Blacklisted for having a "g a y" username

[Gay_Koala]

So I'm gay, and after a long coming-out process with losing my family's support, and a lot of friends, I found the best way to keep my head up was to be open about it. It's become a core part of my identity. I also like koalas (the idea of a lazy stoner marsupial kind of fits my ideal of a spirit animal lol) so I've used the name "Gay_Koala" in a lot of forums. 

Someone eventually reported me to WG and they banned me from chat and from renaming myself. Just for having the name "Gay_Koala". I've never been disrespectful or vulgar either in battle chat, or in correspondence to WG, and they were quite open about why this was. I got a response from someone claiming to be "a gay" (proof below)
 

• *edit*

 

I only joined the game recently, and really love it, but I can't enjoy it now as my username is now a constant reminder of how my family feels. I've been trying to keep playing and ignoring it but it's just not working. Does anyone have any advice? 

 

[Camperdown]

4 hours ago, RenamedUser_5710982900 said:

So I'm gay, and after a long coming-out process with losing my family's support, and a lot of friends, I found the best way to keep my head up was to be open about it. It's become a core part of my identity. I also like koalas (the idea of a lazy stoner marsupial kind of fits my ideal of a spirit animal lol) so I've used the name "Gay_Koala" in a lot of forums. 

Someone eventually reported me to WG and they banned me from chat and from renaming myself. Just for having the name "Gay_Koala". I've never been disrespectful or vulgar either in battle chat, or in correspondence to WG, and they were quite open about why this was. I got a response from someone claiming to be "a gay" (proof below)
 

• *edit*

 

I only joined the game recently, and really love it, but I can't enjoy it now as my username is now a constant reminder of how my family feels. I've been trying to keep playing and ignoring it but it's just not working. Does anyone have any advice? 

Yeah that sucks.

My advice is to choose a meaningful but not explicit user name that has a hint of defiance in it that is meaningful for you. Vengeful Koala or something - I guess that will not be it. But make it reflect your pride in who you are.

Good luck and don't let it get to you.

[Humorpalanta]

1 hour ago, RenamedUser_5710982900 said:

...

 

Welcome to the PC world of Soviet Russia.

 

Also I am proud of you and even though I do not know you personally you have all my support and wish you the best!

 

And even though I fully support you and understand this is a big problem and disappointment for you I gotta say this is the least stupid thing WG has done just this month.

[albin322]

just pick another name or swap game the rules are what they are. 

 

and i understand them they dont want discussions about genderpolitics in the game! 

[Verblonde]

14 minutes ago, RenamedUser_5710982900 said:

Does anyone have any advice?

I wouldn't presume to advise in this situation, but you have my support for what that's worth.

 

I suspect that all you can really do is come up with a clever nickname that conveys the same information, whilst being sufficiently smart to go right over the head of the average homophobe. FWIW the bulk of the WOWS community seem to be a pretty relaxed lot, so it might be worth sticking around..?

[hypsar]

wg's answer is really pathetic ... smbdy feels offended really for no reason and you get punished ... miserable pos is this company

[rage1750]

Time to transform into the "Happy Koala"

 

[CptBarney]

'Attack us and spread hate all over the game' Whos us? And fam the game spreads hate because of the bloody nature of it ffs.

Only control-freaks, narcissists, nutters, dictators, unstable and people who think they are the bloody moral epicentre of the sodding world fear and ban certain words.

 

new show coming up on channel 4 with phil and kirsty: Control, Control, Control!

[Molly_Delaney]

You could try 'Fabulous Koala'......

 

Or just go 'don't ask, don't tell', there's probably more LGBT people here than it appears.......

 

More importantly, do you like anime?

[Miscommunication_dept]

Hmm it's a shame it's banned as the name you chose is not offensive at all.

 

I'm not usually a fan of identitarianism but in this case I really cannot see anyone being offended.

 

[ForlornSailor]

22 minutes ago, Humorpalanta said:

Welcome to the PC world of the western world

fify.

 

31 minutes ago, Humorpalanta said:

I gotta say this is the least stupid thing WG has done just this month.

well, that wasnt hard tho

 

10 minutes ago, hypsar said:

wg's answer is really pathetic ... smbdy feels offended really for no reason and you get punished ... miserable pos is this company 

 

not WGs fault actually. blame our cancel culture & snowflakeism. People cried about the word in question as beeing used as an insult, so it went on the ban list. Globally, not only here, just to be precise. So, since you cant know in what context the word is beeing used, everyone gets punished.

[Lootboxer]

In b4 locked for discussion on support response.  

 

[Thorsvald]

Rainbow_avenger_koala FTW

 

Those russians....

[albin322]

non_hetrosexual_koala ? 

[UnterSeeBot]

it is sad that we cannot express pride in who we are via our usernames, when there is nothing political or hateful involved. The official policy protects those who hate, and worsens prejudice by forcing people to hide everything that is normal, acceptable, and beautiful.

WG you have things the wrong way round.

Quote

*edit*

 

So bloody what? 

Are you offended by a Zeppelin Lover? That isn't my problem and it shouldn't be the problem of Support.

Those who wrote the policy have a deeply confused and twisted mindset, to protect those who are full of hate, and force everything that is good and beautiful in life to be denied, to be hidden away. Those who defend this policy for support, need to think again about their priorities. 

There is nothing political or hateful about your sexuality, and there is zero reason to believe hiding sexuality, will prevent hate.

Quite the opposite occurs, hiding sexuality encourages the normalization of hate.

[Verblonde]

You could always go with an homage to the noted Tank Girl character:

 

 

[Mad_Dog_Dante]

 Give them a new nick and carry on. It's not worth the hassle, these people sell lootboxes to kids, but take a pretty 'special' moral position when it comes to ingame chat and names. 

[PeteEarthling]

Wow. Sexual orientation is to be kept sikrit. More Russian bias. 

 

Just for protocol: My clan tag does NOT mean that I prefer to copulate with corpses - though I could name some women who have displayed similar levels of (in)activity.

[Karasu_Browarszky]

Sad Panda?

 

 

BTW they don't like people publishing CS replies.

[hypsar]

i wonder what would they do with fully legit name Gaylord?

[PeteEarthling]

5 minutes ago, hypsar said:

i wonder what would they do with fully legit name Gaylord?

The same with the fully legit name [edited].

 

RICHARD, OK? Maybe Russians do not have them... 

[GarrusBrutus]

G4y_panda. 

EZ GG. 

[jss78]

I agree this feels unfair and unnecessary, but ultimately this specific game is developed by Russian company. I expect your typical, internationally-connected St. Petersburg software developer might feel differently about these issues vs. the Russian norm, but it's understandable that they want no trouble.

 

The person writing to you was nice though. Perhaps you can find a vaguely but not explicitly fabulous nick you could feel comfortable with?

Either way, I hope you find a way to enjoy the game. And good luck.

[Karasu_Browarszky]

2 minutes ago, GarrusBrutus said:

G4y_panda. 

EZ GG. 

 

Looks legit to me.

 

Though OP likes Koalas more I gather.

[PeteEarthling]

It is a mystery why they do allow ships to wear pink.