Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

[Tyloric]

Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Xbox Live just got a little bit more progressive this morning, with Microsoft proudly announcing that gamers are now allowed to share their sexual orientation in their profiles. Previously, you were not allowed to express sexuality in your Xbox Live profile, but Xbox Live head of policy Stephen Toulouse has revealed that a number of terms have now been permitted.

Gamers will be able to use Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Straight to denote their sexuality, if they so desire. Microsoft had been working with GLAAD and "Microsoft's LGBT community" to narrow down the terms.

Note that those are the only terms allowed. Use of those words in an insulting manner won't be tolerated either, so it seems as if Microsoft has retracted its scorched earth policy and will now be reviewing the use of these words on a case-by-case basis. That, of course, is very good news for our many gay readers.

It may not seem like a big deal to many of you, but it was certainly a big deal to some, and it's very cool that Microsoft has taken the stick out of its arse and decided to judge the use of these words on their own merits. Microsoft doesn't do everything right, but this was definitely a good thing. Well done!

Source: Video Games app via Facebook

 

[Skotekal]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Ummm... You weren't allowed to say you were gay? Well, I wouldn't call this much of a step up, but more of a fix to what should have been in the first place.

 

[sfroggy1]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Yeah I read that a woman got banned for identifying herself as gay on her Live profile back in 2008. Link: http://consumerist.com/2009/02/identifying-yourself-as-a-lesbian-gets-you-banned-on-xbox-live.html

It's about time they did this. Banning people because they wish to reveal their sexual orientation is just plain wrong. It's not like this woman was trying to come onto people while playing against them over Live. Faith in humanity slightly restored lol

 

[Purple Nurple]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Whoo! The video game world is becoming more progressive! Soon we all might be able to share our leather fetishes over Xbox!

Or is that just me?


Seriously though, this is great. Although I have a feeling alot of gays out there will get alot of unnecessary abuse.

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Bad idea, Microsoft.

 

[sfroggy1]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Seriously though, this is great. Although I have a feeling alot of gays out there will get alot of unnecessary abuse.

See that's the problem that I think that we will never be able to top. Simply because their are so many immature idiots out there.

A guy I went to school with back in Australia came out as gay after finishing his education and he told me after catching up on facebook he got a warning and asked to change his xbox live profile. Should have filed a complaint.

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Although I have a feeling alot of gays out there will get alot of unnecessary abuse.

More like a fact, this change will indeed cause an influx of hate messages towards homosexual, transgendered, and foreign gamers now that they're more easier to locate than ever on Live. There's just too many immature, racist, and homophobic pricks floating around on Xbox Live who enjoy making fun of people different than them and Microsoft basically just opened up the floodgates.

People are going to eventually cry and complain that they're being abused more than ever now, and it's like.. what did these people expect?

 

[Fenrir]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Bad idea, Microsoft.

Why do you say that? They may get riddiculed by assholes but at least they wont get banned just becase they admit it. Also they dont have to if they dont want to.

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Why do you say that? They may get riddiculed by assholes but at least they wont get banned just becase they admit it. Also they dont have to if they dont want to.

I know they don't have to, but those that want to should know that they will receive abuse online. Some can deal with that sort of thing and just simply brush it off and block the person, while others can't and will get depressed and probably cry and moan over it.

People receive a large amount of abuse for just being picked as one of those Xbox Live Gamers of the week thing, it's really sad.

 

[Fenrir]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Sad it is, but you would think the people who cant take abuse are aware that they cant take abuse and wont post their sexual preference.

 

[Purple Nurple]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

But the point is, many people that aren't used to that sort of treatment will post things like 'Gay and proud' on their profile, only for some insecure prick to come along and take the ****. People shouldn't have to deal with that, I think that neither is the right solution; you shouldn't get banned, but it should be taken down.

 

[Firis]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Goood, I will have to check my account today Ty Tyoric.

 

[Gikoku]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

But the point is, many people that aren't used to that sort of treatment will post things like 'Gay and proud' on their profile, only for some insecure prick to come along and take the ****. People shouldn't have to deal with that, I think that neither is the right solution; you shouldn't get banned, but it should be taken down.

Microsoft dealt with the problem the wrong way, they should send the user a message informing them of the issues that can be caused from expressing their sexual orientation, banning someone for saying they're gay is over the line.

 

[Purple Nurple]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

^ I agree entirely.

 

[Wonderfoole WINO]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

This is going to go over sooooo well. Its a good thing our society, especially the Xbox Live community, is so accepting of others.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

My sexuality has been in my profile for some time now... lol

 

[Necromancer]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

I find this pretty helpful to homosexuals, bisexuals, etc. This will help to let people know that being gay is fine, and could have an impression on suggestible people, further paving the road toward widespread acceptance of homosexuality. I'm not saying that this one tiny decision will make the world accept homosexuality. That's certainly not the case, but every little bit helps.

And yes, they're going to receive abuse, but what demographic hasn't received abuse before acceptance? It's unfortunate that things work this way, but people must push through this abuse and fight for their rights and acceptance.

I realize that this is all just a gaming network, and people use Xbox Live to play games rather than to tell people they're gay or to bash gays, but anybody who can should help out with an important issue like this.

 

[James Butts]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

My sexuality has been in my profile for some time now... lol

I love your avatar and siggy. Yes, I used to be a gay hater, but now, Who the fvck cares? I have a gay cousin, he lived in my house for a while, and I realized that not all gays are "flamers"

 

[Purple Nurple]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

^ Sound reasoning. However, I think the argument was that they now have a 'privelidge' (although many people won't see it as such), that they didn't have before.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Microsoft: You're allowed to say you're gay on Live now!

Let's put this in the context of something else, such as...

I'd like a number two with medium fries and coke please.
That'll be $5.89, by the way I'm gay.
I don't care. Give me my food please.
You don't care? You'd just rather me be straight!
No, I sincerely don't care. I'd like to have my food please.
How can you not care?! We're allowed to tell you now!
Maybe so, but no one's forcing me to care. Food, nao.
What if I spit on your food? Are you afraid that you might catch "the homo"?
No, it'd be just as bad as a straight guy doing the same. Give me my food or we'll have problems.
Is that a threat?
*Punch* *Slap* *Kick* *Girly scream*
Headline: A man who calls himself 'John Doe' assaults a server at a restaurant for being homosexual. Hate crime, hate monger, intolerant, right-wing religious nut, etc. and so on, full story at eleven.

It really shouldn't matter. The way I see it, there are two ways to fix what people consider a 'problem'. One, don't make rules about it in the first place. Oops, too late. Two, if you're going to have rules restricting one type of disclosure, it should apply to everyone. You can say you're straight, gay, whatever. But either way, it shouldn't matter.

Think about it, how many people announce that they are straight? Outside of MySpace and dating sites, that is... those idiots will divulge anything. But really, I've not met any straight people who felt it necessary to announce that they were straight. Reason: It doesn't matter.

I wish you were gay. I really really do.