Given all of the media attention and online chatter about "American Idol" and the “is he or isn’t he” questions about Adam Lambert’s sexual orientation, we thought we’d take the opportunity today (the day of the season finale) to consider what this national conversation means for gay and lesbian communications (if anything).
So, we’re going to try something new today (and tomorrow). Today, we asked the Out Front Blog team to answer the following question:
“Does it matter who wins American Idol?”
Here’s our take, listed in alphabetical order by first name:
Ben: Yes. Like it or not, public perceptions about our community are shaped in part by how our lives are presented in the media. Whether or not Adam is gay is almost beside the point now: what really matters is what the public perceives about Adam’s sexuality. Do they think he’s gay? If so, does that influence whether or not they think he can be the next American Idol? At its core, "American Idol" is a singing contest, but as we know from the past several years, it’s also a popularity contest. And the willingness of the AI-voting public to vote for someone who may or may not be gay is a barometer of the public’s acceptance of LGBT people. It’s not the only barometer, to be sure, but it is a readily recognizable sign that we ought to consider along with all of the others we consider on a regular basis.
Bryan: An American Idol is the culmination of vocal performances, personality and looks that outshines others to win the majority of America’s votes. Unfortunately, it is not simply based on musical talent alone. Having a winner of American Idol whose sexual orientation has been questioned in the media and suggested as gay simply means we’ve added another talented musical icon to a group of other LGBT performers. To use it as proof point to America’s greater acceptance of – or if he loses, discrimination against – LGBT individuals, to me, is amplifying and focusing on only one facet of a young rising star, a facet that largely is personal and has less to do with his theatrical talents. In America right now, there are people who will vote solely for or against Adam Lambert based upon his perceived sexuality – and that may never change. However, I instead hope Americans can elevate their actions and thoughts, instead voting for the complete package, giving vocal prowess and stage presence much more weight than a single, more personal aspect of a singer’s life.
Ivette: I don’t really keep up with "American Idol," but I do know that it has served as a platform for others to come out on the national level, and you know I just think that’s fantastic. The more well-known out people there are, the better serviced the gay and lesbian community is.
Laura: Of course! Though I’m not glued to the TV twice a week awaiting Kara and Simon’s arguments, I do DVR right through them. "Idol" represents what America supposedly models as wholesome, talented, attractive individuals mirroring our society. If guitar strumming Chris or dramatic, theatrical Adam wins, it’s not only their voice, it’s their image and what they represent that has America’s eyes, ears and hearts. Since Adam hit the stage, questions of his sexuality have spurred. It has people talking – and it has people questioning their own belief, possibly to the point of who to vote for. At the end of the day, I have to ask — is this a positive message, and is any visibility (true/false) a good thing for our community?
Michael: For us to say it matters means that we are guessing about someone's sexuality when he (Adam) has not even directly addressed that question himself. This is not something we should encourage. And, we should reflect back on the second season of "American Idol," where we went through this same exercise with Clay Aiken. Everyone speculated, yet he would not address the question until years later. I don't often find myself siding with Simon Cowell (if ever), but I would agree that this show is about talent, not about anything else.
Peter: Yes, it matters who wins "American Idol." The show is a mainstream cultural force that ignites all sorts of conversations in living rooms around the country every week. Adam’s perceived sexual orientation has no doubt been one of those conversations, not to mention the topic of gender stereotypes (A guy wearing eye liner?). The reality is that Adam’s mere presence on the show has inspired a myriad of LGBT-focused conversations that would have never happened otherwise. In addition, Adam is clearly the show’s standout star. Is America ready to crown someone who doesn’t fit traditional gender stereotypes? Particularly a male contestant? Let’s wait and see…
Tomorrow, when we know the outcome, we’ll consider what it means for gay and lesbian communications. In the meantime, what do you think? Does it matter who wins "American Idol?"
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As I am not a blogger I do not have to skirt around the issue or talk too much about perceptions…
Adam Lambert is gay. There is zero question about it. He has never said the word but he has never said or done anything to the contrary.
Of course we should not vote for him because he is gay but at the same time that is part of the package and that is wonderful for the LGBT community, particularly those who are young and look for role models who have achieved mainstream recognition and success.
Most African Americans did not vote for President Obama simply because he was black, but it WAS important and it IS progress and it WAS part of what he represented….the fact that any American can succeed whatever their background. It made many African Americans proud, and in a slightly less powerful way an Adam victory should make us proud. Another glass ceiling shattered as Hillary would say!
If Adam wins it will be a sign of progress. He is a great singer but he is also (almost) openly gay and that is part of who he is as a person and as an artist.
Just as Will Young (first winner of Pop Idol) in the UK has become a role model for many young gay people, I hope Adam does too – win or lose.
Absolutley has to do with his sexual orientation and America’s obsession with cookie cutter conformity. Uniqueness, diversity, progress, individuality, in the end, scares people. Gay guys have some weird hang up about fantasizing about a married, straight cute boy hooking up with them…it is some odd reference to a deeply rooted pathology of self loathing brought about by centuries of religiously and socially imbued neuroses. Ultimately, Adam lost, because he is different, upsets the apple cart, is actually a BETTER PERFORMER, challenges America’s perfect little world, and asks people to think about more than the surface. Straight women liked Adam until it became clear that they could not have him…heard it straight from a Cougar’s mouth…in the end, it really is all about us. Carry on, Adam, you represent the best of creativity, ingenuity, talent, diversity and personality that the American Dream absolutley needs to discover and rediscover.
Well, for me, it really doesn’t matter. Because, whoever wins will just have the same privileges as what our current stars enjoy. And also if the contestants really make it worth it to win the AI contest, then I can’t see a reason why shouldn’t they be all considered as winners.