by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

Apple finds itself embroiled in a new battle of the old culture wars after removing an anti-Gay iPhone app from its iTunes store.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Apple removed the 'Manhattan Declaration' app without fanfare or even a public announcement.

The Manhattan Declaration is a 4,700-word document released by anti-Gay evangelicals last year.

It calls Gay and Lesbian couples 'immoral,' calls the recognition of their relationships 'false and destructive,' and claims that allowing same-sex marriage will lead to 'genuine social harms.'

The iPhone app also contained a quiz in which the 'correct' answers were those that opposed equal rights for LGBT people.

Apple introduced the Manhattan Declaration app on October 14.

It was immediately met with protests from LGBT rights activists who charged it helped create a climate which put LGBT people at risk of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes.

The removal of the app less than six months later provoked howls of protest from the religious right.

NOM (National Organization for Marriage) sponsored an ad attacking Apple's decision, and called on right-wing bloggers to stir up protests against Apple's decision.

'We are urging Apple to restore the app, and have written to Steve Jobs,' NOM says on its website.

The designers of the app have resubmitted it to Apple, in hopes that pressure from the right will cause the company to take it back.

GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), on the other hand, has called on its supporters to contact Apple and express support for their decision.

'We need to let Apple know that no matter how strong the pressure they're hearing from anti-Gay activists and no matter how many ads NOM puts out, they made the right decision,' GLAAD said in a statement.

Apple has not commented on either its original decision to offer the anti-Gay app or its subsequent decision to pull it.

The Apple Store can be contacted at 1-800-MY APPLE (692-7753) or through its website www.apple.com.

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