Russian man sues Apple after iPhone app 'turns him gay'
What's the story
In a bizarre lawsuit against Apple, a Russian man has accused the Cupertino-based tech giant of "turning him gay." The complainant is also suing Apple for 1 million rubles (Rs. 11 lakh) in damages. The man has claimed that he received 69 "GayCoins" on a cryptocurrency payment app that pushed him towards homosexuality and now he has a boyfriend. Here are more details.
Details
Complainant claims 'GayCoins' delivered with persuasive message
According to Agence France-Presse, the man claimed he had ordered Bitcoin, however, had "GayCoins" delivered to his iPhone via a smartphone app. The "GayCoins" came along with a message, "Don't blame until you do that," which the complainant interpreted as "Don't judge, don't try." The complainant wrote in his complaint, "I thought, in truth, how can I judge something without trying?"
Quote
'Apple pushed me towards homosexuality through manipulation'
The complainant stated, "I decided to try same-sex relationships. Now I have a boyfriend and I do not know how to explain this to my parents... my life has been changed for the worse and will never become normal again." He added, "Apple pushed me towards homosexuality through manipulation. The changes have caused me moral and mental harm."
Lawyer's statement
Court hearing scheduled for October 17 in Moscow
Notably, the man's lawyer, Sapizhat Gusnieva, asserted this was a "serious" case. She said her client feels scared as he suffered and Apple has a "responsibility for their programs" even though the alleged exchange happened over a third-party app. The lawsuit was filed on September 20 and the court hearing is scheduled for October 17 in Moscow, according to Presnensky District Court's website.
LGBT Rights
Since Russia passed 'gay propaganda' laws in 2013, homophobia intensified
In recent times, however, Russia has faced international criticism over its "political homophobia" and reported vigilante gangs terrorizing LGBTQ+ persons. In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin passed a "gay propaganda" law which, experts say, has led to increased threats, bullying, abuse inside their families for LGBTQ+ identifying persons. The law bans the "promotion of non-traditional lifestyles to minors" effectively criminalizing LGBT activism.