Is ABC homophobic?
If recent events are any indication, the network is struggling to define its boundaries for gay sexuality.
After Adam Lambert's bi-sexually charged closing performance at the American Music Awards in November, ABC responded by canceling the singer's scheduled appearance on Good Morning America, and banning him from appearing on late night fests Jimmy Kimmel and Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve.
There's a clear double standard at play.
Janet Jackson - already notorious for her Super Bowl wardrobe malfunction - opened the AMA's with multiple crotch grabs, yet ABC didn't ban her from other programs. The network didn't bat an eyelash after Rihanna began her AMA performance strapped to a torture device, and pranced half naked in a white bondage suit featuring alternating latex strips and skin, and a collar of bullets. Why was Lambert singled out?
It's worth noting that while Lambert simulated sex acts with both men and women during his routine, only the homosexual acts drew ire.
ABC's reaction to Lambert's sexual norms-tweaking performance was typical for a network known for inconsistent enforcement of its infamous, self-imposed morality clause.
ABC has a bad habit of taking one step toward equality, then taking two steps back. Last February, ABC daytime broadcast the highly touted, first lesbian wedding for a soap opera couple on All My Children. Although the network allowed the women to kiss, it never allowed them to enjoy a proper love scene, even on their wedding night.
Instead, the lame sub-plot centered around one of the women fighting her attraction to a man, and kissing him the night before her wedding in a state of "confusion." Was this meant to imply the character really wasn't a lesbian, or to give hope she could be "cured" of her homosexual affliction?
On December 30th, almost a year after its sexless lesbian fiasco, ABC tried to throw the gay community a bone when One Life to Live aired daytime's first ever sex scene between two men. To ABC's credit, the scene was presented the same as any other soap opera couple making love for the first time. It included candles, soft music, loving close ups, and of course, some skin. There was even spooning afterward. What's the problem?
No advance publicity.
In soap opera land, when a popular couple "makes love" for the first time, it's cause for celebration. The shows orchestrate publicity campaigns weeks in advance with teaser feature stories in soap magazines and blogs. TV Guide and TiVo highlight the event in their show summaries. The publicity generates anticipation among loyal fans and helps draw new viewers to the show.
For this momentous occasion on OLTL, all was silent. There wasn't any magazine coverage, no blogosphere buzz, no TV listings, no mainstream promotion of any kind. The network ignored the chance to capitalize on one of the most important events in the history of daytime - as well as a milestone for the gay community. Were the publicists on vacation for the months of November and December?
ABC squandered a golden opportunity to take a stand on an important civil rights issue. They should have proudly advertised their plan to showcase a tender love scene between two consenting adults in a monogamous relationship, and not try to slip it under the radar on the last soap opera day of the year. If they feared certain groups would call for a boycott, ratings could have benefited.
It's cynical to think a two minute scene would have created a controversy at all, but it's also cynical to shy away because of the possibility. However, ABC isn't the only offender. In the fall of 2009, Procter and Gamble, the owner of CBS' Guiding Light, refused to allow popular lesbian characters Olivia and Natalia to share a single kiss as a couple, fearing it would spark a middle American consumer backlash.
At least ABC had the balls to broadcast the same sex sex-scene, but what good does it do if no one knows what day it's on? If a tree falls in the forest does anyone hear?
Share your thoughts below. Should gay sexuality be treated differently than heterosexuality on television?
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To me, as a gay male, what Lambert did was tasteless and disrespectful. When Lambert was on stage you could tell her was walking around waiting to do something controversial by the way he was almost mumbling his words and walking around lost. He completely took ABC and the viewers by surprise by doing all of the sexual acts he performed on stage (whether it was a man or woman). This was ABC's reasoning to blocking Lambert from being on other shows, he just is not trustworthy. Lambert before this incident refused to answer "gay" related questions to OUT Magazine because he didn't want to be seen as "too gay," yet he then went on national TV and pulled these tasteless acts.
2. it's hard to make that "anyone who doesn't want to watch doesn't have to" argument when the show in question is a prime-time network broadcast. the whole idea is to get many people to watch, not just "cool people in the know."
I find it way more offensive that Adam Lambert would exploit his sexuality, the same way that Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears have, to distract people from the fact that his music is garbage! It is a gimmick. He's practically saying, "look how flamboyantly gay I am! Isn't it crazy and radical! I don't care what middle America thinks! buy my album!!!!" with the littlest amount of sincerity. As a music lover, I feel I have the right to be offended.
By the way, I'm quite certain I can think of 20+ things off the top of my head to be infinitely more offended about other than one sexually provocative show that lasted for about 4 minutes.
A friend.
News for you:
#1, how many people in the world actually care what Debra thinks of them? **crickets**
#2, entertainment is not supposed to be taken so "seriously." It's obvious that you're missing the whole point of being entertained. You're one mouse click away from living your life with one foot in the grave. I guess you're more comfortable in your homogenous little world filled with white bread and cookie cutter people. How special. Well, not really.
Think about it, Debra.
A concern troll
Mos don't hump hets out of curiosity.
Sexuality is inborn.
The other side of this coin or second, is that how the performance was received REALLY showed how insecure as a country and even corporate America (Networks) still are when it comes to men. Not withstanding homosexuality, just men showing any type of male sexuality. But ESPECIALLY man on man sexuality. I'm sorry but even if Adam Lambert wined and dined the guy on stage instead of crudely handling him, an issue would have been made out of it. (The don't rub it in our face effect)
Now ABC/DISNEY, realizing how ignorant their actions seemed, hurriedly put gay sex on their soap opera on DAY TIME TELEVISION! Adam was LATE NIGHT! Can the double standard get any more obvious?
Joel Santos
Author of the blog Re:Wind - Love, Sex, And Family
http://wp.me/KNPv”
I'm tired of Mr. Lambert's fans using this as an excuse. The truth is his sin wasn't homosexuality, it was practicing one routine for the producers, and doing an entirely different thing on a live broadcast.
All the blogs and some of the magazines were talking about it at least a month before it happened. There were spoilers about it as well, including ABC's own website in previews for the coming week where the words 'Kyle and Fish have sex" were used. Scott Evans and Ron Carlivati, who head writes the show had discussed the love scene well before it aired in more than one interview.
And it wasn't on one of the lowest rated days of the year. All one needs to do is look at the ratings and they'd know that all shows were up that wee, as they tend to be over the holidays. If anything MORE people would have seen that scene than folks who usually watch the show, not less.
Apparently, the contracting "female sensibility" where attractive men can show their sexuality (with anyone) is only acceptable during select time periods - like when the audience is 90% women during the day. What is so ironic about the Adam Lambert incident is that everyone knows that his sizeable fanbase is largely made up of women. As a middle-aged women with many friends, I don't know a single woman who was "insulted" by his AMA performance. It was not my favorite Lambert performance, but it certainly didn't warrant all the subsequent punishment and fallout. I was actually insulted by ABC's behavior and the obvious double-standard. I have a sense that it was the male decision makers who were insulted and proposed a rather childish punishment to Adam and his many fans.
if Adam was trying to stir up the point and prove a point, he was right.