Does Apple Think LGBT Comics Are Inappropriate?

According to the technology news site VentureBeat, Apple instructed digital comic book startup ComiXology to remove more than 50 of its comic books from the iOS app store because the computer company did not approve of the content which included stories about homosexuality, Satan and "other adult-related themes," VentureBeat writes.

One of the comics is called "No Straight Lines" and ComiXology writes, "The LGBTQ comics collected here address every conceivable issue in an amazing array of genres and styles. Regardless of personal identity, readers may find themselves shocked and challenged by the extraordinary sexual and political frankness found in 'No Straight Lines.' Discretion is strongly advised."

VentureBeat points out that a number of the banned comics can still be found at Apple's iBookstore.

"We were notified by Apple that these books did not meet the Apple App Store content guidelines," ComiXology VP of marketing and public relations Chip Mosher told VentureBeat. "They were therefore rejected for sale from iOS. Consequently, we pulled them from iOS. Outside the above and our blog post, we don't have any further comment."

VentureBeat also writes that "It's not exactly clear if Apple specifically indicated to ComiXology that each of the 56 removed comics was against Apple's guidelines, or if ComiXology was interpreting what they assumed didn't meet Apple's content guidelines."

In related LGBT comic news, writer Alex Woolfson's Kickstarter project has reached its $14,000 goal in less than 24-hours. Woolfson now has the funds to publish his superhero webcomic "The Young Protectors" in book form.

"As a gay kid growing up, I loved sci-fi, fantasy and action stories," Woolfson writes on his Kickstarter. "But I never got to see what I really wanted to see and that's kick-ass genre stories with gay heroes. Not just gay characters who were the comic relief or who committed suicide or got killed in the end so that the straight protagonist could wind up with the girl. But good stories with real, three-dimensional heroes who get a chance to save the day and who also just happen to like other guys."