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Shooting prostitutes, raping, and forcing abortions are all acceptable in the gaming world. But apparently being a real-life lesbian is not.
Xbox Live player Teresa told Consumerist that she was harassed and had her account suspended because she identified herself as a lesbian in her profile. And unfortunately, it's not the first time something like this has happened.
"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," Teresa says.
The bloggers at Feministing are steamed over the issue, saying, "Three cheers for gaming homophobes who can't even let people play their games in peace if they dare to identify as something other than straight."
Click here to read about Microsoft's response.Think Pink
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Feministing also runs the story of gay player Ryan, who was asked to change his screen name, "theGayergamer," because other Xbox Live members found it offensive.
When Teresa appealed to Microsoft, they ignored her. Since then, they've responded to the backlash with this statement saying that nothing sexual is allowed on a player's profile:
"As stated in the Xbox Live Terms of Use, a member may not create a gamertag or use text in other profile fields that include comments that look, sound like, stand for, hint at, abbreviate, or insinuate content of a potentially sexual nature."
Our question -- since when is being a lesbian "sexual"? Should anyone who says they're straight or married also be booted since they presumably have sexual relations with their partners?
And apparently it is still OK to send messages calling someone a "fag." Sigh.
Tell us: Was Xbox Live wrong to ban Teresa, or should she have left her orientation off her profile?
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Comments:
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Friday 27 February
By Melissa
OMG! I can't even believe that Microsoft actually said this. Thanks for the article.
I'll definitely be buying an Apple computer next, and Atari has my business for gaming products from now on. Go WII!
Boycott XBox 360!!!
Reply
Friday 27 February
By richp (rep31983)
well melissa im with you on this 1. Games like "god of war", "fable 2", and "mass effect and of course "grandtheft auto" are all top sellers which include sex and even one including gay sex and orgies "fable 2" however when someone announces who they are it becomes the worlds biggest problem, and everybody is offened, but after 911 everybody got behind bush to bomb a country for oil. I mean i know this world is f'ed up but lets try to live in peace and let people be them selfes. And as far as kids playing online porn is so easy to get so lets kill that excuse please. Just be rsponsable and respectable to everyone.
Saturday 28 February
By Erin
Yes they were very wrong for banning her! As a girl gamer myself ive been in games with guy where they cuss me out and ask me for nudes and naughty stuff like that, and they still play. That pisses me off because I am bi am i gonna get banned now because of that?
Saturday 28 February
By Ken
Yeah, I'm with you. In my opinion, a person's sexual preference has nothing whatsoever to do with being a gamer. I find it to be just plain stupid that we live in a country that has more ethnic groups, religions, and working classes, yet people have a problem with a person's choice of orientation. Last i checked, America was the land of the free, so why are there problems with racism, discrimination, and other inane acts of segregation? Can anyone please help me understand what the world is coming to these days?
Friday 27 February
By Natalie
I'll try to get my comment in before some of the other "Christians" do and make the rest of us look like kooks to the planet.
These issues with gay and lesbian rights need to stop..online and off. We all have a basic human right to free will..given to us by our Creator. In this country we have a Constitution that protects certain liberties and rights..that our founders believed were given to us by our Creator. Jesus was clear..how YOU judge people is how YOU will be judged. So all you so called Christians who want to start attacking these people YOU deem as "sick"..remember nothing is done in the dark that shall not be brought to the light..including all of your secret deeds and thoughts. If you call yourself a christian then learn to act with love..otherwise all you do is make my King look like you. These are end times and God isn't the military..He wants ALL of His children to get home. He won't keep us out because of who we loved..but because of who we said was unlovable. Considering who we are individually..each one of us in our own darkest of places we as humans are scum when you look at creation as a whole..and YET He hung up on that cross for each of us. Not just you holier than thous aka Pharisees who try to block the door to the Kingdom.
Reply
Friday 27 February
By Emfiresprite
Complete and utter nonsense. Not only is that ignoring homophobia, that's supporting it. Stating you're a lesbian isn't anymore sexual than those ignorant fools saying they didn't want their children to see, as that implies they've had intercourse. And see what, exactly? The word lesbian?
Rubbish.
I'm sending this to everyone I know, and I will be getting a mac next.
Reply
Monday 02 March
By Gabby
You should never identify your self as any sexual orientation. People die from saying that to judgemental people. But get this jesus did not judge anyone nut yet the entire world is discriminating and judging not only on sexual preference but anyone that is different than them. You got to learn to keep stuff to your self. At school and work I keep my life to myself. No one is like how jesus wants us to be... Im not trying to be religious. Im trying to stop these killings of gays and the threats from people with abortions. Most of these companys are closed minded that you just got to ignore it.
Reply
Friday 27 February
By alex
Well I truly don't care for homosexuals, but this is just stupid. If you say that you're a lesbian or gay in your profile you shouldn't be suspended or anything. Bad decision Microsoft, but I'm not going to boycott you or anything else like some of these other hypocrites are talking about. Microsoft > anything else, except the Apple iPhone. Well anyways, Microsoft, that wasn't smart, but I doubt you'll lose members.
Reply
Friday 27 February
By Yoseph
OK she stated that she's a lesbian in her profile. What does that mean, did she state she's a human, European, female, a musician. No, that means that she has sex with other women. So saying that the word lesbian is not sexual is retarded. Personally I believe that anyone (even religious kooks, lol) should be able so say whatever they want. But if the rule is no sexual content, well, then she broke the rule, period. Dumb rule but that's life.
Reply
Sunday 20 December
By Mlaah
Being a lesbian doesn't mean you have sex with women, it actually only means you are attracted to them. The sex part is the lesbian's business not your's or Microsoft.
And actually, lesbian could also mean you're from the isle of Lesbos since that's were the word came from.
Friday 27 February
By john
great move by microsoft
kids don't need to see that crap
it's not natural
Reply
Friday 27 February
By Josh
Ok seriously john ur an idiot, ok ima side with both sides though, 1 ima Catholic i can give half a hell if sum1 is gay or not its their rite, so hell wit xbox dey took dis 2 far, but its a fact ur guna get harassed on games everbody does im not sayin its rite but its true and people r guna have 2 except it, but again xbox took it 2 far
Sunday 01 March
By mariksrarehunter
Wow that is utterly disgusting Microsoft! You need to get with the times!
Me personaly I dont think she should have to change her profile >/ BUT they shouldnt have banned her ether, couldnt they have just asked her to please take it off?
Way to jump the gun Microsoft :/ Idiots.
Reply
Friday 27 February
By Matthew
If you say you are "married" or that you have kids, you are declaring that you either had sex with the opposite sex or you adopted. Declaring oneself a lesbian is not an indication that you are looking for sex or are trying to seduce anyone. You are identifying yourself with a minority and more importantly, a culture.
No straight person has ever had to endure something like this, which makes it even more important that Microsoft supports this user rather than punish her for participating in a hobby that should be safe because she is with other gamers.
I'm glad I came across this, I was pondering getting an Xbox, looks like it's the PS3 for me!
Reply
Friday 27 February
By Tori
Coming from the same people who probably let their kids on Facebook and Myspace. One's preference in significant is in no way sexual. What about the people that put "straight" on their profile? Why isn't that considered sexual? And even if that is sexual.....she shouldn't have been the only one punished. What about the people that harassed her? Were they punished? Isn't harassment a crime? Even if it is only verbal? Shouldn't their accounts or w/e have been suspended? Lesbian or not....is she not human? Do the laws not protect gays/lesbians as they do straights?
Reply
Saturday 28 February
By KD
Yoseph: Saying you're gay/lesbian/bi/straight/whatever does not automatically mean that's the kind of sex you have. It's just your preference. She never said "I have sex with women" or "I have had sex with women" or anything to that effect. How do you know she's not celibate for religious reasons or anything like that? For all we know, she might still be a virgin, however unlikely it may seem. The fact is that she never outright said what kind of sex she has, just what people she's attracted to. And it's not like she was trying to solicit sex over Xbox Live either. I think Microsoft was wrong for their decision. And even if the profile thing was a real issue in the first place (which it wasn't), Microsoft still should have said that the people harassing her were wrong. Lesbian or not, she should be able to play online with other gamers and not be screwed around with like that.
Reply
Friday 27 February
By JT Cool
Being Married isn't the same as sexual orientations. You can be married to either gender. Stating your sexual orientation is another thing entirely.
I'll admit that the harassment was incredibly obscene but standard guidelines should be adhered to.
Don't like it? Don't play the 360. It won't be a huge loss.
Reply
Sunday 01 March
By sanitarium
now in this case i dont belive that the girl who is a lesbian should of had her account banned but as far as having your gamertag as thegayergamer me being an xbox live player i would have reported that gamer tag as well now as far as god and jesus goes seems to allways be popular in comments i belive there is a god but i dont belive in the book he is claimed to have wrote and the hanging on the cross and such my question is was you there to confirm that it actually happened no i dont think so for all i know it could of been some drunk guy a100-150 years ago who wrote a book that sounded good now thats just my opionion and everybody is entitled to one as far as this issue goes quit the gay bashing its 2009 get over it
Reply
Friday 27 February
By rich p (rep31983)
well melissa im with you on this 1. Games like "god of war", "fable
2", and "mass effect and of course "grandtheft auto" are all top
sellers which include sex and even one including gay sex and orgies
"fable 2" however when someone announces who they are it becomes the
worlds biggest problem, and everybody is offened, but after 911
everybody got behind bush to bomb a country for oil. I mean i know
this world is f'ed up but lets try to live in peace and let people be
them selfes. And as far as kids playing online porn is so easy to get
so lets kill that excuse please. Just be rsponsable and respectable
to everyone.
Reply
Saturday 28 February
By rich p (rep31983)
gabby i understand what ur saying but nobody should not have to hide who they are. And in most profiles they ask ur orientation which is either straight or gay, so this whole situation is ridiculous, microsoft should be sued and the people involved with the hazing should be punished in some way shape or form. i mean this is worst than the animal crulity case involving the spca here in elkton. any way i wish u all the best.
Reply