Google’s thinks “Gay” is “Unacceptable Content” ?

Google’s Adword seems to have a bias that was uncovered by BGay, the company tried to upload an ad containg the word “gay” into Google's ubiquitous revenue-sharing tool, only to be met with a disconcerting message. "We were given the error message saying: 'Gay - Unacceptable Content,'" the terse posting notes. "What's even worse is the accompanying text: 'We've detected that your ad may contain words often associated with pornography. Google policy prohibits the advertisement of pornography unless it involves consenting adults. Related content is not permitted on the website or as ad text or keywords."

As search-engine marketing agency AccuraCast noted in a news alert posted Monday morning, "AdWords editorial policies seem to suggest that the word 'gay' relates to non-consensual sex or sex with minors, which is certainly out of line, and their homosexual clients are bound to be extremely upset with this."

Unlike Amazon, which overnight became the object of an intense online campaign to rectify perceived homophobia, Google has a reputation for inclusiveness in matters of sexual orientation. The search giant was a vocal opponent of California's Proposition 8, which in November added a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

"We don't believe Google to be homophobic, but they need to do something about their filters," the BGay gang noted. "Defining the term 'gay' to be pornographic and suggesting that it does not involve consenting adults is definitely offensive."