BROOKLYN, NY, June 6, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) — Two months after Kickstarter rejected two pro-life films because of its project standards, the nation's largest crowdsourcing website has streamlined those standards.
In a June 3 blog post, Kickstarter announced that its approval process has been simplified, whittling a laundry list of rules “down to three basic principles.” Additionally, rather than ask for approval, project organizations will have the option to simply click a “Launch Now” button that will allow projects to launch without approval from Kickstarter's editors.
“Gosnell” filmmaker Phelim McAleer told The Daily Signal that the changes are “a direct response to the Gosnell controversy and I wish they had acknowledged that in their public statements.”
Earlier this year, McAleer's “Gosnell” was turned down because it wrongly claimed to have the largest Kickstarter fund request and because its project explanation used the phrase”1,000s of dead babies stabbed to death.” Kickstarter CEO Yancey Strickler told National Review Online that the phrase was inappropriate for his site.
“Gosnell” is a documentary focusing on the former Philadelphia abortionist who is currently serving multiple life sentences for murdering three newborns at his abortion clinic.
In a statement, Kickstarter spokesperson Justin Kazmark told LifeSiteNews, “We had been working on these changes for several months prior to accepting McAleer's project submission.”
“The longterm health and integrity of Kickstarter drives everything we do,” said Kazmark. “We'll continue to actively govern the site with thought and care. Projects will be reviewed by a sophisticated algorithm we developed over the course of years that looks at thousands of data points. Ultimately, backers decide which projects to fund, but our Moderation and Trust & Safety teams are focused on making sure everyone on Kickstarter is following the rules.”
Click “like” if you are PRO-LIFE!
Kickstarter's list of Community Guidelines and Prohibited Items will still be enforced.
McAleer's project is not the only pro-life effort to be rejected by Kickstarter. “Stolen Moments” was also turned down shortly after “Gosnell,” though Strickler offered a written apology for what he said was an error in turning down “Stolen Moments.”
“Gosnell” was eventually accepted by Kickstarter, hours after he informed the company that he was switching to crowdsourcing competitor IndieGoGo. There the effort raised $2,241,043, exceeding the goal of $2.1 million.
At least one openly pro-abortion movie, “After Tiller,” has been crowdsourced through Kickstarter. It examines the nation's late-term abortionists after the high-profile abortionist George Tiller was shot and killed in 2010.
At least three pro-life projects have been crowdsourced on Kickstarter: The Choice That No Longer Haunts, Survived a Choice: A story of Love, Life and Adoption, and Finding Grace.