Teresa says that she was harassed by other players and later suspended from XBOX Live because she identified herself as a lesbian in her profile. When she appealed to Microsoft, she says they told her that other gamers found her sexual orientation “offensive.”
Teresa says:
I just recently saw a thing on your site about someones gamer tag being banned because it had the word gay in the tag.
I had a similar incident, only my account was suspended because I had said in my profile that I was a lesbian. I was harassed by several players, ‘chased’ to different maps/games to get away from their harassment. They followed me into the games and told all the other players to turn me in because they didn’t want to see that crap or their kids to see that crap.
As if xbox live is really appropriate for kids anyways! My account was suspended and xbox live did nothing to solve this, but instead said others found it offensive.
Today I received a message from another gamer calling me a fag. I am a lesbian, so they aren’t too smart if they cant get their anti-gay slurs right.
Microsoft does nothing to stop this or prevent it, but instead sides with the homophobes. No one will help me get the word out about Microsoft’s anti-gay policy. Not even the HRC who says Microsoft has a positive image with them. Not to me it doesn’t!
We’ve heard of gamers being suspended for identifying themselves as gay in their GamerTag, and even one case of a guy whose name was actually “Richard Gaywood” but his tag was suspended anyway because apparently the word “gay” is so offensive that it doesn’t matter if its actually your name.
As far as we know, Microsoft is unwilling to reconsider this position.
(Photo:Milkham)
UPDATE: Microsoft confirms their policy regarding self-identifying sexual orientation.
More From Consumerist
-
Has Your Pharmacy Automatically Refilled Your Prescription Without Asking? We Want To Hear From You
-
Southwest Owes Passengers $29 Million In Free Drinks
-
Comcast Not Cooperating With Lawyers Looking To “Shake Down” BitTorrent Users
-
Target Thinks You Want To Be Hassled By A “Beauty Concierge” While You Shop
-
Nordstrom Decides To Stop Tracking Customers’ Smartphones
As a gay gamer, I agree with the other comments here. It’s not to protect kids, it’s to avoid inciting commentary.
I’m about as out as you can get, but there’s no need to put “Gay” on my profile on XBox…. frankly, because it’s not worth hateful comments I’d get from homophobic players. I play with my gay friends online and we all know who each other are anyway.
Micro$oft is probably just trying to keep their online community as peaceable as possible, given the demographic mix. Is that socially just? Probably not. But asking for an evolved attitude on XBox Live is sort of laughable. I for one don’t feel personally offended.
Perhaps the people who are offended should log on sometime and play in the “Hardcore” zone, where misogyny, racism, sexism, and horrific smack-talk are pretty much de rigueur all the time.
I’ll stay over in the “Recreation” zone and play with people I know, thanks.
What a disgrace. I’m a avid gamer and fan of xbox live. Vulgar and offensive speech is par for the course when dealing with some folks online. But this seems like a hate crime to me. Don’t want yer kids to see lesbian written somewhere in live? Guess what? They should not even be touching that box if they’re under 18. Why adults only? Because parents are lazy and want Mr. Gates to baby sit. Shame on MS for oppressing this human being! I say we all become lesbians in protest! Lets see how many MS can ban…
The fantasy world is a fantasy world. You can be gay straight, bisexual, trisexual, it doesn’t matter, but keep in mind that the fantasy world is the fantasy world. People enter it to escape from the banality of reality. Bringing the issues of reality into fantasy is ludicrous because it has it’s own set of issues built into it. While I think it is ludicrous to ban an account based on sexual orientation. I also think that sexual orientation and the issues surrounding it do not need to enter the fantasy world because it is just that…a fantasy world.
I’ve seen plenty of profiles where a boy’s going “Girls, girls, girls!” /”I love girls~” in em.
I don’t see the different between that and saying, “I’m straight!”
You can bet the boy with “I love boys!” in his profile would have gotten the banhammer.
You know, I have kids, they play online, and I’m not OMFGTEHNOEZ! if they see the word ‘lesbian’. They know what ‘lesbian’ means. We have family friends who are lesbians. It’s not any more offensive or sex-related than somebody putting “Texan” in their gamertag.
You need to get the word out…I guess I know now since a friend told me, but it seems really that you need to make sure you put this in front of the right forums out there that all can read…maybe write to the gay magazines…OUT…The Advocate…
I understand what you are writing, but would they have allowed you to reopen the same account if you removed the word “lesbian” from your profile. If so, then I can see how families can become offended for THEIR children (imagine your own if you had some) and that’s their right to feel that way…just like it’s yours to feel the way you do…our feellings are not wrong and we are allowed to feel how we do!
But that said, being gay myself…gee…for many years now…maybe even since genetic conception…just get with the program and change the profile and enjoy XBOX Live.
Oh…by the way…it’s not a hookup site…if you want to tell the world your a lesbian, then do it on another site where that’s all OK…hmmm.
Have a great day!
Opinion Number One Guy
Well, this was Dugg. Here comes the massive shitstorm and Fox News reports on how gays are overtaking Xbox Live and brainwashing your children.
literally just before coming to this site and reading this story I turned down an XBL friend request from a person I’ve never met whose profile stated “my wang is as hard as an artificial leg”. Seriously. He didn’t seem worried about being banned. Unfortunately, crap like that is not uncommon and I personally find it more offensive than someone plainly stating their preference. As for those who worried about children being exposed to sex and parents having to have “the talk” before they would like I would just like to say one thing; “teabagging”. I only play online with people I know for a reason.
This crap is ridiculous. I once was playing Halo and this guy was saying stuff like “America deserved what happened on 9-11.” In his profile he had “Death to America” as his main quote. I complained to Xbox and I found out that the guy is still online playing. How can they kick someone off for their sexual orientation and yet allow someone to say these kinds of things about a country where patriotism is a big thing and I know several people who have family members that died that day. Needless to say I am actually considering selling my Xbox 360 to get a PS3.
I find it offensive that Microsoft lets girls play on Xbox live at all. I mean, what are girls doing playing on Xbox when they should be in the kitchen, making pie?
Microsoft does require you to pick a gender for your profile. Maybe she should have chosen male to imply that she likes tacos better than hot dogs.
I also think any XBL avatars depicting females with short hair and wearing flannel should be banned, because no straight women would dress like that.
Guess what. I can’t use the word Bible in my description. Does that make Microsoft Anti Christian? I also cannot use the word Linux in my description. Does that make Microsoft Anti Linux? So I can’t describe myself as a Linux using Christian. Oh well. I guess I’ll have to talk about what kinds of games I like to play in my profile.
it’s scary to what end people will do to ignore or simply put be total jerks to others in the gay/lesbian commmunity. Weither you like it or agree to their lifestyle is… well frankly none of anybody’s business and kicking someone of a network for their sexual orientation is discracefull and idiotic. I hope anybody who’s had issues of this kind have or will be helped or compensated somehow for this moronic and backward behavior and to microsoft you should definitely be ashamed of yourself… and this time not for windows
wouldn’t it be easier if you just didn’t mention it? why do you have to anyways, its not like it matters on Xbox live, unless you plan on picking up girls, where also in this case i wouldn’t suggest doing it on Xbox live
Instead of spouting my opinion, I’m going to quote the relevant Washington State legislation (HB 2661, passed in 2006):
Sec. 3. RCW 49.60.030 and 1997 c 271 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The right to be free from discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a disabled person is recognized as and declared to be a civil right. This right shall include, but not be limited to:
[snip]
(b) The right to the full enjoyment of any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities, or privileges of any place of public resort, accommodation, assemblage, or amusement;
[snip]
Any person deeming himself or herself injured by any act in violation of this chapter shall have a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin further violations, or to recover the actual damages sustained by the person, or both, together with the cost of suit including reasonable attorneys’ fees…
@SidoniaKeppanin: But is Xbox Live a public accommodation? I was under the impression that an otherwise private club on the internet was NOT a public accommodation.
Microsoft continues to appease bigotry.
Here you guys go, straight from XBOX Live Terms of Use:
You may not create a Gamertag , avatar or use text in other profile fields that may offend other members. This includes comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate or relate to any of the following: profane words/phrases, topics or content of a sexual nature, hate speech (including but not limited to racial, ethnic, or religious slurs), illegal drugs/controlled substances, or illegal activities;
This girl was 100% wrong in doing what she did, it is a direct violation of their ToU and Microsoft had every right to suspend her account. She agreed to their ToU when she logged on to Microsoft’s service, and if she didn’t intend to follow her end of the contract then she had no business being there. Microsoft isn’t “bashing gays” or whatever sensationalist bullshit you guys are talking about. They are removing the gamers who intentionally disregard the contract they agreed to and the players intent on abusing the system.
I could see the problem with putting ‘gay’ in the gamertag, not because it offends people but rather because it invites people to harass the user… people are stupid and I hate it when people call other people ‘gay’ and use it in a demaning form, but why not be proactive and just remove the word from being used
And why even have a ‘lesbian’ option? make it ‘other’ or something ambiguous like that… or just remove it… it isn’t relevant to anything in the games and if other immmature gamers feel like exploting it for humor or similar it isn’t worth messing with the game experience…
The fact you can choose that invites a lot of people to choose that option as a joke and not for legitimate reasons, which isn’t worth the moderation time IMO
honestly Microsoft can do whatever they want with xbox live users, it’s their community and you do agree to their terms of service when you sign up. I’m not saying that its morally right, however, if you don’t want to go through getting banned because of whatever, get a Wii, they just assign you random numbers as your online name and who could call those offensive?
your sexual orientation has nothing to do with gaming. infecting the game world with sexual politics is the worst thing to do. and this is just consistent with their policy on user names.
Im a Lesbian gamer, and I play as a guy because of exactly this kind of crap. Sure I wont be joining any gamerchix nights but its better then harassment. Theres NOTHING wrong with being gay or lesbian and proud of it, I’d tell every gay rights group out there and get them breathing down Microsoft’s neck for this.
Also for you moron parents, if your worried about someone putting lesbian in their profile on xbox live, heres a reality check. The crap people say on Live makes this look like a non issue if your trying to protect your kids. Also, Xbox and its ilk are not kiddie machines. Maybe your 100 and think so but games ARE for adults too, in fact most games children shouldn’t even be playing but that doesnt stop you people from buying GTA IV or Gears of War 2 for your children.
I can’t argue with the reason she got banned – if some people find it genuinely offensive that she’s a lesbian and broadcasts it in her profile then so be it. Perhaps it’s something adults don’t think kids should be exposed to (although I’d have thought compared to the other stuff out there, it’s the least of their worries).
What I wonder though is are the people who prosecuted this witch hunt – has anything happened to them? It’s a sad day and age when homophobia, racism and xenophobia are rife on xbox live, and instead of dealing with those who propagate such hatred, and banning them, they ban the victim of harassment?
Maybe I’m out of touch, but frankly anyone who preaches or endorses intolerance of any other human beings or groups of human beings deserves nothing but utter contempt.
I find the whole issue to be blown way out of proportion.
Sure she can state she is a lesbian in her profile but what is the point?
I don’t have I am straight all over my profile.
On the opposite side of this why should anyone care if she is a lesbian or not? Her being female and sexual orientation has nothing to do with the game she is playing so people should mind their own business.
Xbox Live is NOT a place for children even though more often than not its the younger kids with their high pitched whining screaming voices and very vulgar language making it unbearable to play with a microphone. One reason I dont play as much xbox live is because of the quality of the community. You can’t go into any game without being harassed, hearing vulgar language, or at least once every other game session you get the one person who thinks its cool to nonstop screech into the microphone.
Just the other day i was in an xbox live party with my little brother (15yrsold) and his friends were in there and i had to quit the party because they were being too loud.
My point is xbox live isnt for kids and parents should be a little more open to explaining something so common now a days and users shouldn’t be discriminated against because of a simple sexual orientation statement but at the same time its a video game. Your sexual orientation has nothing to do with you and your fellow gamers similar interests in a game. If you dont like someone elses profile or find it offensive (within reason). Dont read it again, play your damn game and mind your business.
This isn’t even worth commenting on. Banning neutral words in gamers’ handles has zero justification. Anything neutral can — and often is — used as a ‘slur’ by some people.
Why don’t M$ take this to its logical conclusion and ban everything except whitespace characters?
Disgusting. Thank God I didn’t pay for my windows software. Sorry to have to say it, but this doesn’t surprise me form an American company. Let’s spread the word. If I were you Thereas I would writre a letter and ask for a refund – I certainly wouldn’t wabt to use their product if that’s how they treat you. And money is the only language they really understand.
The reason Microsoft banned Her and not the homophobes is this.
4 lots of Xbox live is more money then one lot
It’s wrong, and not nice. She shouldn’t be banned at all. Microsoft have really pushed the line.
I am offended by Lives’ backasswards way of interrupting this thing. It seems like every time I am starting to get behind Microsoft again because they are finally starting to do something intelligent (windows 7.) The company goes and pull something like this… Something that is completely socially backwards.
I am straight, but have a few friends that aren’t, and they have been known to play a few games now and then. In a video game why does your sexual orientation matter? You’re there to frag, or race, or team up to waste aliens. You’re sexual orientation doesn’t even come into play when I join a game. Sounds like the only people that notice it are bigots, and socially retarded bumpkins living somewhere between 1950 and 1959.
I would really like to know what game that she was playing when people were chasing her around, since if it were a game like Halo, that is an M rated game… As a parent I would be far more worried about the violence my young, and impressionable son is exposed to opposed to girls liking girls.
as for this quote:
“They followed me into the games and told all the other players to turn me in because they didn’t want to see
that crap or their kids to see that crap.”
If anything, this is a chance to teach your children about things like this. A chance to educate them so they don’t turn out like these ignorant bigots and haters.
I agree that she has the right to be proud to be a lesbian and should not be punished for that. I also agree that some other people may have offensive names and should be banned as well. But it simply comes down to this there is absolutley no need for her to have that in her profile this isn’t a singles bar its a gaming community. It simply comes down to she doesn’t need to have it there and people complained. The same as people can complain and have other names removed. This is fair she wasn’t singled out because she is lesbian its because people found it offensive like it or lump it. I’m not saying it is offensive but people found it was. There is no way that it can be justified for it to be there and it wasnt microsoft that singled her out it was the people who complained. She can create a new account and complain about other peoples names if she wants.
I’ve experiences XBox Live once in my life, at a friend’s house playing Lost Planet online. I’ve never heard more 13 year olds using the N word and “fag” ever in my life. I’m a crude mother fucker and they still embarrassed me.
Pretty shameful. I just canceled my XBL Gold account (had it running for almost a year and probably played no more than a dozen times), and this was enough to push me over.
I also shared my thoughts with “Major Nelson,” the public face of XBL, at http://twitter.com/majornelson
How are people not seeing the difference? Microsoft did not ban her account because she had the information in there. The ban came after a number of people complained about it being in there. Is it right that those people complained? No, but Microsoft needs to follow the same policies while handling complaints in order to be consistent in their enforcement.
Isn’t this a bit like running a drug fueled orgy and turning people away at the door because they’re dressed provocatively?
I mean seriously, has anyone at microsoft actually used xbox live for more than 5 minutes?
I don’t think that Teresa had any intent to offend others by expressing her sexual orientation and I believe doing so should not be grounds for suspension.
Nine years ago I worked for Walt Disney World in the Magic Kingdom. My absolute best friend there was a lesbian woman. Until I had been employed by WDW I had never had close contact with gay or lesbian people and my friend and I were very open with each other on our views on gay/straight orientations.
We were both new hires and we had the same lunch break so for the first week we both sat together in the Mouseketeria taking about Disney and where we were from. On the 5-6 day of having lunch together she suddenly looked at me and stated “You know I’m a lesbian, right?” I told her “Yes”. She asked if it bothered me and I told her not at all.
Later in our friendship I asked her why she waited a week to tell me she was a lesbian and she replied “Did you tell me you were straight within that week?”
She told me that in her opinion expressing one’s sexual orientation to people that don’t know you isn’t necessary. To her it was private information that she didn’t feel the need to express openly. I told her I understand 100%… as a straight guy I don’t introduce myself to new people like.. “Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m straight.”
My favorite quote from her ever was on a rainy day.. We stopped at our lockers after lunch to get our wet weather gear… On the way back to Frontierland I remember her looking at me and saying “You know how great it is to be a lesbian and get to go into the women’s locker room?” Priceless!
Sexual orientation is a protected class under discrimination laws. File a complaint with the dept of human rights and the BBB. You have a case.
Microsoft must abide by these rules if they are to do business in the United States.
@ViljoOyster: Where is that law? It’s not a federally protected class, for sure. Only some states have it in certain areas.
Besides, Xbox Live, as far as I can tell, is not a public accommodation, thus, it doesn’t need to follow anti discrimination laws.
If you have other info, post it.
It makes me proud to own a PS3 – Free online game play! Muting loud people you don’t want to hear, and the freedom of knowing you are not being monitored every minuet you are online.
Ok, lots of people are “stupid” anyway, not brainless just not using their brains! Everyone has a different point of view. We are all supposed to be together as a unit. People quote half of a great saying, but for get about the other half. “United We stand”, but they forget about the “Divided We fall.” this country can’t be United, when we are all divided about the stupidest things ever. Microsoft can jump in a lake and drown. We are all human beings. All of us should be accepted no matter what. People who don’t like you based on a beautiful personality trait, should move to a country where you can’t be yourself! Rock on gamers! Go forward and be unique, be yourselves! Power to the individual!!! Peace! Love! Honour! Respect! Morgan
I am quite certain you would have a similar issue if you were to overtly identify your sexual orientation regardless of what it is.. For example, if I tried to use the gamertag of HeterosexualSam I would expect to have an issue.. The point is XBL is not intended to be a forum for advertising your sexual orientation, race or religion. It makes perfect sense to me. XBL is a free service (standard, of course).. with millions and millions of users. Do you honestly expect MS to have individuals making the decisions on each, individual gamertag? This is automated, and catches keywords. It is the easiest way to do this.
@undefined:
I agree with Mookie’s original statement.
Gamertags are not the place to advertise your sexual preference, one way or the other.
Absolutely disgusting attitude from Microsoft, but of course it doesn’t matter to me because my Xbox 360 has RROD’d one time too many and I’ve decided to go to the PS3 for games and Blu-ray Disc playback anyway.
Incredibly disappointing especially given Microsoft’s track record for LGBT employees, which I understand is excellent. It looks like they have demoted their online gaming service to homophobic jocks who want to yell slurs into their headset all day. See you later, Microsoft.
I already wrote my thoughtful argument on Kotaku so here’s my flippant response:
I guess its back to the hanky codes!
/red with black stripes on the right
Canadian law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. I invite some Canadian to please identify themselves as gay or lesbian on Xbox Live; if you are kicked off, you can launch a discrimination suit against Microsoft. I am certain that the suit would be funded by various anti-discrimination organizations, and possibly by the Canadian government as well.
Right or wrong, it’s in the Live Terms of Use:
“You agree that we may also discontinue your access to the Service if you do any of the following while connected to the Service:”
“Create a Gamertag , avatar or use text in other profile fields that may offend other members. This includes comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate or relate to any of the following: profane words/phrases, topics or content of a sexual nature, hate speech (including but not limited to racial, ethnic, or religious slurs), illegal drugs/controlled substances, or illegal activities;”
Sexual orientation is a ‘topic or content of a sexual nature’.
Is it crap that she’s banned for expressing herself? Of course. But she agreed to the Terms of Use when she signed up for Live and must be held to them.
I wouldn’t want to use a service that discriminated against me, from both the player base AND the company itself. Tell them to go screw themselves, and get a Wii or PS3. :] Or play on a PC.
I’m not saying anyone should be banned from a service like that, just that if someone was discriminating against me, I’d be like, “Well, peace out!”
Did you do any investigation to verify Teresa’s claims Meg? Did Microsoft ban her for being lesbian or for using other foul language in her profile?
It seems that you have chosen to post this without doing your due diligence. I seriously doubt MS banned her for being gay.
I don’t see why she even should be identifying herself as a lesbian on xbox live. I don’t write that I’m straight on my xbox live account, so why should she say she’s lesbian. It’s uncalled for in the first place…people aren’t matched up in matchmaking based on sexual orientation. I totally don’t see her side of the story, sorry…go be open about your sexuality in a sphere that actually involves sexuality…xbox live gaming doesn’t (unless there’s a new game now open to only males, females, straight people, or homosexuals that I don’t know about).
@UsamahManiac:
So, what’s your point? Just because you don’t do it, doesn’t make it wrong for her to.
I love the people who complain about the inappropriateness of having something as unobtrusive as gay/lesbian in someones profile, but don’t hesitate to sit through waves upon waves of crude/ignorant/homophobic/racist remarks during a session of Halo 3.
Joystiq has this story up with a response from microsoft.
[www.joystiq.com]
They basically say that sexual orientation of ANY type isn’t allowed on profiles.
@Dyscord:
Which is hilarious, since I see profiles with different variations of “straight” or “I like girls” all the time.
Maybe gays should start fighting doucheyness with doucheyness and report those profiles as inappropriate when they come across them.
or maybe she said she was a lesbian so creepy video gamers wouldn’t hit on her all the time (my sister plays starcraft and whenever they find out she’s a girl, they all hit on her and ask her for her myspace. creeeepy). oops i guess that wouldn’t have worked anyway!
in any case, why is it such a problem to say she’s a lesbian?
it’s the same as saying “i’m an asian dude from norcal who likes halo.” she’s just describing herself. big deal.
And yeah seriously. Online games and the sort are filled with people calling each other f-gs, gay, n-word, etc. I doubt they’re offended by someone saying gay or lesbian in its actual context instead of as a derogatory term. Sheesh.
My name is Justin Cole and I’m the Director of Digital & Online Media at GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).
I’ve been in constructive discussions with Microsoft since the beginning of this year with regards to their gamertag and other XBox Live policies.
I have a post up about it here – http://glaadblog.org/2009/02/26/xbox-live-homophobia-and-online-gaming-policy/
Please check it out.
Look guys, its not that hard to figure out.
She lists her sexual orientation in her profile, then is harrassed by all the “Lowbrows” who thinks its fun to grief, and she gave them the ammo for thier guns.
MS can’t follow every player and protect them so the make rules to minimize the problems as much as they can.
1st ammendment rights are somewhat suspended in a privately owned environment like XBOX Live, they own the area, they make the rules.
Don’t like it, don’t play.
If you wish to Proudly display your Race, Sexual orentation, political affiliation or religous beliefs I’d suggest doing it in a forum that allows it, God knows in the day of the internet its not that hard to find a place.
My guess is they asked her to change it and she refused. Conduct like this shouldn’t be tolerated in any environment that has a lot of kids. Violence and gore is NOT the same as talk about sexuality. XBOX Live is probably just about the most retarded place someone could pick to “come out of the closet.”
I say more power to MS for enforcing its own policies on its own network. Hey there’s a concept that works!