Google suspended from HRC’s corporate index for offering app that encourages ‘conversion therapy’

One of the hardest fought efforts for LGBTQ activists has been to make illegal the practice known as “conversion therapy”. This so-called therapy promises to change people attracted to members of the same sex back into heterosexuals.

The practice has been condemned by professionals, activists and those who have experienced what many have called child torture.

Fifteen states and many localities have banned the practice on minors; there is a national campaign to win bans in all 50 states.

So, it is somewhat surprising that the Google App Store offers an app that supports conversion therapy. The app is sponsored by a Texas based nonprofit called Living Hope Ministries.

Among other things, Living Hope Ministries offers “The largest, world-wide online support groups for men, women, families and friends impacted by same sex attraction.”

Their website says, “We believe the Scriptures are clear about God’s design for sexuality, and that ultimate joy is found through surrender to Christ. The Gospel of Jesus has the power to transform hearts, and a vibrant relationship with Him changes every aspect of our lives. By providing an environment where men and women are given the freedom to grow in the truth of God’s Word, we see restoration and wholeness emerge from confusion and chaos.”

Apple, Amazon and Microsoft have all pulled the app from their offerings. So it is even more surprising that Google has refused to do so.

And that refusal has caused the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) to suspend Google’s rating on its Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The CEI had rated Google as a supporter of LGBTQ rights, and the corporation had a perfect score.

The HRC action was taken after a Change.org petition demanding that Google stop “procrastinating and immediately remove Living Hope’s hateful app that deliberately singles out LGBT people for bigotry and ridicule. The petition has received nearly 142,000 signatures so far.

Truth Wins Out, which helped sponsor the petition drive, tweeted: “It’s amazing @google is literally burning its relationship with the LGBT community to the ground….”

HRC said, in a footnote to the CEI report, “During the CEI survey cycle, the HRC Foundation became aware of an app distributed in Google’s Play Store that supports the practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy.’ Sometimes known as ‘reparative therapy,’ so-called ‘conversion therapy’ includes a range of dangerous and discredited practices that falsely claim to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

“Such practices have been rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization for decades. Minors are especially vulnerable, and conversion therapy can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide. Pending remedial steps by the company to address this app that can cause harm to the LGBTQ community, the CEI rating is suspended.”

“Google being suspended from HRC’s Corporate Equality Index is the latest chapter in the ongoing effort to hold Google accountable for promoting ex-gay therapy,” Michael Jones, Change.org’s managing director of campaigns, said in a statement.

“More than 140,000 people — and make no mistake, that number is going to continue to climb — are pleading with Google to stop hosting apps that call LGBT young kids broken, and encourages them to change their sexual orientation. Google simply cannot ignore the growing movement pushing them to do what’s right and remove ex-gay therapy apps.”

Copyright The Gayly – March 28, 2019 @ 3:45 p.m. CDT