How 'Idol' invigorated dialogue on gay issues

How 'Idol' invigorated dialogue on gay issues
By Joe Garofoli
Copyright by The San Francisco Chronicle
May 21, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0521-idol-lambertmay21,0,4703923.story


The next chapter of the same-sex marriage debate played out Wednesday night on the nation's most popular TV program, " American Idol," when Adam Lambert, a 27-year-old, gothy-looking San Diegan with a spine-tingling falsetto, black nail polish and Elvis lip curl, lost the singing competition to Kris Allen.

But even though he lost, same-sex marriage advocates say the cultural conversation started by questions about Lambert's sexuality is moving the issue forward at the same time that several New England states and Iowa have approved such nuptials and New York is considering it. When photos of him kissing men surfaced online, Lambert told " Access Hollywood," "I have nothing to hide. I am who I am. And this is about singing ... nothing else." That's about all he or the show would say about the issue.

"America is interested in whether this guy is going to come out -- and yet at the same time it doesn't seem to care if he's gay or not. And that's kind of where Americans are on a lot of gay issues right now," said Rick Jacobs, founder of the Courage Campaign, an online hub that supports same-sex marriage and other issues. "Pop culture affects [political and social issues] very directly. Here, the point has already been made: It's OK to be gay."

"If you know a GLBT person, you are more likely to support equality issues," said David Smith, vice president of programs for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. "And the portrayal of GLBT characters certainly has come a long way in 30 years."

The more national -- and private -- conversations like the one that Lambert has started the better it is for gay acceptance and the same-sex marriage issue, said Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. And having those conversations occur in the context of "Idol," whose massive viewership cuts across several demographic lines, shows that this conversation is happening in Middle America, or what Giuliano calls the "movable middle."

" 'American Idol' appeals to that 'movable middle' -- the people who don't want to see gay and lesbian people discriminated against but aren't sure if they should be allowed to marry," Giuliano said. "The bottom line here is that our visibility is what is helping our drive for equality."

The response to the "Is he ...?" question about Lambert seems to have been resoundingly answered with "It doesn't matter" by the millions of Americans who voted Lambert to the finals from more than 100,000 "Idol" competition entrants. It's America's latest collective cultural shrug that the country isn't as uptight as it used to be about folks who may be gay.

A few days after Wanda Sykes stood next to President Barack Obama as she hosted the White House Correspondents' Association dinner came the online headline "Wanda Sykes and wife Alex welcome twins." The host of next month's Tony Awards is Neil Patrick Harris, a gay actor who is a two-time Emmy Award nominee for playing a skirt-chasing cad on " How I Met Your Mother."

On Monday, the syndicated TV show "Extra" touted its exclusive story: Actress Cynthia Nixon showing off the engagement ring she just received from her fiance, Christine Marinoni.

A New York Times magazine profile of TV financial show host and author Suze Orman last Sunday described the influence of her longtime girlfriend. And MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow just celebrated a decade with her female partner -- and nine months hosting her own program that regularly beats CNN's Larry King in key demographic ratings.

Giuliano calls "Milk" screenwriter Dustin Lance Black's 84-second speech accepting the Academy Award in February for best original screenplay "transformative." "No matter what anyone tells you, God does love you."

None of the above seems to have suffered career damage after disclosing his or her sexual orientation -- a sign that advocates say points to changing American attitudes.

That national conversation has come a long way in the six years since singer Clay Aiken was dogged by rumors about his sexuality when he was an "Idol" finalist (and finished second). Last September, Aiken, 30, came out in a People magazine cover story, and last week he appeared in the highly rated season finale of NBC's "30 Rock" after a stint in the Broadway production of "Spamalot," four albums, several national tours and a best-selling book.

Still, some have attacked Lambert's sexuality online. One anonymous posting features several photos of Lambert kissing men and wearing makeup under the headline "America, I mean really? You really wanna make this guy the next American Idol?"

But elsewhere Lambert -- and his sexuality -- is being discussed in almost heroic terms. On its May 15 cover, Entertainment Weekly's cover gushed about "Loving Adam Lambert, the most exciting 'American Idol' contestant in years -- and not just because he might be gay." Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who calls himself the "queen of all media," posted a photo of Lambert and himself on his perezhilton .com blog last week with the caption, "He's going to do 'us' proud, Adam Lambert told us last night. You already have, girl."

Even commentator Bill O'Reilly, a vehement same-sex marriage opponent, had a Lambert moment last month on his show. After prodding two of his guests about whether questions about Lambert's sexuality would hurt him with "Idol" voters, or the popularity of the show, O'Reilly ended the segment by saying, "We wish Mr. Lambert the best. And if he's the best singer, then he should win. It doesn't matter what he's doing."