Originally Posted By dshyates William99, I have to say that is a VERY odd way at looking at discrimination. Exactly HOW is he using his gayness to make money? Other than remaining closeted as to not be discriminated against?
Originally Posted By Labuda Holy frijoles! WilliamK99! Where on earth have you been keeping yourself, dude? WOW, major blast from the past!
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 William99, I have to say that is a VERY odd way at looking at discrimination. Exactly HOW is he using his gayness to make money? Other than remaining closeted as to not be discriminated against?<< He got quite a few of his votes from the hoards of teen girls who voted for him, if he had come out early or before the competition, he would have lost quite a few of those votes, of course he would have gained some teen boy votes, but the point is, he basically kept it secret until the competition was over, just to score a larger contract, and now that he has a contract, came out for the free publicity..... If he would have stayed in the closet, people right now would be saying "Adam Who?" right about now. Hey Labuda, I came on to check because no Podcast was posted this week and decided to stick around for a bit....
Originally Posted By Disneyland55 WilliamK99 - Soooooooo I'm not seeing why it is wrong that he did it that way. Why is it a bad thing that he benefited from doing it this way? Should people do things opposite of what will benefit them? I don't know about you, but I don't go out every day and try to find ways to sabotage myself and try not to succeed in my goals... Are you saying that he should have immediatly come out and potentially sabotaged his chance of getting to be successful and share his talent, or that he should have just never come out...? I don't see why he should have done either of those things...
Originally Posted By mele An openly gay Lambert would have gained teen male votes? Oookay, I guess you'd know having been a teen male but that doesn't quite jive with what I've seen of the average male, let alone teenaged ones. I think you're way off base with this whole rant.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 An openly gay Lambert would have gained teen male votes? Oookay, I guess you'd know having been a teen male but that doesn't quite jive with what I've seen of the average male, let alone teenaged ones. I think you're way off base with this whole rant.<< I was making a funny about getting the closeted gay teen vote... I am not off base, he is basically exploiting his homosexuality to make money, he didn't come out of the closet to further gay rights, he came out to further his worth... if I was gay, I would be offended and outraged by this... He is basically saying by his actions that he was ashamed of admitting he was homosexual due to the fact that he knew he wouldn't come close to finishing in the top 10 of American Idol... If he truly cared about gay rights, he would have come out on day 1 and wore it proudly, instead of waiting until it financially benefited him...
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 Let me clear something up because I think I am being misunderstood, my problem is with the fact that he is being lauded, and praised for "coming out" and I have heard people comment on how "brave" he is to tell everyone the truth... If he was so brave, he would have done it in the beginning, and not wait until the competition was over. If he truly believed in equal rights for all, and wanted to stand up against discrimination, he would have done it from the beginning, not hide from it until after the competition. He acted like a coward, and is now going to reap financial rewards due to the fact that he hid who he truly was until he could benefit from it most financially... From his actions, it is safe to say he doesn't care about equal rights for all, all he cares about is being succesful and making money.... My problem isn't the fact he is doing this, my problem is some are calling him a hero, when he is far from it....
Originally Posted By Disneyland55 That does make more sense to me now that you have explained more. I still don't see a problem with him being successful and making money. But I also don't think he is any kind of hero.
Originally Posted By Disneyland55 Just a talented musician with some smart business sense, who happens to be gay.
Originally Posted By danyoung >From his actions, it is safe to say he doesn't care about equal rights for all, all he cares about is being succesful and making money.... < Why does everyone have to be a champion for something? I think he played things exactly right. If he'd come out early, he probably would have lost a lot of the mainstream vote. He chose to keep his mouth shut. He doesn't have to be any kind of hero or role model - he's a musician, and he wanted to win a nationally televised competition. And when it was over, he said hey, no surprise, I'm gay, confirming what everyone pretty much knew anyway. Very smart in his timing, and I don't think of him any less because he didn't have gay rights up there at the top of his priority list.
Originally Posted By Labuda One thing I'd like to point out about Adam--- numerous times I recall seeing the dude that's his BF with his family during the season... whatever you want to figure that means... I repeatedly saw the dude as part of "Adam's friends and family" or however AI labels their close supporters when shown onscreen.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <If he would have stayed in the closet, people right now would be saying "Adam Who?" right about now.> I don't think so. Adam wowed tons of people with his talent over the course of the season, and had he stayed closeted he'd still have that talent and had plenty of people awaiting his album. Staying closeted didn't hurt Clay Aiken's career (who also finished second, and went on to sell more than the winner that year). <if I was gay, I would be offended and outraged by this...> Well, I am gay, and I'm not offended nor outraged. It's not as if anyone paying attention didn't know to begin with. There were pictures online of him kissing a guy, his boyfriend was shown in the audience, etc. etc. I take his explanation at face value: if he'd officially come out during the season, it would have become THE storyline of the season: will America "elect" an openly gay idol? It was already one of the subtexts of this season, but officially coming out during the season would, if anything, have been a selfish move, as it would have turned the spotlight firmly on himself and overshadowed everything (and everyone) else. I would go as far as to say that I bet his fellow competitors are glad he didn't come out and cause that distraction. If you read any Idol sites during the season, it's clear the public was quite aware of it anyway. He was in a bit of a tough position, and I think he played it right. As soon as the season was over, he confirmed what everyone knew, unlike Aiken. I don't know if it was "brave," but it would have been wimpy not to at that point. But of course he did.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 Do you not have ears, WK99? Even before the media started reporting about his lifestyle, he was wowing everyone! He had has fan mesmerized watching him perform, no matter if he was gay or not. THAT is what got him in the Top 10. The man consistently hit all his notes and, true, was a little "over the top" with his expressions, but please... the man can sing!
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 I also think by coming out AFTER the competition he showed great respect for his other AI contestants. He didn't want to take away from the issue - that this was a MUSICAL contest, not a forum for his gayness. Gayness had nothing to do with his singing.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 WK99, did you read the Rolling Stone article?? "Lambert doesn't want to be the poster child for gay rights. "I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader." He also said "Why can't we just talk about a human community (not a gay community)?" The man just wants to express himself through his singing. I do not consider him a "hero", just someone who is immensely talented and truly enjoys being the flamboyant great singer he is.
Originally Posted By mele People always want to make gay people being their poster children. They are under pressure to constantly stand up for gay rights. I am a big fan of a local musician who happens to be a lesbian and there have been plenty of gays who 1.) have been incredibly possessive and nasty once she started getting straight fans and becoming more mainstream and 2.) expect her to constantly talk about her sexuality or speak out for gay rights. It's ridiculous. Most musicians don't want to make comments with or about their social lives. Why do they have to constantly claim their sexuality when they are entertainers? Let them do their jobs (singing) and let them keep their lives to themselves. Not every person wants to be a spokesperson.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 WK99, did you read the Rolling Stone article??<< I just did, and I may have been a little harsh with my earlier comments about him. I do see that there are many who are putting him on a pedestal as a gay rights hero, even though he has no desire to be one. mele, I didn't realize the pressure that some gay musicians go through as they try to win mainstream support. I still feel he should have come out before the competition began, but I can now see what kind of pressure he is going to be under for quite awhile, even after coming out.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I would have thought for true equal rights, why mention it at all. I agree with Gene Simmons' view on this one. Adam should have performed and lived his life. If someone asks, answer truthfully. Buth otherwise, just perform. BTW - what is happening with his career so far besides the Rolling Stone article.
