Adam Lambert's dance around his sexuality frustrates the blogosphere

"American Idol" may have ended last Wednesday with the coronation of Kris Allen, but the "Idol" news cycle continues. And since one controversy wasn't enough this week, the specious voting story (that is, whether AT&T unfairly tilted the final vote toward Allen) has been replaced by an increasingly loud call for Adam Lambert to come out as gay.

Toward the beginning of the "Idol" season, photos of Lambert kissing another man and appearing in drag leaked onto the Internet. But without any declarations from Lambert himself, the mainstream media found itself confusedly trying to describe his sexuality in a way that does not happen with seemingly straight celebrities. As Frank Rich wrote in his column Sunday, "Lambert was 'widely assumed to be gay' (Entertainment Weekly), 'seemingly gay' (The Times) and 'flam-bam-boyantly queeny' (Rolling Stone)."

Such linguistic pretzels about how to describe people who appear to be living out gay lives or having same-sex relationships have become increasingly familiar to anyone who paid attention to the Lindsay Lohan/Samantha Ronson saga over the last year.

But with Lambert, now that the competition is over, the blogosphere wants concrete answers. And unsurprisingly, that campaign is being led by Perez Hilton, who has called Lambert "publicly closeted," and written that "Right now, we need VISIBILITY, not ambiguity!"

But has the delay in any "yep, I'm gay" proclamations from Lambert been a result of an exclusive interview agreement with Rolling Stone, not because he's actually trying to hide anything?

Page Six reported this today:

"AMERICAN Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert has steadfastly refused to talk about his sexuality despite photos of him on his Web site tongue-kissing men and dressed in full drag -- but not for much longer. A well-placed magazine source tells Page Six that Lambert will be coming out officially on the next cover of Rolling Stone."

(For the record, a Lambert representative would not confirm that to be true -- but multiple other sources did, and Vanessa Grigoriadis, a Rolling Stone reporter, was seen at the "Idol" finale.)

And so it is that Lambert has gotten caught up in the competitive world of celebrity journalism where personal admissions are commodities to be peddled.

But there are wildly different markets for such fodder. On one side, there are mainstream print outlets, most of which still have conservative standards for language and verification, vying for exclusives; on the other, there are the blogs that can post things quickly and without confirmation, and are therefore often first, regardless of whether they are sometimes factually wrong.

Which leaves Lambert in a netherworld of ambiguity until the next Rolling Stone is published. In an interview he did with People.com, put up on the site on Wednesday, contained this tease within it: "So to those who speculate about his sexuality, he has a message. 'Calm down,' he says, and 'keep speculating.' "

But Hilton doesn't want to calm down. In an interview over IM, he wrote that he met Lambert toward the end of "Idol," and Lambert told him "he was going to 'do right' by the gay community once the show was over."

"Well," Hilton continued. "I'm waiting Adam Lambert! The only person he's been doing 'right' by is himself. The fact that he's gay, which he is, that's not a big deal. But he's making it into a big deal by dancing around it and mocking the issue."

Complicating the issue even further is Kara DioGuardi's Friday appearance on "The View." When asked by the ladies of the show whether Lambert would come out soon, DioGuardi responded by saying, "I don't think that Adam was ever in -- I think he was always openly out."

Barbara Walters then pressed her about whether Lambert is gay, and DioGuardi said: "I never thought he wasn't."

DioGuardi not only knows Lambert personally and professionally, but in this case, she also appears to be standing on firm logical ground. Yet, the "View" interview has set off another round of fireworks about whether she "outed" Lambert.

"I'm still not sure how I feel about Lambert's persistent coyness about his sexual orientation," wrote Kerrie Mitchell on EW.com. "I'm pretty sure though that Kara DioGuardi isn't really the person who needs to weigh in about it."

But why not? If Lambert chooses not to discuss the question, or to delay the question, does that mean that people who know him should also be silent? And how should the mainstream media treat these sorts circumstances?

Let us know what you think.

-- Kate Aurthur

Comments

[Claire Zulkey]

personally, I think he should be coy about it until the public tires of him and starts to forget about him and then, whammo! The "Yep, I'm..." cover to get us all going again.

[Carla]

What is the big deal?

I also never thought he was anything but gay. And guess what? I could care less. I never took the fact that he wasn't talking about it as a sign of denial or anything. We've all seen the pictures. He doesn't appear to be in denial, people. Isn't it obvious that Idol WONT let him talk about it until the show decides it's good and ready? His mom talked of a contract they signed. I don't think it's about him dancing around anything that is nobody's business anyway.

Why are gay people like Perez (who is that guy anyway, really?) always looking for someone to step up and be some kind of role model? Adam Lambert wants to sing. He doesn't want to be the Gay Mascot. Leave him alone already. If he wants to talk about it, great. If he doesn't, why the hell should any of you care? Get a life.

[SCat]

Perhaps you have not been reading the blogosphere....
-----increasingly loud call for Adam Lambert to come out as gay-----
Most blogs I have read (must admit being a Glambert I have pretty much read 'em all) and the majority of us are saying... Back the F off. We don't care, we already know! It's not like it's big news... Guess what Adam's gay. We know!!! Move on to some real reporting about his talent.

[tij]

This is a prime example of MEDIA BULLYING. All we care about Adam Lambert is his music. That's it!!!! We can imagine Adam experiencing this bullying since he was a child.
BULLY: Adam, admit it. You are gay. Tell the world you are gay. Gay gay gay!!!
ADAM: I know who I am.
I hope Adam never discloses anything to anybody. He does not owe the gay community anything. The lesson that Adam is giving to everyone is that he can be himself and no one ever needs to question why he is the way he is.

You know, I suspect that the other guys in the Idol are gays. Let's start from Season 1 and let each of the guys declare whether they are gay or not. The MEDIA is just hungry for money and they are using Adam's sexuality for headlines. So what is Adam is gay. The gay community is going to hound him for everything? All the gay junk mail will go to his mailbox.

Leave Adam alone and let him make his music. Stop the media bullying!!!

[Kaetsa]

I think it is no one's business and I wish I lived in a world where it didn't matter and wasn't asked but since I don't, then I want all the other contestants this season to be asked to come out as straight/gay so that everyone will know the personal lives of all the contestants.

Oh, and you probably should have noted in your article that not one interviewer has actually came right out and asked him if he is gay. They've instead played word games, like they are afraid to say the gay word.

[David Jones]

Adam could have played an important role in advancing gay rights by coming out in the beginning. AI is a program that reaches many millions of Americans in their formative years. A positive gay male role model like Adam would have mattered then, but matters less in the aftermath of the program.

[Karen]

But what if Adam doesn't want to play in important role in advancing gay rights? Adam says he wants to make music, and be a role model for children who feel "different or weird" ... what right do we have to insist he do more?

[Jennifer]

I LOVE that he has annoyed the annoying bloggers/media who think they have a right to such personal information. He's obviously already out, but the media needs some direct "confession?" It's absolutely ridiculous and I like the way he has handled it so far. He has treated it as he should: something that is nothing to hide, but also something that does not need to be shouted to the world like it's a big confession that we the public somehow have a right to hear.

By the way - Perez Hilton is an idiot and should not be the spokesperson for anyone. It is incredible that he is even quoted by any journalist.

[Suse1701]

God!! Are you people truly this stupid? Do you ever once mention that he may NOT have the ability to speak about this? No. How limited is your research? Or are you just after provocation? (Which is the case, obviously). Adam CANNOT speak without AI's approval, nor can his family. They are under contractual obligation to not divulge anything until AI allows it.

All the dynamics have been set up well ahead of time (either Kara is part of the grand plan or they forgot to send her the memo ... could go either way). Adam has been out. Will be out. You cannot possibly be media dense, so my logical mind tells me you are pimping the headlines. But seriously, LAT, I sooo want to believe you have an iota of integrity.

[AL]

I've smelled it from the start and peopls should really stop being judgmental about it. What is mean is that Adam Lambert is UNDER CONTRACT NOT TO SAY it! If he admits he's gay, it could be a breach! Why are people like Hilton so UNPERCEPTIVE about this. I can even see that Adam WANTS to say it already but just can't. I think he's even trying to expose himself by SHOWING it instead. That's a lot more than i can say about how Aiken handled it during his time.

[SaAND]

Like so many of you have said - ENOUGH ALREADY!!! It's really no one's business and the media should let it alone. No other contestant is being bugged about sexual orientation, or religious beliefs, or anything other than making music. It doesn't matter if Adam is a green space alien - let him do his music and leave his personal life alone!! Come on media, get a grip and bugger off already. It doesn't matter, and you are getting annoying and frustrating.

[kat]

This is the first time that I am commenting on an article such as this, but I am really SICK of all this CRAP!!! If he does profess his sexual preference in Rolling Stone next month, I feel that he will only be doing it because the damn media has bullied him into it. Honestly it is NO DAMN BODY'S BUSINESS whether he is or isn't gay. Just so no one comes back with "Are you blind or in denial?", I am sure that he is at the very least bisexual. SO WHAT! I could care less and neither should anyone else. It is really a shame that all the publicity that he is getting right now is because of his sexuality and not his amazing talent or any of the other qualities that make him an incredible person. LEAVE HIM THE HELL ALONE AND LET HIM LIVE HIS LIFE!!!

[Nicole Wood]

I enjoy his natural talent, the rest isn't an issue... I'm happy to see that most agree it isn't. He seems sound, really happy and looking forward to walking his path of creativity. He's no one hit wonder thank god we have plenty of those... AL you've got all the support just keep being yourself an I wish you the best of everything!!!

[Ann]

Here we go again! I have just four words: Who gives a damn?

Please stop beating this dead horse.

Please?

[giveprivacy]

Oh! I thought America is a country of more open-mineded and acceptance of differences. Really, to whom does Adam owe an obligation to make a confession of his sexuality. Why can't you all focus on his singing. He is amazing singer and from what I watched and read, he is very nice and gracious to people. Why do Americans need to make a big deal on this issue but not leave him with the mere focus on his music career.

[AEvangelista]

Perez Hilton should ! himself. Who appointed him? Oh yeah, he appointed himself. Perez: You're fired.

[keepthepeace]

Adam has no obligation to directly address this issue. He is a singer, an artist, and a darn good one. The hounding further fuels the lovely image of mediocre, middle, homophobic America. It is disgusting and disappointing.

He has never really hidden who he is now, has he? Take a good look, have a good listen. Now, still confused? Get OVER it!

[Kate]

I normally would not weigh in on this and I was not an AI fan but Adam Lambert drew me in with his amazing vocal talent and chemistry--period. So, who in the heck is this dork Perez Hilton who is trying to piggy-back on the success of Adam Lambert? (Note to Perez Hilton: Get a life!)

No one CARES about Adam Lambert's personal life except all of those sad, really sad small minded people like Bill O'Reilly, Perez Hilton, etc. are trying to get public attention by being negative about Adam Lambert. The public isn't fooled by those media bullies who's reasons are so transparent while they try and stir the pot--- they are just looking to get attention for themselves. It's disgusting.

If anyone watched Adam Lambert this week, it was obvious that this young man has not only a huge talent but his graciousness to all those who interviewed him was remarkable. He is a class act.

I have children and I can say that they could use some tips on being gracious from Adam Lambert! (Note to Adam: You don't owe anyone anything about your personal life. Just keep singing!)

[Spencer's Mom]

While Kara's statement is getting a lot of criticism, around the internet, and elsewhere, I think she pretty much sums it up.
"I don't think that Adam was ever in -- I think he was always openly out."
Barbara Walters then pressed her about whether Lambert is gay, and DioGuardi said: "I never thought he wasn't."

Why does someone who is so obviously "out" have to make a staement about being "out." Perez and the rest of the speculators just need to get over themselves. And if Adam is making some big bucks with the RS story, then good for him!

[PAULA]

This whole issue is something you ladies and gentlemen of the press have created. Believe me by all the hype I've seen you all have profited a great deal. Sure helps to have someone like Adam on those slow news days. He has helped prop up many a failing entertainment column. (LA Times included). So now that you've elevated this whole non-issue to this level let's turn on him and and make him the villain in this whole debacle. He is doing what the press has wanted him to do, but on his on time schedule. He did have a small thing like an American Idol Press Week and promotion for AI 50 cites tour to consider, and then how about delaying the inevitable press storm that would follow until after Kris Allen has had some time for his own celebration for winning. Back Off!! Adam from the beginning has been his own person and good for him that he doesn't give in to you baying hounds who follow him everywhere. As for him profiting from all the hype you guys created? Why shouldn't he, you guys certainly have.