By Ross von Metzke | 5/19/2008

Xbox LIVE has the ability to connect players all over the world in one-on-one and group gaming, but for one gamer, the response to his screenname has been less than inviting.

According to an email sent to web site The Consumerist, gamer Ryan Grant, otherwise known on Xbox Live as "the GAYERgamer", claims customer service at Xbox banned his screen name because players in the Xbox community found it offensive.

Queerty.com reprinted the standard customer service email sent to Grant, which read: “In accordance with Xbox LIVE policy, the gamer tag 'theGAYERgamer' is no longer allowed. Please change your gamer tag before playing on Xbox LIVE.”

In an email sent to The Consumerist, Grant claims he “talked to a supervisor there, Roxy, who told me that she didn't personally find the fact that my gamer tag had gay in the name offensive, but that the greater Xbox community did, so I would have to change it.”

Website Kotaku.com further researched the issue and was directed to a Website explaining that use of the word gay in a gamer tag implies “sexual innuendo” and is therefore a violation of company policy.

Microsoft could not be reached directly for comment, though a comment from Xbox LIVE team member Stephen Toulouse claims gamer tags including “the STRAIGHTgamer” and “theHETEROgamer” would have received the same treatment.