Metro Weekly

Microsoft has ban on “gay” Xbox name

“We recieved a complaint on the Gamertag [“TheGayerGamer”] and determined that it did indeed contain sexual innuendo. Now granted, there could be an argument that the text is not pejorative to homosexuality and should therefore be allowed.  But there is no context to explain that.  Gamertags are visible to everyone and it would be hard for me to defend to a parent of a young child who saw it that the name did not contain content of a sexual nature…. To answer the question another way, yes “TheStraighterGamer” or “TheHeterosexualgamer” would have gotten the same treatment….”

An excerpt from a lengthy blog entry by Microsoft’s Xbox team member, Stephen Toulouse, in which he explains the company’s reasons for banning a gay-related name from the video game network. Toulouse amended the top of his blog to emphasize his support for GLBT civil rights and marriage rights, adoption rights and workplace rights, adding that the notion that he or Microsoft are homophobic is “taking the matter too far.” (StepTo.com)

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