AfterDawn: News

Microsoft now allows for sexual orientation, race, in Xbox Live profiles

In March of last year, Microsoft apologized for the banning of an Xbox Live user who self-identified herself as lesbian in her Xbox Live profile, noting that "the expression of relationship preference in Gamertag profiles and tags, whether that's heterosexual or other," was not allowed.

Today, the software giant has updated the Xbox Live "Code of Conduct" to include for the allowance of sexual orientation, race, religion, and nationality in Gamertags and profiles.



"Under our previous policy, some of these expressions of self-identification were not allowed in Gamertags or profiles to prevent the use of these terms as insults or slurs," adds Xbox Live General Manager Marc Whitten.

Although some terms will still not be tolerated, the use of "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered and Straight" are okay, says Destructoid's Jim Sterling.

"Microsoft had been working with GLAAD and [its own] LGBT community to narrow down the terms. 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. 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!," concludes Sterling, via TGDaily.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 5 Mar 2010 13:54

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• 29 comments

• windsong

  And how long before pedo, polygamist, and bigamist options?
  
  Just sayin.

  5.3.2010 14:18 #1

• KSib

  I can EASILY understand why Microsoft wanted to leave out sexual orientation and religion out of the profiles, especially because of how many vocally intolerant people there are on Live (not that it's limited to the 360, mind you). While I do believe it's nice of them to allow people to post that stuff, I don't imagine many [insert minority religion or sexual preference here] who play with pubbers that will be super ecstatic in getting that information up there.

  5.3.2010 14:26 #2

• nonoitall

  Originally posted by windsong: And how long before pedo, polygamist, and bigamist options?At this rate, probably five years or so, if that.

  5.3.2010 16:19 #3

• kikzm33z

  No one's going to post their sexuality preference, religion or race on their profile.
  
  I think that we've all learned by now that Xbox Live is plagued with 8 year olds that give abuse with their little whiny voices.
  
  EDIT: Changed some stuff to make my post make sense.

  5.3.2010 17:00 #4

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by kikzm33z: I think that we've all learned by now that Xbox Live is plagued with 8 year olds that give abuse with their little whiny voices.I think windsong may have proven that w/ his question (if serious).

  5.3.2010 18:54 #5

• Hyasuma

  i think this is stupid, is just makes more ppl want to joke about your race. One day I was playing Modern Warfare, some guys keep calling our teams "nigger", but the fact is that none of us our african american, this just bring s**t up more like, "oh, he is asian, i dont want to add that guy, or he is black, i dont want to play with no nigger, or oh he is whatever, i don't want to play with him" It is already bad as it is, why make it worse? is like putting salt on a laceration when you know is going to hurt.

  6.3.2010 01:22 #6

• sweetA

  I'm very disappointed in Microsoft. When most of us was born....we were either a female or male. Take a look at your birth certificate...you don't see any of that other bull on that "Legal" document? We should never open Pandora's box. Sex on a app...do not mean what's your preference......This whole thing is stupid. Like someone before me said......WHAT'S NEXT???? SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON YOU MICROSOFT

  6.3.2010 07:41 #7

• scum101

  Originally posted by sweetA: I'm very disappointed in Microsoft. When most of us was born....we were either a female or male. Take a look at your birth certificate...you don't see any of that other bull on that "Legal" document? We should never open Pandora's box. Sex on a app...do not mean what's your preference......This whole thing is stupid. Like someone before me said......WHAT'S NEXT???? SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON YOU MICROSOFTa few things there to pick at.. when a baby is born a doctor or midwife looks at it and gives their OPINION as to whether it is male or female.. nothing is anything hard and fast in that until the parents go and register the birth.. and surprisingly NO evidence of any kind other than the word of the parent is required..
  
  I don't get why M$ have felt the need for this, unless it's a way to find and get rid of the scum element. If that is the case then maybe they are a little more clever (in a sly way) than even I give them credit
  

  http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
  http://www.fsf.org/

  6.3.2010 09:40 #8

• trexxus

  I personally could care less but I can also see a point in what a few people have stated on here.Young people do like to be well...young people!They say the stupid stuff because it's cool(to themselves I mean)and yeah racism is something that we will never escape no matter how much other things change around us.If you are one of those people who doesn't like the new change then just don't change your profile...it's really that simple!

  6.3.2010 12:22 #9

• SomeBozo

  I don't think people understand how gay microsoft is. I work at microsoft and remember walking through an MS parking lot, nearly every car or every other care had a bumper sticker for gay rights or something oriented that way. microsoft also endorsed same sex domestic partners and allowed health benefits well before it was the norm or more acceptable than it is now. I'm only stating a fact, not an opinion, my opinion would be if that is how people want to live they have that right in the privacy of there own place, and voice their views as they desired, we all should have that right. On the other side it doesn't seem this is a place where microsoft should be making sexual orientation an issue. What is the age for most people on XBox live? Notice they didn't work with any other group other than GLAAD && LGBT, why not "Parent of Young Childern"... But lets face it parents would not like pedophiles soliciting there kids, this now provides a means that normally men will try to contact kids to solitice them. Otherwise what is the reason to even allow, state or have this infomation available...?

  6.3.2010 14:44 #10

• ThePastor

  Well, I think that if you are "bold" enough to post your "sexual orientation" or "race" or whatever... then be MAN enough to deal with the immature comments you will most definitely receive without running to MS or "the man" for help.
  We ALL have to deal with stupidity on the net. It's part of the game. It's the way it goes. I don't think you deserve any special "protection" just because you whine and cry.

  6.3.2010 15:51 #11

• DoomLight

  those things shouldn't be allowed in the gaming universe. the only tell that should be allowed is if the guy on xbox live speaks with a flaming lisp.
  
  i could care less if i was playing with a homosexual. i would rather just not know.

  7.3.2010 12:40 #12

• Hyasuma

  maybe Microsoft try to be like facebook...hmmm, next thing you know we be showing naked pictures.

  7.3.2010 12:47 #13

• emugamer

  Originally posted by DoomLight: i could care less if i was playing with a homosexual. i would rather just not know.+1

  7.3.2010 21:52 #14

• kyo28

  sexual orientation, race and religion have nothing to do with gaming and as such I thought it was perfectly logically to ban such words from profiles. This has nothing to do with intollerance but simply to keep this tidy and 'on-topic' so to speak.
  
  With this change in policy, I can imagine a surge in profiles like "GayGamerXXX" and what not. It's simply in the nature of some people to try and put offensive words online, since they feel they can get away with it. I'm afraid they've just opened the floodgates.

  8.3.2010 03:15 #15

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by SomeBozo: I don't think people understand how gay microsoft is. I work at microsoft and remember walking through an MS parking lot, nearly every car or every other care had a bumper sticker for gay rights or something oriented that way. microsoft also endorsed same sex domestic partners and allowed health benefits well before it was the norm or more acceptable than it is now. I'm only stating a fact, not an opinion, my opinion would be if that is how people want to live they have that right in the privacy of there own place, and voice their views as they desired, we all should have that right. On the other side it doesn't seem this is a place where microsoft should be making sexual orientation an issue. What is the age for most people on XBox live? Notice they didn't work with any other group other than GLAAD && LGBT, why not "Parent of Young Childern"... But lets face it parents would not like pedophiles soliciting there kids, this now provides a means that normally men will try to contact kids to solitice them. Otherwise what is the reason to even allow, state or have this infomation available...?WTF? That just sounds like a confused roundabout way of equating gays w/ pedophiles (who are mostly straight, by the way). And aren't users of XBL supposed to be at least 18yo, per user agreement, by the way?

  8.3.2010 07:34 #16

• SomeBozo

  Quote:
  WTF? That just sounds like a confused roundabout way of equating gays w/ pedophiles (who are mostly straight, by the way). And aren't users of XBL supposed to be at least 18yo, per user agreement, by the way?Are you then saying XBOx Live users at 18+, given you need to have a credit card thus there are no users under 18. Last i remember it is illegal for me to expose minors to sexually oriented materials if i'm not their parent? And say I do, i find some 13 or 14 year old, given i'm nearly 50, it wouldn't be questionable why i'm even talking to such a person about anything sexual, and i'm not talking about an educational oriented discussion.
  
  I'll assume you have looked in to and understand the groups and organizations looking to lower the age of consent law for sex? And what they objectives are?

  8.3.2010 08:55 #17

• xnonsuchx

  Originally posted by SomeBozo: Are you then saying XBOx Live users at 18+, given you need to have a credit card thus there are no users under 18. Last i remember it is illegal for me to expose minors to sexually oriented materials if i'm not their parent? And say I do, i find some 13 or 14 year old, given i'm nearly 50, it wouldn't be questionable why i'm even talking to such a person about anything sexual, and i'm not talking about an educational oriented discussion.You apparently missed the whole point...and/or your thoughts are scattered. You blew up the original issue WAY out of its original boundaries. I was merely pointing out that it is usually the POLICY of online services to require users to be 18yo. PSN has that, so I thought XBL would likely have the same policy. Your other arguments are totally irrelevant.

  8.3.2010 22:57 #18

• SomeBozo

  I think you missed the point if you want to look at one myopic point in the larger picture. I understood your point, perhaps you a missing the rest of the picture.

  9.3.2010 21:53 #19

• Gnawnivek

  Originally posted by Hyasuma: i think this is stupid, is just makes more ppl want to joke about your race. One day I was playing Modern Warfare, some guys keep calling our teams "nigger", but the fact is that none of us our african american, this just bring s**t up more like, "oh, he is asian, i dont want to add that guy, or he is black, i dont want to play with no nigger, or oh he is whatever, i don't want to play with him" It is already bad as it is, why make it worse? is like putting salt on a laceration when you know is going to hurt.Good point, i totally agree... if you put the options there, that means people can use it. I know it's up to the users, but by putting the options there, that means they can use them. I honestly don't see the point to have race/religion listed on your profile. How does that help the user to game besides running into racial or religion discrimination? I know some people proud of their race and religion, but so? That's the reason not to have those options actually....

  11.3.2010 13:19 #20

• Jemborg

  Religion: Jewish Orthodox
  Race: Chosen
  Sexual Orientation: Oy vey!!!

  13.3.2010 11:24 #21

• ERIJOMO

  Woah, you are all VERY way off topic. The issue here was that a woman got BANNED from XBOX Live for displaying her sexual orientation. She CHOSE to put that information about her on her profile and they BANNED her. Which is VERY WRONG. Now they apologized and are allowing the OPTION to display this information at your own judgement. Which is VERY RIGHT. I don't understand why most of you are up in arms about this issue? There are always going to be racist, homophobic assholes everywhere as long as everything will continually be remained "HUSH HUSH" about these issues. To the people that decide to display this information, I applaud you. You are taking that step that the rest of the world needs to take at YOUR OWN CHOICE, and are prepared to take the uncalled for risk of immature uneducated XBL users making fun of you. The more it becomes common place, the more tolerated it will become. And, as long as YOU posters don't display this info, the less YOU have to worry about it. Windsong, your comment sounds like a evangelist bigot statement. It's wrong and completely uncalled for. And for the rest who "don't care, but don't want to know", don't look at their profile, and grow up. We're in 2010, not 1910.

  14.3.2010 04:42 #22

• scum101

  Joining in the fun.. lets sort out the "men" from the feathered avians often baked once stuffed with sage and onion.
  
  Religion - Jedi ;)
  Race - Bathurst 500
  Sex/gender/preference whatever - Trandgender (female-stealth-full time).. there.. deal with that.
  
  As for the offensive bigots on live.. IF M$ ban every one who starts mouthing offensive remarks at people then it will only be good for ALL the grown up users who try to have a good time playing online against strangers or friends. They should make these fields COMPULSORY dammit.. after all.. you can always tell lies if you don't have any guts.. yes?
  

  http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
  http://www.fsf.org/

  14.3.2010 10:55 #23

• Jemborg

  @ scum101...
  
  You just can't stay away, can ya? :P
  
  heh
  
  Regards.
  
  Religion: 'Pooter
  Race: Can't we all just slow down and enjoy the view sometime? I mean, c'on people, well get there... what's the rush? Honestly, I don't know any more blah blah blah
  Sexual Preference: Anybody from the AG3+ mod pack.
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  14.3.2010 11:55 #24

• hyperfrantic (unverified)

  I have heard on the grape vine that microsoft has started banning peops who stream downloaded movie/tv shows from their PC to the Xbox360 has this been verified at all or is it just conjecture the reason i say this is I love spartacus Tv series and wont wait for it to come out in the UK in fact the tv station that used to show it has gone bust...
  
  Any info would be great

  15.2.2011 10:56 #25

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by hyperfrantic: I have heard on the grape vine that microsoft has started banning peops who stream downloaded movie/tv shows from their PC to the Xbox360 has this been verified at all or is it just conjecture the reason i say this is I love spartacus Tv series and wont wait for it to come out in the UK in fact the tv station that used to show it has gone bust...
  
  Any info would be great This is kind of off-topic for this old thread hyper. You would get more response if you joined and posted this in the xbox section. I only know about it coz I received an e-notification since I had posted in this thread b4.
  
  For the record, I think it's highly likely someone is yankin' your crank as far as movies/tv shows go... apart from it being a difficult system to implement, it would not be worth MS' time. Also, would be detrimental to them flogging games etc. if they went banning people willy-nilly over a very common practice.
  
  It may be true as MS offer streaming services like cable-on-demand but I consider it unlikely. As I don't go online with my Xbox I can't say for sure so I iterate joining and posting your query in the x360 section.
  
  
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  15.2.2011 19:22 #26

• MrZoolook

  Originally posted by Hyasuma: "he" is asian, i dont want to add that guy Quote:"he" is black, i dont want to play... Quote:"he" is whatever, i don't want to play with "him" What are you, sexist! *joke*
  
  

  15.2.2011 21:53 #27

• JOHNSTARR

  I'm at the point where my privacy setting are all set to friends only because Microsoft doesn't do anything about peeps harassing during matches and sending voice and text death threats. I used to like the back and forth yapping however it's gotten pretty lame and I'm ova it!!! So they actually wasted time banning peeps for posting their race and sexual preference lol
  

  No time for Leap frog!!!

  16.2.2011 06:56 #28

• MrZoolook

  Originally posted by JOHNSTARR: I'm at the point where my privacy setting are all set to friends only because Microsoft doesn't do anything about peeps harassing during matches and sending voice and text death threats. I used to like the back and forth yapping however it's gotten pretty lame and I'm ova it!!! So they actually wasted time banning peeps for posting their race and sexual preference lol
  My mums fella feels the same... everyone in his clique is private now... you play games presumably to enjoy them, not be abused by some 13 year old l337 h4x0r/megolomaniac...
  
  Another example of the break down of society perhaps?
  

  17.2.2011 04:05 #29