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Microsoft Updates Xbox Live's LGBT Policies

Tom Ivan's picture

By Tom Ivan

March 5, 2010

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Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people can now express their relationship orientation in their profile and Gamertag on Xbox Live.

That’s following recently implemented changes to the online service’s Code of Conduct, which were announced today by Stephen Toulouse, director of policy and enforcement for Xbox Live.

The updated regulations read: “You may use the following terms to express your relationship orientation in your profile or Gamertag:

Lesbian
Gay
Bi
Transgender
Straight

“Other terms regarding relationship orientation are not allowed. In addition you may not use these terms or any other terms regarding relationship orientation to insult, harass, or any other pejorative use against other users.”

Toulouse offered his thanks to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and Xbox Live’s LGBT community for their guidance on the terms.

Microsoft was criticised last year for cracking down on Gamertags that contained “content of a sexual nature”.

ravenor's picture
On March 7th ravenor said:

Right my new gamertag will be.......

Transgender Dad

MOTTO........ I Lobed it off.

OR

........ I grew one bigger thatn your's.

Mind you I have yet to be banned for FlacidDonkeyGuy so I shall see how long that one can last.

woods_man's picture
On March 6th woods_man said:

Whilst this is laudable progress by Microsoft, PSN seems to be flagging behind. The number of names i see along the lines of "Joe_killz_nigz" or "paki_killa34" is really inexcusable. Not the mention the erudite and tasteful insults 12 year olds hurl around on both Xbox Live and PSN. In the world of gaming this really does feel like spit in the ocean.

ArronC07's picture
On March 6th ArronC07 said:

Personally I'm glad they've changed their policy and frankly if someone wants to identify themselves as gay, bi-sexual or straight it's up to them. It's no big deal and if people have a problem it says more about their lack of maturity on such matters than it does about the person who uses the label.

People are gay shocker isn't really that much of a shocker these days and tolerance of difference is a good thing.

Aionic_Kid's picture
On March 6th Aionic_Kid said:

sTUPID pERSONAL iDENTITIES

Jaks's picture
On March 5th Jaks said:

what is it with people who identify themselves by their sexual orientation, anyway?

toadwarrior's picture
On March 6th toadwarrior said:

Not eveyone does but some gay and straight people want to. That's why having the freedom of speech is nice.

Jaks's picture
On March 7th Jaks said:

I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone identify themselves in a nickname or any other way that they are heterosexual. Hence my question.

toadwarrior's picture
On March 8th toadwarrior said:

Beach Stud
E n V y stud

I found those in 2 seconds. I'm sure you can find more and yes stud doesn't necessarily imply you're hetero but if you're calling yourself a stud and not implying that you hot shit with the ladies then you're gay because no man in their right mind would call themselves that around their male friends.

xstavrosx83's picture
On March 5th xstavrosx83 said:

When i want to have sex with someone then i care about his sexuality,when i want to play a game over the net i can't see what difference does it make...and i find it very silly to differentiate people by their sexual preference

elocinanna's picture
On March 5th elocinanna said:

Well this is an interesting development on something quite personal to me. Also it's awesome to see no derogatory comments! I just wrote a blog in response to the responses to this to give a bit of an inside view (I'm a transgender girl.) Hope you enjoy it or find it interesting:
http://www.edge-online.com/blogs/next-gender-gaming

Keeyop's picture
On March 5th Keeyop said:

How is transgender a "relationship orientation" anyway? and what about people like me, I'm into S&M, Necrophilia and Beastiallity. Am I just flogging a dead horse?

Jaks's picture
On March 5th Jaks said:

Only in the privacy of your own bedroom, I hope.

kingheff1's picture
On March 5th kingheff1 said:

Yeah, I think you're just inviting a world of online abuse, but if there are some brave souls willing to face the torrent of crap they'll no doubt receive, good luck to them.

Duncan_Stewart's picture
On March 5th Duncan_Stewart said:

From some of the racist and homophobic comments I hear about flying around Xbox Live I think if I was gay the last place I'd want to announce it would be there.

http://kotaku.com/326714/breaking-there-is-no-shortage-of-homophobes-on-...