Pay Pal payment processing service drops gay sites

[Democat]

When PayPal, the giant Internet payment processing service, announced last year it would no longer do business with clients that sell pornographic products or services, gay-owned Internet businesses assumed the firm was aiming its new policy at the sex trade rather than at gays.

But at least two gay-owned companies that conduct business over the Internet say PayPal appears to be using its anti-porn policy against them, even though they don’t consider their businesses to be sexually oriented.

Los Angeles-based Hyperion Interactive Media, which operates a network of Web sites that provide services to gay audiences, and New York City-based Belhue Press, which publishes books by gay authors, said PayPal dropped them as clients earlier this year.

http://www.southernvoice.com/2004/10-15/news/national/internet.cfm

Pay Pal banning gay websites from using their service? Aren't some of the Ebay exact big Republican supporters?

[Not Me]

1. I stopped doing ANYTHING Paypal

after a good friend got charged 10 times for the same item he purchased on eBay. His account tapped his checking account, and he got nowhere with Paypal. He did sic his own bank on them and finally got the money redeposited.

I have an excellent buy/sell history, and have no problem with other pay arrangements.

[Eloriel]

3. There have been MANY horror stories with PayPal

and I can't tell you how I despise them, with every fiber of my being. Horrific, unprincipled business practices. Arrogant bastards too.

A couple of links:

PayPalSucks
http://www.paypalsucks.com/

Paypal suffers (cough) "intermittent outages" today
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=898241#898416
MSNBC article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6228586/

[Quetzal]

2. LOL

that's alright - there are enough quality gay porn sites out there for everyone.

[Democat]

4. These are not porn sites, according to the article - they are gay interest

“It’s no different from the book covers on dozens of straight romance novels that you see on sale in airports or in any bookstore,” Brass said.

PayPal later told Brass that the company would consider reinstating his account if he submits a statement promising to “remove the book covers wherein individuals are touching each other,” Brass said.

This guy says he publishes gay interest books and the book that offended Pay Pal had two guys hugging.

[Quetzal]

5. Yikes

OK, after reading the article, perhaps PayPal is going overboard.

I don't know why - GLBT's money is just as green as the next hetersexual.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. I guess we better start banning all of those books and magazines...

...that show same-sex athletes hugging each other after a good play or a big score.

Ooooo...did I say "big score"???

[Downtown Hound]

6. I can't even get my paypal account to work

I call them, they tell me it's fine. But whenever someone tries to buy something off me, they say that I'm not taking credit card payments, which paypal insists I am. Screw them! And now after hearing this, screw them one more time!

[MelanieArt]

7. Paypal, the self appointed moral police.

I've been a Paypal customer since pretty much the very beginning, and a constant seller on Ebay for almost 5 years. A few weeks ago I stopped using Paypal for good because of their insane rules about what they deem "offensive". I am an artist, and because some of my artwork has female nudity they ordered me to remove all "offensive" work from my website and auctions. Instead I wrote them and told them I'd rather stop taking credit cards then give them power over my art. I'm now in the process of getting a merchant account. Looks like this may be a blessing in disguise since this incident inspired me to do some research and I was horrified with what I've found out about this company and what it has done. I'm glad I'm rid of it.

This is the first time I've heard of a ban on gay sites as well, and I'm saddened but not surprised. Seems to fit in with their overall ethics (or lack thereof).

BTW- This is my first real post but I've been a lurker for awhile. :) This is a great place!

Melanie

[Democat]

8. Welcome to DU!

I'll check out your art site later too! :)

[Skittles]

9. OK, that's it

F*** PayPal. We already have the GOP - enough with the moral police.
Welcome to the DU, Melanie! :hi:

[Not Me]

10. Melanie...Welcome to DU

You came just in time for the 11/2 party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MelanieArt]

12. :)

Thank you all for the warm welcome! Hopefully I can become bold enough to post more before Nov 2! I'll definitely be here for the party, I'm looking forward to it. :party:

Take care! :)
Melanie

[Jack_DeLeon]

13. Paypal sucks...

they also wont let you use thier services if you are selling porn or firearms.