Gamer suspended from Xbox Live after saying she's gay

A gamer has claimed that Microsoft suspended her from Xbox Live because she identified herself as a lesbian to other members of the online gaming network.

The woman – identified only as Teresa, by a Consumerist online report – claimed she was harassed by other gamers who were peeved that she'd dared to state her sexuality in her online profile.

Teresa also alleged that Microsoft "suspended" her Xbox Live account because other gamers supposedly found her sexual orientation “offensive”.

Microsoft’s yet to comment specifically on the case, but Stephen Toulouse, an Xbox Live employee, stated on his blog that Gamertags and profiles may not be used for expression of sexual orientation, a rule stated in the Xbox Live Ts&Cs.

Maybe not, but the company doesn't seem to have done anything about the harassment Teresa claims she suffered as a result of her profile.

"Microsoft does nothing to stop this or prevent it," she said, and accused the software giant of effectively siding "with the homophobes".

Toulouse stressed that "harassment of gamers of any type be it homophobia or racism or other, is expressly forbidden and my team will take action against it, up to and including a permanent ban".

He called on Teresa to come forward so that the situation can be sorted out. ®