Adam Lambert: 'I'm Gay,' Plus His 'Psychedelic Experience' At Burning Man

NEW YORK — "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert has landed the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, where he talks about sex, drugs and his "Idol" experiences. The 27-year-old singer from San Diego acknowledges in an interview that he's gay, and says it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. "I'm proud of my sexuality," he says. "I embrace it. It's just another part of me."

Lambert says he was inspired to audition for the Fox network singing competition after having a "psychedelic experience" at the Burning Man festival in Nevada. There, he says, he experimented with "certain funguses."

"I knew that it was my only shot to be taken seriously in the recording industry, because it's fast and broad," he says of "Idol."

Lambert emerged as an early front-runner and judge favorite, thanks in part to his soaring vocal range.

When he moved into the show's Bel-Air mansion with the other finalists, he roomed with Kris Allen, who won the "Idol" title over Lambert last month.

"I was like, `Oh, (bleep), they put me with the cute guy,'" Lambert says. "Distracting! He's the one guy that I found attractive in the whole group on the show: nice, nonchalant, pretty and totally my type _ except that he has a wife. I mean, he's open-minded and liberal, but he's definitely 100 percent straight."

According to Rolling Stone, Lambert was open about his sexuality backstage at "Idol." In March, photos surfaced online of Lambert kissing his ex-boyfriend.

"Going into `Idol,' I assumed, `OK, people are going to talk,'" he says. "I mean, I've been living in Los Angeles for eight years as a gay man, I've been at clubs making out with somebody in the corner. But photographic evidence? Didn't count on that. Wasn't ready for that."

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He says he worried that a public announcement would overshadow his singing, so he decided not to respond and largely kept his personal life under wraps on the show.

"I'm an entertainer, and who I am and what I do in my personal life is a separate thing," he says. "It shouldn't matter. Except it does. It's really confusing."

Lambert says he isn't interested in being the poster child for gay rights. "I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil-rights leader."

He also reveals that he began smoking pot and tried Ecstasy for the first time while performing in a European production of "Hair" in his early twenties.

"I've finally checked in to my self-worth for the first time in my life, and the fact that it has coincided with `Idol' is so sweet," he says. "I mean, I still have moments where I think, `Oh, my skin is terrible, and I'm a little fat, I should really go to the gym more.' But for the most part, when I look in the mirror now, I finally see someone who can do something cool."

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Fox is a unit of News Corp.

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On the Net:

http://www.rollingstone.com/

http://www.americanidol.com/

Comments

[tinarm]

Man you're a hater Darcman, I mean I voted for Kris, cause I liked him better, but show me someone else out there with the range and acting and performing ability of Adam. There isn't a single person now who could out perform Adam, he is a born star. I actually think he would be great in movies as well. As far as being gay it's a small part of who he is, just like straight people aren't defined by their sexuality Adam shouldn't be for his. When is the older generation going to get it, the rest of us don't give a crap what someone does in the bedroom, back of a car, or in the local nightclub. It's who they are and how they treat others that matters. I say go for it Adam, and I hope He and Kris are both extremly successful.

[HarrietteTheSpy]

rock on !

[HarlemFreeThought]

Lambert says he isn't interested in being the poster child for gay rights. "I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil-rights leader."
That's the prevailing attitude of many young people, post African American and LBGT civil rights generations. The battles of the 50's and 60's for AA is over, and for LBGT the battles of Stonewall and AIDS is history. But there are still many obstacles for each group to address. He's young

[HarrietteTheSpy]

i think also he has a sort of evolved consciousness that thinks outside of "victim" boxes. The more he spreads his light and love, the more it will show others that possibility.

[verycold]

I found him to be very provocative and seemingly very confident which allowed him to experiment more with his vocals. I was very impressed especially with Mad World.

I think his sexuality is a non-issue. I feel the same about straight men as well. I just don't care how many boyfriends or girlfriends they have.

The best we can hope for is that he is happy and enjoying this time in his life.

[Tagrid]

Agree - mostly. One little comment:

His sexual orientation is a non-issue.

His sexuality is SMOKIN HOT!!!

[simmike777]

I'm a big Lambert fan and I was roaring with laughter as I read the Rolling Stone article. I'm sure some of it was the writing, and not just what he was saying, but I found his offhand barbs hilarious.

Be sure and read the whole thing, especially if you like his singing and entertaining. And yes, I consider him an "entertainer", in a similar vein to Sammy Davis Junior. And what an amazing voice - breathtaking, only outdone by his stage presence which must been seen to be believed.

[littlerabbit]

Gay? So what. He's delicious and he can rock. I can't wait for his first CD.

[mcbaby2]

Jeez....I love this man.

[vinylrage]

While it is true Lambert's sexuality has more or less an open secret, and I for one wish there was more focus on his music, there is always the following important point:

"We've seen recently in the press how many kids have killed themselves because of being bullied at school and teased," said DeGeneres. "Whenever there is somebody who is successful and talented and happy and openly gay, I think that sends a really positive message for all these kids out there that are struggling — and adults." Ellen D.

Adam Lambert is aware that he at times comes across to some as as ridiculous (and NOT because he is gay). He's stated as much in at least one interview, yet, and he still puts himself out there. It makes me admire him all the more. I wish ther had been more people in front of the media with his guts out there when I was a kid.

[LeeCamp]

"The Secret Behind Adam Lambert's Coming Out"
WATCH - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-camp/watch-the-secret-behind-a_b_213877.html

[landthatilove]

I am a straight woman but whenever I see Adam I wish I was a good looking gay guy. He is magnificent! And his singing is transcending! He has the stage presence of an Elvis. He makes me swoon. I bet every gay man in the world has his poster on the wall.

When he sang "Mad World" Simon had tears in his eyes and I said to myself "Simon is going to cross over, you want him don't you Simon?"

If you have never seen his performance you need to treat yourself.

[DaveVDave]

Somebody posted pictures of him dressed in drag here at the bottom:
http://thecommentdepot.com/news-story/news-stories.html

[NCRedhead]

And the point of sharing these photos is??

[bluguy8]

old pics

[peggygeorge]

Adam himself has said he's only dressed in drag three or four times in his life, and it's not his thing, so why post the photos? Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis also wore drag - it's show business.

[LiberalForever]

I am sure since the USA is the land of the free, bolstered by the Bill of Rights...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness...no one will give Lambert a hard time about so different looking and gay. Americans are prone to embrace those who have the courage to live their lives as they choose.

NOT.

[Tatiana]

Why is his sexuality an issue? It's personal and no one else needs or cares to know.

[GayGrandpa]

When gays are given equal rights and can safely walk down any street in America and show the same affections as straight couples, i.e. holding hands and the occasional sweet kiss, then and only then will I agree with you. For decades we (gays) have feared for our lives and our safety, we have fought to be loved and understood and we have suffered the great indignity of unequal human rights.

Until such time as the American society clearly acknowledges that it is OK to be gay and we are given equal rights, until then we must come out and be open.

I challenge all gay men and women to come out and to be dynamically visible in their public presence! I salute Adam Lambert's PRIDE and public stance.

Harvey Milk's* taught us to "Come out..." Thirty years later gays still do not have the right nationally to marry, nor are we safe from hate and hate crimes, nor are we free to openly serve in the armed forces. America has come a long way but it has a long way to go and until we have a land where all are free and all enjoy equal freedoms then the oppressed must speak out...

And those who care for equality and freedom must join their voices!

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Harvey_Milkk

[M1]

Beautifully said.

[skybar]

Non-story of the year so far.

[marred]

No really? I had no idea :)

[DogTown]

LOVE ME SOME ADAM LAMBERT!