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Woman Banned From Xbox Live for Identifying as Lesbian
A former Xbox Live user has been banned by Microsoft because her profile stated that she was a lesbian, according to a report in The Consumerist.
Identifying herself only as Teresa, the woman told her story in an e-mail to the site, reading, "[My] account was suspended because I had said in my profile that I was a lesbian." This should not come as a total surprise to anybody who recalls the story of the (admittedly) unfortunately named Richard Gaywood, who was banned from the service last year due to his user name -- 'RichardGaywood.' But this story goes one step further, as Teresa claims she was being harassed online by other gamers. In her e-mail, she wrote, "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."
Following The Consumerist's lead, reporters from Ars Technica went to Microsoft for comment. Read the company's surprising official response after the break:
"[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," an unapologetic Microsoft spokesperson told Ars Technica. "In regards to sexual orientation, for gamertags or profiles we do not allow expression of any type of orientation, be that hetero or other. Players can, however, self identify in voice communication where context is more easily explained to all players involved."
In an interview yesterday with MTV News, however, Microsoft's program manager for policy and enforcement on Xbox Live, Stephen Toulouse, admitted that his employer's solution is "inelegant," citing that the textbox field when creating gamertags is "freeform," meaning the only option the company has is to kick folks off if they seemingly violate the policy. MTV's Stephen Totilo then suggested that Microsoft simply add a sexual orientation field to player's profiles. Toulouse is taking the suggestion under advisement.
| Yes | |
|---|---|
| No | |
| I'm not sure. |
Well, folks, we've been privvy to some of that "voice communication" over Xbox LIVE and, let us assure you, we haven't exactly heard anybody talking about Bible study on there. Anyway, protective parents and prudes may now rejoice -- your delicate eyes will no longer be burned by reading "lesbian" or "gay" while you virtually tromp through a dystopic world, cussing out strangers and blowing their heads off.
Besides, since when does 'lesbian' or 'gay' mean (just) sex, anyway? We thought it was all about love, too, as evidenced by the massive movement to legalize gay marriage in this country would have us believe. Dirty visions are in the eyes of the beholder, no? Or maybe just Microsoft's policy makers.
According to an update on Joystiq, there is some possibility of change. Toulouse on his blog writes that the company is mulling over updating the policy, which is probably a good idea since the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has also started to make some noise.
[From: The Consumerist, Joystiq, MTV Multiplayer Blog, GLAAD, and Ars Technica]
Are These Games Too Sexy?
While recent game titles have attracted media attention for nudity and sexual situations, risque role-playing games have existed since PC gaming first began. Early games, such as 'Sex Games' for the Commodore 64, demanded specific commands, such as "remove pants," and required specific sequential actions to achieve one's nefarious goals. Currently, a plethora of games with bawdy scenes have invaded, or graced, the gaming world and vary in degrees of lewdness. Here are a few significant titles with prevalent or graphic bawdiness:
'God of War I & II:'
Press the right buttons, and gently twirl the thumbstick, to see the climax of mini-games in both God of War I and II for PS2 and PSP
'Grand Theft Auto III (consoles)'
The infamous "don't come a knockin'" prostitute scenes created a stir when GTA 3 was originally released for PS2.
'Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude; Box Office or Bust' (for consoles):
These most recent incarnations continue to follow the exploits of love lorn Larry in versions for both PC and next gen consoles
'Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals' (for PC)
Released in 1989 for PCs, this third installment of the groundbreaking franchise of risque role playing preceded GTA 4 by 20 years when the title character shows the full Larry in an infamous shower scene
'Mass Effect:'
The backlash from FoxNews greatly exaggerated the tame innuendo and implied relations between the two sapphic lovers in Xbox's Mass Effect.
'Playboy: The Mansion' (consoles):
Disappointingly demure, perhaps the highlight of this sojourn to the mansion is playing photographer in this release for PC, PS2 and Xbox
'Rapelay:'
Amazon removed listings for this disturbing, yet readily available in Japan, DVD-ROM in which the main character stalks and, to put it mildly, torments young girls.
'The Sims;' nude patch:
Denisons of young gamers were disappointed when learning that unblurred nudity in this game for PCs, consoles, and handhelds required downloading a censor patch
'Soul Calibur' (consoles):
The character Taki from the Soul Calibur franchise continues to titillate thousands of pubescent gamers in versions for every console.
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Comments
85
Subscribe to commentsIvelisseFeb 28th 2009 12:31PM
I don't know what's the big deal. Because she used the word "Lesbian", when there is so much violence, blood, and gore in these games. I'm pretty sure the parents are not watching these kids that play them. Kids grow up seeing everything on tv and they are not being monitored. You guys act like we are going to brainwash the kids. Just because they see the word "lesbian" it is not hurting anyone...
AlexMar 1st 2009 5:04PM
Ahahahah.. hahaha.
Seriously?
You all are so uneducated.
Perversion? Victimizaton? .. Did I catch a few Islamic jokes in there?
Way to go, X-box, way to breed idiots.
Maybe if you poked your little fat necks outside a few times a week instead of reclining in your computer chairs like beached whales playing x-box and other videogames for several hours a day, (further damaging your obviously already poor eyesight if you think the LGBTQ community is perverse) you'd get an idea of the real world and see for yourself that there are some very diverse people out there but no less important to this little "plan" your religion teaches, and that they are no more perverted than that nasty little banker man you let eye your children and give them candy while you fill out checks.
So.
Take a nice hot shower, enough to clean the nacho cheese off your fingers and filthy slovo's, put on something pretty, unplug that computer, and take a walk. It might just lengthen your life.
CatholicMar 5th 2009 11:46PM
Scott: You're making assumptions about someone you know absolutely nothing about. I don't hate people...but maybe you do. I don't know much about your religions, but that's okay, since I don't actually care for them. You're entitled to your own opinion.
GunnerMar 6th 2009 6:03AM
B positive..that's my blood type.
I only say that because including that in a message that the entire world can read makes about as much sense as randomly including what gender I prefer in my bedroom in my profile.
Who gives a duck? If you catch my drift.
Sexual Politics is very important. Gay Marriage Fantastic, Equality, no more hate crimes. Awesome.
But this is Xbox, who really cares about Matthew Shepard, Harvey Milk, Ruth Ellis or Karen-Christine Friele when they're trying to get out of the subway of 'Left For Dead' or back to the ship on 'Halo'?
Xbox should not only be Family Friendly, it should ALSO be a place where everyone's lousy prejudices can be set aside so people can just relax for a few hours. No one wants to be taunted, ridiculed, or otherwise made to feel badly. I'm suprised it was 'Adults' griping about what she chose to put in her profile. If your child knows what 'Straight - Lesbian - Gay - Bi' means..TOO LATE. If they don't, then grow up. You're the adult, you don't stone a person for not being the same as you. You just tell your child the truth, and if you're too uptight just tell your kid, "Don't worry about it honey, it has nothing to do with the game, it has to do with that person's life, it's really involved and I don't want to explain it to you right now." I think the people that harrassed her were wrong-it was uncalled for to bully a person. But I also believe in following the rules, they were simple, they said do NOT include anything sexual in nature in your profile- she did, she broke the rules- if she wishes to return, she should be allowed a new account and she needs to abide by the rules and leave her orientation out of it. Because she's there to game. It's not like there's a "Lesbian Rockband' she can play on Live Xbox and everyone else can only play 'Straight Rockband'..except for a couple of the guys who can play 'Gay Rockband..not going to happen. It's one damn game people..you either want to play it, or you don't.
caitlinMay 15th 2009 5:33PM
What, why are you guys getting so upset about her "stating that she is a lesbian"
OH MY GOD WHY YOU TELL US THAT!!
I mean first off, I guarantee that like 50% of you have masturbated to gay/lesbian pornography at least once, probably at least 25% of you frequently do. And then you claim to be like I AM NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR BEDROOM ANTICS!!! Bullshit!! either you have some real sexual fantasy about it, or you just don't give a damn. Anyway, supposing that you don't have a gay/lesbian fetish, what is the harm in someone stating their orientation on an online service? They might meet someone online who shares their "interests", who knows. There are all kinds of reasons why they might want to divulge the information.
Basically, if you don't like it, don't read it, it's totally their choice to divulge that information or not. There is no reason to be offended by it. For Christs sake.