe de Baran, who commissioned the development of the app issued a statement last week, urging people to 'focus on the right fight' and saying the app was developed 'with a fun approach'.

"(The app) does not rely on any scientific element. It relies on the fact that some behaviours, some family and social environments are often met among gay people. No more. No less," the statement said.

"To what extent would it be a problem for a mother to know if her son is gay?' de Baran, who is himself gay, asked in the statement.

"If the answer is no (problem), then this application should not upset anyone. We can see it is not the case..." he said.

"The application and the upcoming novel (in French) "Is my son gay?", from a gay writer, use fun and humor to talk about difficult moments for families to go through, such as coming out," the developers told SBS.

De Baran refused to talk to the press last week, but SBS has contacted him again to respond to the axing of the app.

Gay Rights , Homophobia , Google Android

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Your Comments

lol, y u mad for?

Anon - from Melbourne, 2 years ago

mfw the whole of Australia gets trolled at least once a week by an hero.

*sigh* More uneducated garbage

Greg - from Newcastle, 2 years ago

Ok, off the bat, I'm a gay man. I DO NOT "dress to impress" - unless you include my business attire for work. I was raised on the land & am able to hunt, kill, gut & cook my own food. I'm a fully trade qualified horticulturist. I do not follow modern sports like football, golf, tennis etc. I fish & gut & clean my own catch. I do like to keep a clean house. I hate lap/purse-dogs. I would LOVE to see if this App labelled me as straight or gay...my money is on straght...stupidity.

@mike j

Shaun - from Melbourne, 2 years ago

I agree there is a potential danger in taking too much too seriously, however, there is someone at risk by what this particular app promotes, the child in question. If you think it's not difficult coming out to your mother than you either had a relaxed and open minded mum, or you haven't needed to. These type of apps only promote further paranoia for teens who are at the most vulnerable state in their life. I'm yet to find someone who felt suicidal after reading WHO Weekly, except myself.

At what age...

Bill Costley - from Santa Clara CA , 2 years ago

How about this more realistic app: At what age did you child come out to you?

got it pulled

Eamonn OMahony - from Dublin, Ireland, 2 years ago

If some poor mother is going to download this then why have her traumatic by inaccuracies and urban myths? No gays like football ... all gays are meticulous about their appearance agile all str8s are sobs ... perpetuate the myth and you fuel prejudice and fail to want to understand people. Hard enough being gay as it is without being stereotyped like this. Let's all try walking a mile in each other's shoes before jumping to conclusions no? And well done to AllOut.org for flagging this. Way 2 go!

Honut Sinti

Honut Sinti - from Kettering, 2 years ago

Why not do fun apps such as: > "Which solar planet did I most likely originate from?" >"If I were to have a tree as my friend, which type of tree would it be?" >"Do I know my body?" >How would my voice sound at 100 years old?" >"How would the world appear to me with 360 degrees vision?"

dumb question

tim - from gc, 2 years ago

The question is not 'is my son gay?' its 'why doesnt my son tell me about his life?'. chances r if ur son doesnt tell you, you have been homophobic at one time. u should rethink ur stance.

@Tyler

mike j - from , 2 years ago

We should ban it because it's inaccurate? By that logic, we should also ban weather forecasts, political correctness, and everything second word gay activists like you say. Women's magazines regularly print fictitious articles like "How to tell if your boyfriend is a wife-beater". Do you campaign against them, Tyler? Get over yourself. Homosexuality is not sacred.

Thumbs Down

Tyler - from LA, 2 years ago

This is a lame app that isn't even accurate. It's dangerous because it's going to people who are naive or they wouldn't be looking at the app to begin with. You can't rely on stereotypes to determine whether someone is gay. I've met effeminate men into artsy crap that are straight and jocks that play sports that are tough with masculine voices that seem straight and turn out to actually be gay. Get rid of this garbage app.

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