The LGBTQ history app Quist launched two weeks ago for iOS and Android and has already been downloaded 10,000 times in 60 countries. But when Quist’s owner logged into iTunes Connect on August 12, 2013 to update the Apple iTunes App Store description of the free app, she saw the following message: “The following is not recommended for use in this field: bisexual. Your app may be rejected if you use this term.”
Quist’s owner, Sarah Prager, 27, created a Change.org petition asking Apple to remove “bisexual” from the warning list. The petition quickly received over 1,100 signatures from around the world thanks to widespread press coverage and a social media campaign. The petition can be viewed here. With this backing behind her, Prager emailed Apple executives requesting that they respect the bisexual identity by whitelisting the word. Her open letter can be viewed here. Within minutes, an Apple representative called Prager to thank her for bringing the issue to their attention and to inform her that the word “bisexual” is no longer a flagged keyword in the App Store.
“I’m very pleased Apple responded positively and quickly,” said Prager. “It is important that we all stand up for every letter in LGBTQ and not treat the bisexual community as a spam word.”
Quist’s mission is to educate the world about the roots of the LGBTQ community, make LGBTQ history more engaging and relevant, let LGBTQ youth know that others have shared their struggle, and promote organizations that make LGBTQ history today and every day. The project’s expenses are supported by LGBT-friendly businesses advertising in the app and fans’ donations. The app is free for iOS and Android.
