This does place Microsoft in a difficult position. In many social circles, including the gaming community, people use the word gay not to mean happy or homosexual, but to mean bad or unfair. The use of the word like that should obviously be prohibited from Xbox Live Gamertags; and gamers in general should not stand for people using derogatory language and racial slurs in any way. It gives us a bad name in outside of the gaming community and is just not the way a person should carry themselves. Microsoft should follow the same values and not discriminate against people using the word “gay” legitimately in their gamertag.

In the end the responsibility lies not with Microsoft, but the people that actually play the game. We are the ones that determine whether or not racism, sexism, homophobia or any other form of discrimination is acceptable. The majority of gamers do not support these kinds of actions, but they also don’t necessarily stand up against them. So please take action against discrimination, whether it is standing up an offensive bully while playing online, or contacting Microsoft and letting them know how you feel about the situation