Web filtering service Symantec announced yesterday that it will no longer provide support for a system that blocks access to "gay and lesbian" material.

 

The firm, which is also responsible for Norton AntiVirus, had been lumping LGBT websites that provide news, charity and support with sites that contain porn. The "lifestyle-sexual orientation" category will soon be removed from all the Symantec databases.

 

According to a press release: “This update, which is in the process of being implemented at the product level, will mean that LGBT-related web content will be evaluated, categorized, and treated the same as other news, political and entertainment content.”

 

"Making this change was not only the right thing to do, it was a good business decision," explained Fran Rosch, an executive vice president at Symantec. "Having a category in place that could be used to filter out all LGBT-oriented sites was inconsistent with Symantec's values and the mission of our software."

 

Customers will still be able to block out "offensive" material, but will be unable to target sites simply because they contain queer content.

 

GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis applauded the move, saying that it shows that "Symantec gets it."

 

"It's time that our software reflects our values," she said, "and that means filtering out discrimination."

 

Symantec Decides It No Longer Needs To Filter The Gay Out Of The Web [ReadWrite]

 

Symantec Stops Blocking LGBT Websites [The Backlot]