Student asks Apple to change its dictionary definition of 'gay'

by The Stream Team @ajamstream

Screenshot of Apple's dictionary widget.

A 15-year-old student from Sudbury, Massachusetts has sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking the company to remove a pejorative definition of the word "gay" from its popular dictionary widget. While working on a research project for school, Becca Gorman discovered that the third of three definitions of the word "gay" in her MacBook Pro widget was listed as "foolish; stupid" and used in the sentence "making students wait for the light is kind of a gay rule."

Below is a screenshot of the definition as it currently appears on Apple's dictionary desktop widget:

View the story "Student asks Apple to change its dictionary definition of 'gay'" on StorifyStudent asks Apple to change its dictionary definition of 'gay'Apple's dictionary widget includes "foolish; stupid" among its definitions of the word 'gay.'Storified by AJAMStream· Wed, Nov 13 2013 14:02:46TwimgIn her letter to Tim Cook, Gorman criticized the company for 'normalizing' the pejorative definition:"I assume that you are a pro-gay company, and would never intend for any one of your products to be as offensive as this definition was," she wrote. "Even with your addition of the word informal, this definition normalizes the terrible derogatory twist that many people put on the word 'gay.'"metrowestdailynews.com

An Apple representative called Gorman about an hour after she sent her letter via email. According to Gorman's recollection of the call, the company was also surprised to see the pejorative definition and said they would look into the issue.

While Apple's initial acknowledgement was quick, the company has not yet taken action to remove or alter the offending definition. Gorman said she intends to broaden her campaign, noting that Apple customers would likely have to "make a bigger deal about it" in order to prompt action from the company.

While many supported Gorman, some have taken issue with her letter, calling it an attempt at censorship. The Daily Caller's Eric Owens referred to Gorman as a "censorship-loving" girl who is "committed to seeing her dictionary-repressing crusade through to the bitter end." Others on Twitter said the dictionary is the wrong target, as it simply reflects usage.Dictionaries reflect common usage, they don't dictate it. Going after a dictionary for a word is absolutely useless. http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/13/massachusetts-teen-shocked-by-macbooks-definition-of-gay-and-so-is-apple/Katie SmartypantsDefinition is stupid but dictionaries should be descripivistApple Dictionary Definition of 'Gay' Includes 'Stupid,' http://abcn.ws/1a3c9K7Nelson Flores

Topics: Gay Rights

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Student asks Apple to change its dictionary definition of 'gay'

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