Adam Lambert On His Sexuality: ‘Keep Speculating’
Adam Lambert says role models come in a variety of different forms – even in eye makeup, fingernail polish and tight pants. “It’s a really, really cool thing,” the American Idol runner-up says, “to be able to show people that you can be yourself, and you should be proud of yourself, and you should own who you are and what you’re about, and never make apologies for it.” So to those who speculate about his sexuality, he has a message. “Calm down,” he says, and “keep speculating.” See Adam Lambert On His Sexuality: ‘Keep Speculating’ * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Why It Matters that Adam Lambert is (Probably) Gay
It matters that Adam Lambert, the heir apparent as the next American Idol, is apparently gay — precisely because it doesn’t matter.
First, whether Lambert is homosexual or not, he definitely is “queer,” a word many GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered) people have reclaimed from the dustbin of history as a proud self-identification. He gender-bends, he sings high notes, he wears makeup and jewelry. For a show about creating the next typical pop star, he is atypical. Simply being gay is, perhaps, no big deal — but Lambert flaunts his gender non-conformity. As he himself said, when photographs of Lambert kissing other men surfaced on the Internet, “I have nothing to hide. I am who I am.” Bravo!
This bravado stands in sharp contrast to previous generations of androgynous pop stars, who vociferously denied their gayness even as their obvious queerness was leveraged into worldwide pop success. Clay Aiken, George Michael, even Boy George all used to deny their sexualities — and Elton John hid behind “bisexuality” for many years as well. To most of us in the gay community, this was ludicrous; at the same instant these male stars were protesting the awful insinuations about their manhood, they flaunted their gender-bending and/or androgyny as part of their appeal. Not Lambert. He is who he is, and it’s fabulous.
See
Why It Matters that Adam Lambert is (Probably) Gay
Huffington Post * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Gay Pride in Moscow: Report from a Chicago Activist
MOSCOW, May 14, 2009 (Gay Liberation Network) – After 14 hours of flights, last night I found myself in Eastern Europe for the first time in my life, warmly greeted by lesbian and gay activists who, despite state repression, are organizing their fourth annual pride event in this city. This year’s event is dubbed ‘Slavic Pride’, denoting the significant participation of activists from around the region.
The previous three years’ events have gone forward despite bans from the authorities and violence from neo-fascists in Russian orthodox and skinhead garb. This year the authorities not only banned the Pride event, but for good measure, approved the anti-gays’ application to hold their own event this past Tuesday.
That same day, our Moscow friends countered with their own unsanctioned action at the Department of Registration of Acts of Civil Status – an attempt by two lesbian activists to get a marriage license.
Leading Slavic Pride activist Nikolai Alekseev said the action was inspired in part by a February civil disobedience action at a marriage license bureau in Chicago. The Moscow action received widespread international press coverage, including from the New York Times.
As I shadowed Alekseev around the city last night, press coverage if anything seemed to build, with Nikolai’s two cell phones ringing incessantly and meetings with Finish and Slovenian journalists held near midnight just outside of Red Square.
Slavic Pride is slated for this Saturday, amidst the big ‘Eurovision Fest’ being hosted this year by Moscow. For those not familiar with what Eurovision is, think American Idol times ten, with a profusion of media coverage and street banners that puts Chicago’s 2016 Olympics bid hype to shame.
While our specific plans for Saturday are necessarily secret at this time, the aim is to cause maximum embarrassment to the government if they attempt to arrest us or allow the neo-fascists to attack.
In response to Moscow activists’ application for a permit this year, police chief Vladmir Pronin told the Russian news agency Interfax that gay pride parades in the capital are “unacceptable – gay pride parades shouldn’t be allowed”.
“No one will dare to do it, such ‘braveheart’ will be torn to shreds,” he added. “The West can say we’re bad guys, but our people will see it is right. Our country is patriarchal, that’s [sic] sums it up… I positively agree with the Church, with the Patriarch, politicians, especially with [Mayor] Luzhkov, who are convinced that man and woman should love each other. It is established by God and nature.”
However, Moscow Pride organizers have vowed to move forward with this year’s Pride event despite the police chief’s threats.
“Mr. Pronin already showed his incompetency last year when his services were unable to prevent us unveiling a banner directed against the Mayor, right opposite his office,” said Alekseev.
The main pride event successfully took place nearby at the monument to the famous Russian gay composer, Peter Tchkaivosky, while the authorities and neo-fascists were hoodwinked in to thinking that it would take place outside of homophobic Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s office.
Today at the start of a gay rights conference at an undisclosed location east of the city, I was joined by British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and LGBT activists from around Russia and Belorussia Minsk, Rostof, Sochi, Ufa, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Ekaterinbourg, Volgodonsk, Ryazan and of course Moscow.
As we gathered on a coach to go to the conference, Moscow activist Nikolai Baev explained how a group of young activists from Ryazan, about 200 miles south of the capital, got involved in organizing this year’s Slavic Pride:
“There is a very discriminatory law in the Ryazan region which prohibits so-called propaganda about homosexuality20and among minors. The law passed in 2006 and we had pickets that said that homosexuality is absolutely normal and we are proud of our situation. We picketed in front of schools in Ryazan and we were detained because it was illegal.”
Two people were found guilty and fined 1500 roubles (about $45 US) each. Alekseev came to Ryazan to help in the campaign and in the appeal of their cases to the Constitutional Court of Russia.
Then, Sergey Yenin, 19, explained how he became involved in gay rights organizing in Belorussia :
“I felt myself to be gay from my early childhood, he explained.
“Last year I came to Minsk and there I got acquainted with some gay activists and I thought it would be great if I fought for my gay rights. There are a lot of people who don’t fight for their rights, who don’t participate in such activist movements, and they just consume our achievements.
“For example, we fought for our gay club, our one gay club in Minsk. It was in danger of being closed [by the government], but it still exists, due to us.”
I asked Sergey if he had participated in Minsk Pride events before.
“Yes, of course. The most outstanding Pride parade took place in 2001. But I didn’t participate because I was only 11 then. There were over 300 people participating in this event and 300 watching. This was fabulous This was an historical moment in Belorussia.
“The last one took place in October of 2008. It was named Queer Walk and it took place on the 11th of October 2008, the international day of coming out, and we organized a pride parade. It was a rather private, intimate event, there were fifty participants because we cannot organize such a public event because of our government.
“If we applied for an event, we would be denied.
“There is an action that takes place [each year] called Chernobyl Way, and all of the opposition parties take place there, and our LGBT group participated last year and this year. Last year we raised the rainbow flag and there were a lot of bad comments about it, there were a lot of thre ats [of violence]. There were such political parties as Right Alliance, and they threaten us all of the time. This year we didn’t20raise our rainbow flag because the organizer of the Belorussian National Front, the main opposition party, they coordinated a call to us, do not raise your rainbow flag, not because we have anything against you, because our fight for clean air, free of radiation will turn into a fight for gay rights.”
I asked Sergey why he personally joined the 15 others for the ten hour train ride from Belorussia to join this Saturday’s Slavic Pride: “I [only] made the conclusion [to come] on May 12 because I was really very frightened about myself and my friends. I know that there is some information that Pride is going to be canceled, and more than this, that Pride participants are going to be beaten.
“Because this is my fight really.If I don’t go to the pride parade, who will go there? My reasons to come was to support my friends – and of course to support gay rights.”
SEE ALSO
Tatchell To Attend Moscow Gay Pride. Despite threats to bash and arrest the marchers, British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will attend this Saturday’s Moscow Gay Pride parade – this year renamed Slavic Gay Pride to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality struggles in all Slavic countries, Russian and non-Russian. (UK Gay News, May 11, 2009)
Gay Marriage Campaign Starts in Russia. Two women will apply for a marriage license in Moscow on May 12, it emerged this afternoon. The announcement was made today during a press conference for Slavic Pride which is planned for later this month in Moscow. (UK Gay News, May 5, 2009)
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Gay Idol? Campy Adam Lambert inspires the crowd
(New York) The other night, after her 3-year-old son was in bed, confirmed Adam Lambert fanatic Sue Murrell was glued to her DVR, watching “American Idol.”
She was also glued to her computer, chatting with members of the pro-Lambert Facebook group she founded. And to her phone, too, where she voted …
Alicia Keys asks `Idol’ fans to text for HIV
(Los Angeles) Alicia Keys wants $5 from every “American Idol” fan.
The Grammy-winning singer appeared on the hit Fox show Wednesday to urge viewers to support the Text ALIVE Challenge, which aims to bring medicine and medical care to children and families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.
Keys asked fans to …
Entertainment Weekly Runs Gay Idol Cover: Will There Be Controversy?
Entertainment Weekly’s latest issue features a full-cover on American Idol contestant Adam Lambert.
At CoverAwards, we examine covers on a daily basis and this one caught our attention.
The cover line reads “Loving Adam Lambert – The Most Exciting ‘American Idol’ Contestant in Years.” Next to the line is a pink asterisk that leads you to the cover line on the bottom right of the cover – “And Not Just Because He Might Be Gay.” So what’s missing?
The controversy!
See Entertainment Weekly Runs Gay Idol Cover: Will There Be Controversy?
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Is the media ruining Adam Lambert’s chances of winning American Idol?
I don’t know why today it’s the big story, but suddenly everywhere I look there’s another story about Adam Lambert being gay. Or maybe gay. He’s never officially come out one way or the other. And it’s mostly the same story being recycled on every website or news portal imaginable, but while it’s asking the question “Could Adam Lambert become the first gay American Idol?” I’m asking if all these news stories could hurt his chances.
It would be foolish to say that we’re a nation that’s completely beyond caring about sexual orientation, just look at legislation across the country. And while former contestants have come out and admitted they were gay, most notably Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, nobody has admitted it while competing on Idol. And yet, Lambert has been the most ambiguous about it, which is a step in the right direction. Most people are just kind of assuming he is, I guess. But there is probably just as large a group out there that has no idea. And a lot of them may see these articles.
In a week where Lambert was in the bottom two despite having the greatest vocal range of the remaining finalists, and from what I’m told right here at TV Squad, the largest fan-base, you have to wonder if whether or not he is gay will have an impact on his ultimate finishing place. If he does win, is he going to be able to come out if he is gay? Does the show really care one way or the other any more? Speculation certainly has been that they’ve cared in the past. “Family friendly television” apparently means no gays, just ask Miss California. See Is the media ruining Adam Lambert’s chances of winning American Idol?
TV Squad * Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Possible ‘Idol’ finalist is mucho gay
VotefortheWorst.com, a Web site dedicated to keeping the Sanjayas of the world in competition on “American Idol” for as long as possible, has outed (if you can call it that) contender Adam Lambert with pix of him kissing another man. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. (Geez, I hope not or I’m in trub-bull)! Of course, this raises the question whether it’s a big deal anyway — it’s not like the photos are X-rated, just same-sex. Get over it, people. I have two words for you: “Clay. Aiken.” See photo @ Possible ‘Idol’ finalist is mucho gay
Dallas Voice
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The Top 9 Drag Queens In The USA Bring The Drama, Outrageousness And Sheer Fabulosity As They Battle It Out To Become The Next RuPaul
RuPaul has pushed the boundaries of popular culture on an international level as a recording artist (“Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” duet with Elton John, “Supermodel: You Better Work”), as a television talk-show host (“The RuPaul Show” on VH1) and as an actor (“The Brady Bunch,” “Too Wong Foo…” “Starrbooty”). As the first-ever spokesperson for M.A.C Cosmetics’ VIVA Glam Campaign, RuPaul contributed to raising millions of dollars to the M.A.C AIDS Fund. Now RuPaul is breaking new ground as the host, mentor and judge of this one-of-a-kind reality competition. Playing a dual role, RuPaul, in full glamazon drag, will reign supreme in all judging and eliminations, while the debonair Mr. RuPaul will help guide the contestants as they prepare for each challenge. Challenges will range from photo shoots, to fashion designing, to real woman makeovers, to performing with RuPaul in the first music video from RuPaul’s upcoming album, “Champion.”
“Tell Tyra that the Queen has returned, and while you’re at it have Heidi clear the runway. I’m going to pump some ‘realness’ into reality,” said RuPaul. “To be a winner on this show the contestants need to be a fashion designer, an American idol, and a top model all rolled up into one. And they definitely have to be smarter than a fifth grader.”
While “RuPaul’s Drag Race” will take a look at the outrageous world of drag, it will also reveal the courage, perseverance and humanity of 9 men who have overcome and endured the hardships of a masculine dominated society that mocks and makes fun of men who act like women. Not only will viewers get a bird’s eye view of what it takes for these chameleons to transform themselves but they will also take away the secrets of the artistry of drag.
The eight, one-hour episode series “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has gathered the next generation of outrageous, up-and-coming drag queens to fight for the title. Each cast member must embody the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent that made, RuPaul an international drag superstar. Each week, joining RuPaul on the judges panel are fashion journalist and best-selling author Merle Ginsberg and Project Runway breakout star and designer Santino Rice plus a bevy of celebrity guest judges including: Bob Mackie (Designer), Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), Lucy Lawless (actress), Maria Conchita Alonso (actress/singer), Robin Antin (creator of The Pussycat Dolls), Debra Wilson (Mad TV), Jenny Shimizu (model/actress), Tori Spelling (actress), Dean McDermott (actor), Howard Bragman (Author of, “Where’s My Fifteen Minutes?”) Frank Gatson (choreographer) and Gordon Espinet (M.A.C VP of Makeup Artistry.) The judges will determine the bottom two contestants of the week. Those contestants then compete in a show-stopping battle-royal “lip-synch for your life” performance that will determine if they will “shante” and stay or “sashay” away.
“RuPaul made history as drag’s first glamour superstar and will do so once again bringing together a group of exceptionally talented drag artists in the world’s first drag reality series,” said Brian Graden, President, MTV Networks Music Group Entertainment and President, Logo.
“RuPaul is back, and better than ever,” says Barbato. “RuPaul first took the world by storm when Clinton was in the White House. Now, in the new Obama era, the time is right for RuPaul to reign supreme once again.”
In the end, only one will have what it takes to win the coveted title of America’s next drag queen superstar, and a prize package that includes a nationally sponsored ABSOLUT(R) Vodka “Real Fruit” tour, a cash prize of $20,000 courtesy of ABSOLUT(R) Vodka and M.A.C Cosmetics, supply of M.A.C Cosmetics, a feature photo spread in Paper Magazine and a photo taken by renowned photographer Greg Gorman to be used in an l.a. Eyeworks legendary designer eyewear campaign.
Following are the 9 “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants:
– Akashia — Cleveland, OH
– Bebe Zahara Benet — Minneapolis, MN
– Jade — Chicago, IL
– Nina Flowers — Denver, CO
– Ongina — Los Angeles, CA
– Rebecca Glasscock — Ft. Lauderdale, FL
– Shannel — Las Vegas, NV
– Tammie Brown — Los Angeles, CA
– Victoria Parker — Raleigh, NC
RuPaulsDragRace.com will stream the first episode simultaneous to the series on air premiere Monday, February 2, and will be home to exclusive video content throughout the season. Additionally, each episode will be available on RuPaulsDragRace.com every week following its on-air premiere.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” and its casting website demonstrate Logo’s commitment to reach new levels of engagement with its audience. Examples of this multi-platform approach to entertainment include the site for Logo’s hit animated series, “Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World” at HappiestGayCouple.com and the upcoming “NewNowNext Awards,” airing on-air, online and on mobile devices. Logo continues to be the number one aggregator of content for the LGBT audience with its growing library of online video on LOGOonline.com and its affiliated websites AfterEllen.com, AfterElton.com, Downelink.com and 365gay.com.* Tags = gay men gay news lesbian news transgender bisexual
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Clay Aiken Reflects on a Year of Coming Out, Being a New Dad
It’s been a year of major developments for Clay Aiken.
In late September the American Idol favorite acknowledged in a PEOPLE cover story that he’s gay – an announcement that followed the Aug. 8 birth of his first child, Parker, with his best friend, music producer Jaymes Foster, 50.
While Aiken’s coming out generated significant interest on Internet blogs, it’s the singer’s status as a new dad that he says makes 2008 the most memorable.
“At the end of the day, Parker is the most important thing of the year, and of my life, without question,” Aiken, 30, tells PEOPLE. “Having a son and that type of responsibility is obviously going to be something that I remember forever.” See Clay Aiken Reflects on a Year of Coming Out, Being a New Dad
People Magazine -
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