ATTN: Religious Gays - Show Your Pride on Xbox LIVE

[Vogue_Dirge]

I am a gay gamer, but it's not something I exactly tell everyone. It's not that I keep it a secret, if someone asked me, I would tell them, but I just never thought of putting anything having to do with gay pride in my profile.

Being gay is not what defines me as a person, plain and simple. It's not what is important either.

But I do have Lady Gaga lyrics on my XBL bio. Does that count?

Wonder no more. If you're easily offended, don't click the link, it's utterly fucking disgusting.

I don't know what is gayer, the actual gay guy, OR the many guys who took the time from their life to make gay innuendos and statements.

[Bertha]

Anyone that is not a heterosexual sounding male is going to face harassment. I'm glad Microsoft finally manned up and allowed people to admit to being what they were. I remember reading a while back about a lesbian gamer (or something along those lines) ended up getting her Live account banned or something due to her having a gay pride comment. Wish I could dig up the story...it was a pretty interesting read.

[kevstah2004]

I don't see the point of announcing this though your gamer tag at all, all it's doing is perpetuating arguments from people who hate what you are, you can't put yourself in the firing line like that then not exspect comeback from haters and cry about it when it happens.

[MeganGrass]

I am a gay gamer, but it's not something I exactly tell everyone. It's not that I keep it a secret, if someone asked me, I would tell them, but I just never thought of putting anything having to do with gay pride in my profile.

Being gay is not what defines me as a person, plain and simple. It's not what is important either.

Best response. Period.

Sexuality has nothing to do with being a gamer, and really isn't something that should be exploited like a bumper sticker.

[Kei_M]

There is so much fighting for LGBT rights right now, and it's really important for people to get used to the fact that it's okay to be gay. Just like gay bashing in real life needs to stop, gay bashing online is just as bad..if not worse because of the anonymity. I'm not gonna hide just because I'm a target, my sexuality has nothing to do with how many zombies I kill, or the fact I play as Sheva's disco outfit cause I think it's fab, it's just a part of me and I'm okay with that. you should be too. If I want to tell everyone I'm gay, that's my choice. Not yours.

[Stu]

I don't see the point of announcing this though your gamer tag at all, all it's doing is perpetuating arguments from people who hate what you are, you can't put yourself in the firing line like that then not exspect comeback from haters and cry about it when it happens.

So people should hide their sexuality for the sake of online bullies? Fantastic point of view!

As has been said, gamertags are full of personal references. Drinkers, party goers, drug takers etc all proudly display their lifestyles in their gamertags...care to explain why gays should be different at all?

[Bianca]

I am a gay gamer, but it's not something I exactly tell everyone. It's not that I keep it a secret, if someone asked me, I would tell them, but I just never thought of putting anything having to do with gay pride in my profile.

Being gay is not what defines me as a person, plain and simple. It's not what is important either.

But I do have Lady Gaga lyrics on my XBL bio. Does that count?

There is so much fighting for LGBT rights right now, and it's really important for people to get used to the fact that it's okay to be gay. Just like gay bashing in real life needs to stop, gay bashing online is just as bad..if not worse because of the anonymity. I'm not gonna hide just because I'm a target, my sexuality has nothing to do with how many zombies I kill, or the fact I play as Sheva's disco outfit cause I think it's fab, it's just a part of me and I'm okay with that. you should be too. If I want to tell everyone I'm gay, that's my choice. Not yours.

So people should hide their sexuality for the sake of online bullies? Fantastic point of view!

As has been said, gamertags are full of personal references. Drinkers, party goers, drug takers etc all proudly display their lifestyles in their gamertags...care to explain why gays should be different at all?

Although all these posts have different point of views, I happen to agree with all of them, and I think you all have made excellent points that I relate to.

On the many occasions I've updated my profile, I have revealed I'm gay, though it's often not really intentional; it's simply me being me that happens to simultaneously reveal my sexuality. But, at the end of all things, sexuality, religion and race shouldn't (and don't) matter. Regardless, Microsoft's initial policy was oppressive, unfair and ridiculous and, again, I'm happy they've realized this.

Anyone that is not a heterosexual sounding male is going to face harassment. I'm glad Microsoft finally manned up and allowed people to admit to being what they were. I remember reading a while back about a lesbian gamer (or something along those lines) ended up getting her Live account banned or something due to her having a gay pride comment. Wish I could dig up the story...it was a pretty interesting read.

I remember that story, too. I couldn't quite find the original article I remembered, but here's another one, if anyone is interested.

[Member_of_STARS]

Forgive me for looking at it from a pragmatic point of view- but 10 bucks to change one preference in your profile?

[Stu]

You don't have to pay anything to change your profile. You only pay to change your username.

[Member_of_STARS]

You don't have to pay anything to change your profile. You only pay to change your username.

Its just as ridiculous, though. Whats even worse is when people change their name to make their sexual/political/religious preference obvious, and then act surprised when they are being insulted for it.

We know internet gives bigots free reign, why paint a target on your back?

[BadWolfX]

Well, I'm glad they finally did this. I read a thread on another forum before where a person was banned simply for having the word Gay in her name (and she was a lesbian herself) so it's about time this happened.

And RE: that Halo video....that's just....yeah, so many words to describe it not many of them postable.

[Carnivol]

With the gay rights issue out of the way, time for some straight answers!

Had a long post written up last night. It documented my nightmarish experience of staying in a major European city during the celebration of "gay pride". Worse a circus of attention seekers and commonly unacceptable behavior and attire is something you seriously have to look long and hard for to find. Anyway, I ultimately discarded the post, fearing someone might take offense from it (which they shouldn't - or at least my homosexual test-audience/friends were perfectly fine with it), but I guess this is pretty much where I wanted to go with it;

Whats even worse is when people change their name to make their sexual/political/religious preference obvious, and then act surprised when they are being insulted for it.

I seriously don't get certain people's "urge/need/craving" for putting up a sign that says they *insert whatever feels natural*.



(As for the gamertag name change price thing; you make an ID when you sign up, if you're not happy with that ID later down the line; that's your problem. Sure, it's probably an entirely automated process to change it, but I have to say it's a really an annoyance when people keep changing their IDs left and right. Especially if they just do it "'cause they can". Could other limitations to name changes be applied? Sure.)

[Member_of_STARS]

One method would be to separate the "log-in name" from the "on-screen name" like many IM softwares allow you to. I doubt that theres significant paperwork or effort in changing your gamertag.

However, now that I think about it, I do believe its made impossible (and now difficult) and discouraging for people to change their names around in a whim (masterchief911 sees an option to change his name and changes it to "ihatehomoezz". So I detract my original statement about Microsoft being moneygrabbing (in this particular case).

[Alexia_Ashford]

In terms of gay pride events, I don't see why that's necessary because homosexuality is accepted and most events I've been to is just an excuse for a piss up and is like a huge party. They don't have straight pride, so I don't see why a gay one is needed.

I think it's good though that people can put on their profile what orientation they are, and that everyone can openly express themselves and don't have to hide what they are. To me, homosexuality is the same as heterosexuality so people can say what they are and don't have to shout out about it either way.

[WeskerIncarnate]

Well this is...interesting. I've already seen one of these gamertags professing that they were gay on MW2.

Nobody said anything at the time to that person, and I think it's because no one cared.

But as MoS said, isn't using a gamertag like that similar to painting a big target on your back?

So you're gay. Big deal.

In terms of gay pride events, I don't see why that's necessary because homosexuality is accepted and most events I've been to is just an excuse for a piss up and is like a huge party. They don't have straight pride, so I don't see why a gay one is needed.

I think it's good though that people can put on their profile what orientation they are, and that everyone can openly express themselves and don't have to hide what they are. To me, homosexuality is the same as heterosexuality so people can say what they are and don't have to shout out about it either way.

100 percent agreement.