Microsoft defends banning 'lesbian' XBox live user

A story which has set the gaming world alight with debate has been the banning of a gamer for saying she was a lesbian in her profile.

The girl called Theresa, who has also admitted she was regularly abused and chased off servers, was targeted because she was open about her sexuality.

Microsoft also targeted her - suspending her account.

The supposedly open minded corporation (or so Bill Gates would have us believe) has admitted taking the action.

In a statement it said: "As stated in the Xbox LIVE Terms of Use, 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.

"Profiles that do are asked to change the language and suspended until changes are made. 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."

Anyone who has gamed at all online is familiar with the general attitude towards being homosexual or lesbian.

It has become an internet shorthand to describe something as 'gay', meaning bad.

I have regularly seen gamers abusing each other as 'homo' and so on during online action for percieved slights, poor gameplay, stealing vehicles or whatever.

And the abuse has become mainstream too - witness songstress Katy Perry's recent hit single 'Ur So Gay' [meaning bad]. Although this was followed by the Tatu-esque 'I Kissed a Girl', presumably to appeal to the lesbian-fantasizing male market [proving people will do anything to get headlines and sales].

In an increasingly 'politically correct' world having a go at homosexuals, or even using anti-gay language (in a negative way) is widespread and almost perfectly permissable It has become the last bastion of the bigot.

The internet has become a haven for the narrow minded - who post vile comments on, for example, youtube clips of anyone who has proven to be gay.

Microsoft should be setting an example for the internet community, not reinforcing the gay-bashing mentality.

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