187

Alternate Sources:

Microsoft not friendly towards gay gamers?

StarJet | May 14, 2008 | News | XBOX 360

Grant, a gay gamer at XBOX Live has had his account suspended because he called himself "theGAYERgamer". The reason given was that "the greater Xbox community found it offensive". Now how fair could that be?

Consumerist,

I have had a bad morning. Last night when i tried to sign into my xbox live account "thegayergamer" I was told that it had to be changed. I figured that it was just from people reporting it as an offensive name being that the greater Xbox live community isn't exactly welcome to gay people, i spend a lot of time muting people on Halo3. I assumed that once i called Microsoft they would straighten things out.

I talked to a supervisor there, Roxy, who told me that she didn't personally find the fact that my gamer tag had gay in the name offensive, but that the greater Xbox community did, so i would have to change it. I hope I'm not the only person who finds this don't ask, don't tell policy disgusting... eek

From Grant, thegayergamer

News Story attached to:

Xbox 360 [XBOX360]

22 comments | go to source (consumerist.com) | Add to favorites!

favourite this article |

send to friend

Images about this story:

Latest Comment

Most recently commented on by Ameer on May 17, 2008

50	Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is casual gamer-friendly (0) June 6, 2009
106	Microsoft E3 2009 Media Briefing: Microsoft Announces Project Natal (25) June 1, 2009

Comments

-2 thumbs!
Final Blade | May 15, 2008

_{Im pretty shocked by this. Its just a name, I mean its not really anything offensive.}
-1 thumbs!
Donnelly | May 15, 2008

Tbh, I'm guessing most of the gamertags with Gay in it are using it in a derogatory fashion. I mean, it's not as if he can prove to them that he is in fact gay.
- -1 thumbs!
  StarJet | May 15, 2008
  
  Good point. The mods or whoever authorities probably didn't know that he was actually gay. But I guess this kinda thing just makes gay people think that the world is against them or something.
0 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | May 15, 2008

i thought most gay gamers played wii instead.
- 0 thumbs!
  Big A2 | May 15, 2008
  
  Well that's a bit stereotypical isn't it?
  - 0 thumbs!
    tallteen86 | May 15, 2008
    
    Pretty sure he is just joking >_>
- 0 thumbs!
  Ameer | May 15, 2008
  
  Haha that was win.
  - -1 thumbs!
    Ameer | May 17, 2008
    
    Thank you GG mods for removing stupid thumbs on half of us.
- 1 thumbs!
  Aggro | May 15, 2008
  
  I wanted to post "Zing!" but apparently I need 25 characters. Lame.
0 thumbs!
tallteen86 | May 15, 2008

Well, the name isn't derogatory. It isn't like he put "GaysSUCK" (LOL, if you don't get it, re-read it) as a gamertag or something...It pretty much implies that he (though it could also be she, though I know it isn't), himself is gay....
- 0 thumbs!
  Seeker X | May 15, 2008
  
  That's what I was thinking. It's not like they can prove that he ISN'T gay in the first place. Don't exactly know what is the problem with the name except for the fact that people are easily offended.
0 thumbs!
Bale Fire | May 15, 2008

quote
I mean, it's not as if he can prove to them that he is in fact gay.
Video camera, boyfriend, dildo's

I'll say no more
- 0 thumbs!
  chautemoc | May 15, 2008
  
  Dudes dont need dildos, only lesbians who are inextricably slaves to teh phallus.
1 thumbs!
Sereph | May 15, 2008

Lord 80, you *bleep*ing idiot.

Anyways, as to the topic at hand, is that name really necessary? If he was in fact gay, he's just making himself an unnecessary target for homophobic abuse. If he's not gay (as most kids who will choose to put the word "gay" in their GT), then it's just a way to make fun of gays all over.

MS didn't ban him for being gay or anything, they just want him to change his name. Having such a controversial name on a service full of immature 10 year olds who don't know what to do around homosexuals (like this twat Lord_80) is just going to jade and alienate theGAYERgamer instead of making him want to use XBL.
- -2 thumbs!
  tallteen86 | May 15, 2008
  
  Ah Sereph, I was actually thinking about it.
  
  Mind you, I don't think he should be getting this sort of trouble, but the fact is, he was making himself a target.
  
  I mean, you hear about people calling others 'fags' and 'gay' as an insult on LIVE, making your gamertag openly homosexual is kinda asking for it to be worse.
  
  It shouldn't be an issue, but common sense dictates that it will be....
  
  Much the same as if say, a woman posted "PromiscuousDramaQueen" or some crap like that....It may be just a name, but it is kind of 'asking for it', and they would probably know it.
  
  The fact is, while it shouldn't be the case, there are oversensitive people on the net, and jerks besides. If you're going to post something needlessly attention-seeking, you better be prepared for the attention, especially negative stuff...
0 thumbs!
Slumpy monkey | May 15, 2008

Didnt he have to be reported first anyway?
2 thumbs!
Zero and X | May 15, 2008

Why cant you just accept gay people for who they are? Who the hell do you think you are by saying that they dont deserve to be out in public like everyone else? I seriously hope you were kidding, becuase thats not cool
- -1 thumbs!
  chautemoc | May 15, 2008
  
  He lives in one of the like, gay capitals of the world, no less. Funny.
0 thumbs!
Krunal | May 15, 2008

Whilst this article is on a sensitive nature, mind I remind people, that explicit outbursts against any group of people aren't tolerated, and will find yourself banned, as one member whose comments have been deleted has now found himself...

i.e. if your homophobic, keep it to yourself.
-1 thumbs!
Alvaroduck | May 15, 2008

I doubt having that name was nessecary, he was just asking for abuse. As other people have said, words like "fag" are particularly popular insults on XBL.
0 thumbs!
InnerDemon | May 15, 2008

I've seen worse than that.
0 thumbs!
Gothic Girl | May 16, 2008

Meh. Regardless of whether he is gay or not, it's hardly an offensive gamertag.