Microsoft Apologizes to Trans Gamer Humiliated by Comedian Onstage

A transgender video game journalist says she was 'completely dehumanized' when a comedian made transphobic jokes about her gender onstage during an Xbox One event at Eurogamer Expo 2013.

Sunnivie Brydum

Sunnivie is the managing editor of The Advocate, and an award-winning journalist whose passion is covering the politics of equality and elevating the unheard stories of our community. Originally from Colorado, she and her spouse now live in Los Angeles, along with their three fur-children: dogs Luna and Cassie Doodle, and "Meow Button" Tilly.

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Sunnivie Brydum

September 30 2013 6:22 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Microsoft has apologized to a transgender journalist who took to Twitter to complain about transphobic jokes about her made by a comedian onstage at an Xbox One event at Eurogamer Expo 2013.

Laura Kate Dale said she was left "completely dehumanized" after British comedian Fraser Millward allegedly called her "it" twice, used male pronouns to refer to her, and called her a "thing" and "this one," according to Dale's tweets after the event.

Microsoft, which produces the Xbox One system, which was being discussed at the European gaming convention, issued a brief apology Monday, reports Kotaku.com.

"We are aware of an incident yesterday on the Xbox booth at the Eurogamer Expo, at which an inappropriate comment was made, and we apologize for any offense caused," read the company's statement. Kotaku notes that Microsoft has an active LGBT employees association known as GLEAM (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees at Microsoft) and received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign's most recent Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies based on their LGBT-inclusive and supportive policies and practices.

The comedian also apologized after several blogs reported on the perceived insult, claiming that "no offense was intended when I referred to Laura Kate Dale as 'this person' after I asked the audience to applaud her."