I dont know, perhaps someone didng realize that he was identifying himself as a homosexual, instead thought he was goating homosexuals or at least making a crass joke.

I cant really blame Microsoft for taking the safe ground here. Esspcially seeing as how the word Gay is considered to be the un-PC way of saying homosexual by some sorts.

Try a gamer tag like BrokeBackMountaineer.

Who COMPLETELY dicked up the site??? This looks HORRIBLE!

Did Microsoft receive specific complaints about his username, that the supervisor is qualified to correctly state that the community was offended?

I'm sure they wouldn't approve "PussyLover332" either, even if the person was simply a cat lover.

It's in their best interest to be strict since many gamers are younger with parents who have the money to spend on future products. Frankly, there are so many nicknames you can pick that aren't offensive, why even bother trying to be stupid and walk the fine line.

@ARPRINCE: A Brokeback joke? Really? Throw in some Seinfeld references while you're being current.

XboxLiveSucksMyHairyBallsackGamer?

@Wormfather: But when we (gays) don't find the term "gay" to be non politically correct, how non-PC could it be? I could understand if it were a slur, like the "f" word, the "d" word, the "p-b" word, or even the dreaded "b-p" word describing gays, but that's not the case here.

I do, however, take offense to the rapper "Nelly". That's our word. He shouldn't be able to call himself that.

@ucdcsteve: Not that there's anything WRONG with that.

There are appropriate times and places to express ones sexuality. XBox Live is NOT one of them.

What you have to realize is, that these online communities, be they the consumerist posts, Xbox live or varous website message boards, are private communities, subject to their own rules and regulations.

A child playing XBox live may not have parents that are ready to explain homosexuality, heterosexuality or any sex related topic yet.

Frankly - this is just a nonissue. Change your name and move on.

So what about all the stuff said over Xbox Live? Is that somehow less offensive than seeing something in writing?

If someone wants to play Portal in the privacy of their own home, that's nobody's business but their own.

@MayorBee: Now THAT was funny :)

@Wormfather: That would be my guess. They aren't worried about people being offended about gay gamers nearly as much as they are about the backlash that would ensue if they allowed gamertags that mocked gay people. This is what it's come to. Can't they use the parental control system to *** out potentially offensive words in handles?

they should just filter out offensive words / w0rds at the time of username creation. i am sure they get a ton of false offensive names because some kid got mad they got beat at halo etc

It's in their best interest to be strict since many gamers are younger with parents who have the money to spend on future products. Frankly, there are so many nicknames you can pick that aren't offensive, why even bother trying to be stupid and walk the fine line.

Quoted for Truth. An online gaming community with young children is not the place to be advertising your sexual preference.

@Wormfather:
I thought calling someone a "homosexual" was considered an un-PC and outdated way of saying "gay" or "lesbian"? I'll admit though that the word "gay" has had a resurgence in pejorative usage over the years.

I find it sad that the word "gay" is considered offensive at all.

@Wormfather: I don't know any gay people that are offended at the word "gay" being used to refer to them. There are many, however, that get mad/offended at the use of the word "gay" as a word for something bad, i.e. "that shirt is so gay".

That's just GAY!.... I can understand it. Son, come here, I am going to wash your mouth out with soap (not unless you want a visit from CDC!). "But mom, That Gay Gamer, That's just his name!"
We teach our kids not to call people gay, even if they are. So a system that caters to kids as well as adults, has the right to restrict words that parents and others might find offensive. What if a black person used one of those descriptive NO-NO words in his name, or a lesbian used the word "Dike" Or a mentally slow person used the word "Retard" in a name. So what if they are whose things, they are things we have taught our kids not to use and you want to call yourself it, fine, but my kid can't call you by those names, so the name should not be used.
Come on, maybe you don't have a problem with it, but have an OPEN MIND and think about how it could be troubling and offend others (hurt kids who tried to call you by you username). I think they did the right thing and you are just looking to start a fight or a lawsuit. They aren't violating your rights, they are making it a wholesome gaming sight for ALL people. If they have to remove your gamertag because some people might be offended by it, so be it, change your name and enjoy the system.
Think about it, you want them to allow a Gamertag like "GayBasher" on there as well? You can't have it both ways. Change your name, avoid the drama and just PLAY!

On the bright side, It normally costs 800 Microsoft points to change your gamertag, and you are getting it for free.

/laughs @ the "won't someone think of the children crowd"

It's homophobia plain and simple. Every time some ignorant dipshit makes a judgement call that "gay" offends someone is just adding fuel to the fires of hate that ultimately cause some gay people to be found beaten to death and strapped to barbed wire fences somewhere out in our tolerant and loving homeland.

@Southern: "Quoted for Truth. An online gaming community with young children is not the place to be advertising your sexual preference."

I see. So it's okay for Halo 3 players to corpse-hump their dead opponents in front of the aforementioned kiddies, just so long as nobody mentions teh ghey. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

@wdnobile:

You think you're being non-biased, but anyone with a tag like "ILoveGirls" or the aforementioned references to female body parts would not likely be banned. They're expressing their sexuality, and I doubt if you'd have a problem with it.

Also, if you think your kid isn't ready to be called a faggot every time he messes up in counter strike, you should let him or her onto xbox live.

I'm really really sick of everyone thinking that homosexuality is somehow offensive to children or something. Kids are gay too.

Someone is calling Gloria Allred... GEEZE! Why is this even here, this is Hetro-Baiting.. hehe

@MissPeacock: As do I, and I find it even sadder that the word "gay" is used regularly and unthinkingly as an insult. (Spelling it ghey doesn't help.)

I was embarassed recently when a student asked if he could "use the word queerest to mean oddest" in his paper and I first said no, that it wouldn't be an appropriate use of the word. Wait, what? I corrected myself after a mere heartbeat, but still... the issue is out there, and it's a reflection on how confusing the whole issue can be.

@Southern:
Quoted for Truth. An online gaming community with young children is not the place to be advertising your sexual preference.

It's not a preference. Did you choose to be straight?

@MayorBee: "I could understand if it were a slur, like the "f" word, the "d" word, the "p-b" word, or even the dreaded "b-p" word describing gays"

Am I the only straight guy sitting here wondering what words "p-b" and "b-p" are censoring?

@metaled: While the term gay may have been used in the past as a pejorative, but that's not the case anymore. Gays don't find it offensive when other people call them gay. That's not necessarily the case when someone uses the "n" word to describe a black person.

As for "GayBasher", if you think that there's a parallel between choosing a name that describes yourself and a name that describes a hate crime, then you have more serious issues.

I totally support X-Box Live's decision to ban this name.

Because games ARE played by a huge community, including children, removing potentially offensive names is important.

This will help protect the sanctity of childhood while they play Grand Theft Auto IV and engange in rape & murder 'play'.

@metaled: Wow! And you suggest other people have an open mind?

if your really worried what your kids are expesed to, then maybe they should not be playing games online....re-register your gamer tag as the same thing? game on GAYER, game on

@ucdcsteve: Hey! Sure, Brokeback references are pretty tired but Seinfeld references are timeless.

@SkokieGuy: +1. The children must be protected as they run around shooting eachother in Halo. Well played.

@thesabre: You're probably not the only straight guy wondering. I was tongue-in-cheek censoring pillow biter and butt pirate. Trust me, I've heard them all.

Listen, if I had Down Syndrome and wanted to name myself RetardedHero I'm pretty sure that I would have to change my name too, even though it wouldn't be meant to be offensive. This is homophobia its common sense. The same people supporting his use here because he happens to be gay would be condemning him if he was straight. Seriously, some of the posters on this site are fucking morons.

@Southern: That's complete crap.

It doesn't matter where you are, you shouldn't have to worry about hiding your orientation.

Besides, I'll bet that XBox Live requires parental permission for people under 18, so if the parents don't want their children to understand the reality of the world, then they shouldn't let them use the service.

@hollywood2590: All of this coming from the one with an impeccable grasp of the English language.

@homerjay: Actually, I don't like Seinfeld. I was more referring to his continuation of my initial joke by including said reference.

I have to second the folks who are calling out the "won't someone think of the children" crowd. If your kid is on XBox Live, you aren't thinking of your children's safety at all. So it's okay to leave your children in an open forum of uncouth college boys in their 20s, but it's not okay for your kid to read the word "gay?" Come on, grow up and learn some real parenting skills.

Using that argument is just a thinly veiled excuse for saying it's okay to be homophobic. And the company blocking this name does the same thing and perpetuates the stereotype that gamers are all homophobic freaks. (Duh, because we all know that's only 85% of them...lol.) Thanks for proving us right about calling you douches, Microsoft!

It's funny, because I always file complaints against the anti-gay slurs and I know nothing happens, because I see them again and again. I usually tell them I am gay when they say faggot, and they NEVER believe me. Because their own teammates could never be gay, and certainly would NEVER admit it. The uncomfortable silence that follows is priceless. I've been de-friended repeatedly (and I never make friend requests, these are people who friend me for my mad skills) after outing myself.

Nonsequitur: A group of kids berated me for an entire game last night because I vetoed Shotty Snipers. They were calling me GreenPepperFace, which is not a slur but a play on my gamertag. I am a 37 year old professional, and I have to say, I felt bullied and threatened in the strangest way. It's actually kind of funny how bad they made me feel. Being told to Die/Fuck Off/ Quit, GreenPepperFace made me feel worse than being called Faggot ever made me feel.

Anyone know how XBOX investigates voice complaints, what it takes to get banned, and what the various penalties are?

They will ban any tag that gents enough complaints.

For all we know, there were many Homosexuals on live that took offence to his live tag, and that why it was banned. Maybee this guy was making fun of Homosexuals when playing, and the tag was part of his offence.

@Tallanvor: Live will let youi blok there voice, there messages, and there bio. But there tag can still be seen.

@Greeper: You're 37 and are being called names by kids and you want to know what to do?

Have you tried "Sticks and stones can....."?

I used to know a guy who consistantly played CS as the nickname "Rental Metard". Nobody ever kicked him because of his name.

@thesabre: Heck, I'm gay myself and I was having problems figuring those two out.

Please don't take away my gay card, MayorBee...

@CaptainSemantics: I don't believe you. Okay, quick, no google....

Ding ding ding went ____ _______?
Who loves to love you? ________?
Tom of ___________?

@SkokieGuy: Well you know, rape and murder are nice, normal crimes. Being the gay is unnatural.
There is nothing child-friendly about XBox Live, and as Tallanvor pointed out it's the parents job to monitor their kids, not TheGayerGamer's. "Think of the children" is the crappiest excuse ever.
@hollywood2590: I think you're wrong about almost everything. I'll agree on the morons thing though.

@CaptainSemantics: I won't take your card away, but I will tear up your princess points.

@SonicMan:

Maybee this guy was making fun of Homosexuals when playing, and the tag was part of his offence.

@Greeper:

Exactly. I find it pretty ironic that Microsoft has a problem with GAY in a gamertag, but no problem with hate speech in the game lobby.

It got so bad that I once started shouting for them to at least use some other homophobic slur than "gay." I mean, c'mon, I can only hear "this map is gay" so many times.

i don't see a problem with this. i don't think microsoft actively reviews gamertags to fit a model - i think they just review complaints that fellow gamers file.

i've reported more than one gamertag myself. you'd be surprised at some of these. jewhunter36. meetmysignig. a55rap3r2000. seriously. you have to draw the line somewhere & i think that somewhere is when other people start complaining.