‘IS MY SON GAY’ APP SLAMMED
An Android app that supposedly helps parents confirm if their son is gay has been slammed by LGBTI groups.
The ‘Is Your Son Gay?’ app, which costs $2.69 (around R21.00), asks parents 20 questions about their sons that would apparently indicate if they are gay.
The questions include: “Does he like to dress well?”, “Is his best friend a girl?”, “Does he like football?”, “Does he like musical comedies?”, “Does he take a long time to do his hair?” and even “Is he a fan of divas (Madonna, Britney Spears)?”
If the app determines that the son in question is indeed gay, it says: “No need to look the other way! … He is gay! … ACCEPT IT!”
Eliza Byard, executive director of the US-based Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educational Network told CBS New York that “the questions in this app are horrendous stereotypes that would be completely laughable if they weren’t so dangerous”.
She added: “The implication, one, is that there is one way to be if you’re gay and, two, that there’s sort of blame to attach to parents.”
The French creator of the app, however, has dismissed the criticism, saying that it was intended to be a humorous way to help parents accept their gay children.
What a dangerous stereotype this can lead to. I LOOKED AT THESE QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF
The questions include: “Does he like to dress well?”,Very average
“Is his best friend a girl?”,No – dont particluarly like women as they talk about girly things
“Does he like football?”,Change that to rugby -a fanatic! I tell the straight guys at the pub the rules of the game and I played provincial rugby – bulls fanatic
“Does he like musical comedies?”, NO- Scioence fiction, horrors and thrillers
Does he take a long time to do his hair?”I shave it off every so often for charity but generally keep it military style- SO NO
“Is he a fan of divas (Madonna, Britney Spears)?” Yes a madonna fan but also like Cradle of Filth and AC/DC
I have done this type of test before and come accross as straighter than my straight friends-that is why I say – how dangerous a stereotype.