XBL bans again: this time cos her profile says she’s a lesbian

What would Ellen say? And Lance Bass, and Elton John, or Gandalf himself, Ian McKellen? Reports are coming in yet again of stories about Xbox Live users being banned and harassed in Microsoft‘s online service because their profile tags them as a Lesbian. According to Teresa, one such user, Microsoft told her that they suspended her account because her sexual orientation was “offensive” to other members of the community. Some community that is, huh.

What would Ellen say? And Lance Bass, and Elton John, or Gandalf himself, Ian McKellen? Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson? (nah, I don’t really care about those two)

Reports are coming in yet again of stories about Xbox Live users being banned and harassed in Microsoft‘s online service because their profile tags them as a Lesbian.

According to Teresa, one such user, Microsoft told her that they suspended her account because her sexual orientation was “offensive” to other members of the community. Some community that is, huh.

Here’s her story:

I just recently saw a thing on your site about someone’s 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!

This is not the first instance that we’ve heard of a ban on XBL based on anything remotely related to “gay”ness. Remember theGAYERgamer? What about Richard Gaywood? That’s his real name, but he got his Gamertag banned anyway, cos it doesn’t matter to Microsoft as long as those three letters are clumped together.

What’s with the homophobia, Microsoft? Is it really the “community” that finds it offensive or is it just you? That’s so not cool. Don’t be hating.

Via The Consumerist