Adam Lambert and Homophobia: A Clarification

The other day I blogged (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-david/adam-lambert-loses-homoph_b_206154.html) about Adam Lambert's "American Idol" loss being due to homophobia. It got a the biggest response of any HuffPost piece I've written, both positive, negative and outright nasty. In my post, I said, "Go ahead, give me another reason" why Lambert lost. And many posters here proceeded to call my bluff and, indeed, give me a piece of their minds and plenty of other reasons.

I see what they are all talking about, appreciate the comments, and I agree that for many it is just a simple matter of taste and has nothing to do with homophobia. I stand corrected. I shall proceed to wrap my body in barbed wire, throw acid in my face, and do penance.

I also neglected to properly congratulate Kris Allen on winning fair and square. Congratulations, Kris, if you care. You're my American Idol. Although worshiping you is breaking a Commandment, I will come to your concert and throw my panties at you and say "Awww" when you get all red in the face.

Some of the critics of my piece called me a 'typical knee-jerk liberal' playing the 'victim mentality.' To clarify, I am not a liberal. I am a pragmatic moderate. My views are all over the place. For example, I believe in capital punishment, and since I was a former teacher, I believe in starting it at the 8th grade level.

But while I am not at all one of those 'knee-jerk liberals' who screams, "homophobia!" or "racism!" when something doesn't go my way, I still believe that homophobia played a part, however big or small, in the Idol results, maybe enough to tip the scales against Lambert. I didn't get this idea all by my lonesome. Some said, "What research do you base this assumption on?"

I will now confess to a guilty pleasure/unhealthy obsession: I visit conservative and right-wing websites, read articles, and read posters' comments. I'm a comedian looking for material. I also like to see how people think, especially those completely unlike me. Sometimes reading these threads makes my blood pressure rise to the level of a shell-shocked Vietnam Vet watching a fireworks display. There is a huge amount of unchecked id in the land. One poster, commenting on Wanda Sykes' comedy routine at the White House Correspondent's Dinner, called her a "nignoramus." Clever word, but yeeeeow.

On some of these websites, I read nasty comments about Lambert. I will not repeat them, but they were all anti-gay and had nothing to do with him, his artistry or talent. Reading these posts made me naturally assume that there were a good many people out there who don't like him because he's either gay or perceived to be.

Some also took me to task for use of the word 'homophobia.' 'Homophobia' literally means 'fear of homosexuals.' Homophobes, especially, resent being called homophobic. One poster wrote, literally, "I'm not prejudiced, but I do not want a gay American Idol. I do not want my children to grow up like him." That, to me, says "fear."

But I can see why some reacted negatively to my post. Lambert's loss could be because of anything -- the judges' blatant favoritism, Adam's flair for the outrageous, the Danny Gokey vote, or simple taste in music and performance. One thing is for certain: they guy's a star. We're all wasting our valuable time talking about him.

In the end, Idol is just a dumb television show a bunch of us got addicted to, the perfect cure for the downturn blues. It cracks me up how passionate people get about these things, including me. Now that Idol is over, we can all return to our lives and deal with more pressing matters, like Miss California's breast implants.

Comments

[Kishiseta]

perhaps one of the reasons people started reacting (and to your dismay, some, very nastily) is the way you wrote the whole article. Aside from the fact that you put homophobia to the fore, there were some accusations that was just so...knee-jerking and hurtful that liberals (I am not one) and even some conservatives find hurtful (i.e. capitalizing on his christian roots to win). As far as I'm concerned, many conservatives are also being backed into a corner here! It goes both ways.

Fine, so some people were homophobic but that is not to say the bible belts joined hands (or fingers, in this case) in bringing Lambert down.

[treboi]

After reading your first article on this subject and this follow up, I thought I should let you know that blogging is not for everyone...

"I believe in capital punishment, and since I was a former teacher, I believe in starting it at the 8th grade level"

I know that you were 'trying' to be funny, but not only did this joke fail, considering the sad state of our public school system, it's also kind of offensive.

""nignoramus." Clever word, but yeeeeow"

Just like homophobia is not clever neither is racism (sometimes white gays forget this). Again I know you were just trying to be funny, but again it's just not working out for you. What I find truely disturbing is that you just got finished telling everyone how homophobic they are but you seem to find racism "clever".

I don't write this to be mean or nasty, but it seems like you should bounce your article ideas off of other people (preferably outside the white gay community) before u submit them...

[Bulbul]

Sorry Mr. Davis, those are the pitfalls of being a blogger, if you do not go with the moment, you have to go through the wrath,. Look at the bright side of it, this is only temporary, tomorrow it would be something else. Look at Clay, not a fan, all he said that he did not like A song by Adam...
So what ever you do , stand by what you believe in.....

[Jordan Wood]

Really? Just another disgusting display of heteronormative America. Some may not think that Adam lost because of his sexuality...but what other reason is there? I understand that it comes down to taste and what not, but the FACT of the matter is...he is more talented. Period. As stated in Mr. David's post, The best singer did not win the singing contest. As a huge fan of American Idol, ever since Aiken was ridiculously defeated by Ruben, I think it was an absolute embarassment for the show and the Fox network.

[grdavis1019]

Don't flip flop. You sold out. You were right the first time.

[PaxMundis]

" I understand that it comes down to taste and what not, but the FACT of the matter is...he is more talented. Period. "


Excuse me? Talent is entirely a matter of taste, and has nothing to do with "FACT."

[treboi]

thank you!

[Isla Sands]

I'm sorry to hear that your previous article resulted in you recieving a few drops of the vitriol that has been pouring out via opposing fanbases for this season's entertaining family show - "American Idol." The best cure is a walk in the rain.

Meanwhile, Fremantle Media, who own the show, are counting up the Idol coffers with glee. In view of the show's failing ratings, voting wars were just what they needed.

I'm sure we will soon see a plethora of doctorates on the Lambert phenomenon. Researchers will examine how and why, in times of recession or depression, symbols of non-conformity are used to consolidate fragmenting communities, reinforce societal agreements on acceptable identity "forms", and strengthen the binary (us and them) underpinnings to western cultural solidarity.

Time for a walk in the rain, don't you think?

[AfroLatina21]

I'm glad you wrote this post.

I took you to task in the last one for only assuming that he lost because of homophobia. I'm sure there were some who voted against him because he's gay or presumed to be gay but I honestly don't think that it was enough to tip the scale. Also there were a lot of people who voted for him because he was gay, both are wrong IMO.

I like Adam. I think he has a great personality but I didn't vote for him because I don't like his style and that type of music. I personally wouldn't buy an album of his but that's just me.

[megalass]

How do you know who voted how? My entire red state conservative Christian military household was pulling for Adam, as were all my teenaged daughters' Facebook friends( from a Christian school, no less). And yes, everybody was well aware that Adam was probably gay. Duh. He didn't make an issue out of it so why should we? Besides, he was a much better singer.

As for homophobic comments on conservative websites, how do you know who really made them? Persons of the opposite political persuasion frequently post such things to make the other side look bad.Common internet practice.

Your caricature of conservative Christians is just that. Time to get out and look around a little bit more. Ann Coulter is a huge Grateful Dead fan. My spouse and I, in common with Texas GOP Gov. Rick Perry, are longtime Queen fans. I suspect Adam lost because so many people thought he was a shoo-in, they didn't get around to voting. I'm guilty.

Now let's get back to discussing Perez Hilton's weight problem.

[MellowDrama]

Mr. David, if you like that kind of caterwauling, you have lousy taste in music, too. No one is afraid of Adam Lambert. But I suggest that homosexuality is not necessarily related to his familiar brand of flamboyant narcissism (also known by more pejorative terms, I'm sure). THAT is what turns people off. You may be persuaded that they're the same thing, but you do a disservice to associate them and imply that repulsion for the latter equals fear of the first.

[treboi]

great post.

[BluePrideStephen]

I bet he got more votes for being gay than he lost... Not directly, of course. We have so many great gay images we don't automatically 'like' or 'dislike' the person because they're also gay. Indirectly, though, his abiltiy to deal with being gay in a creative and positive manner got him further in the competition than if he were straight. If he were straight, that voice would have been used in more mundane material, more baynal patter between songs, less freedom to explore his 'edginess'. Props to Kris, who may have already peaked. Adam's future has begun with a splash. (now, find a Steve!).

Does this make the third or fourth AI runner-up to lose due to gay hysteria in the heartland and in the churches?