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Withers: Sexuality does not make you a hero
, contributing editor, 365Gay Blog 11.20.2009 9:03am EST
Against the pleadings of my better angels, I’m ending the week on the war of words between Adam Lambert and Out editor Aaron Hicklin. The “American Idol”
silver winner and Hicklin are having a minor public disagreement. For
the moment I’ll leave alone how Lambert, in his brief career, is
suffering from diva-itis or how for the editor manufactured outrage is
a boon for sales. The whole thing leaves me tired because once again it
shows how much we yearn for heroes when they are useless.
You all read the web and newspapers. You know the struggle for gay rights. From marriage to school safety , the times we live in are serious. Yet we all go ga-ga when someone on the fame machine comes out as a member of the tribe.
Suddenly
the newly minted fame queen gets courage awards, gala dinners, magazine
covers, requests to expound on the political struggle. [ You know the names. Ellen DeGeneres, T.R. Knight. Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, etc. etc]. She is asked to be a spokesperson for a diverse tribe, and we give [ fame gay] the microphone and clap with tears streaming down our faces. Does she
speak for us because she is an expert on the vagaries of political
power? Knows how to form coalitions? A great fundraiser? No. Her only
claim is talent, appearances on the big or small screens, and sexuality.
That’s not enough. More sizzle than substance. [ But we do it anway, convinced this media light will lead us somewhere].
If Lambert wants to sing as if the only gays who exist are the ones he brings home to bed down, good for him. [ That's his right and anyone who wants to take that away does not understand the meaning of "small d" democracy] . He’s not required to be a spokesperson and his opinion would not have protected the two youngsters we recently lost. What keeps them alive, and the 16 year old Houston
boy from a vicious beat down, are the nameless ones. The folks who
never grace Entertainment Weekly or get to share coffee chat with Regis
and Kelly. The anonymous who make it known through action and word gay
citizens have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
If
Lambert wants to steer away from anything gay, it’s all good. He and
the other fame queens out there are not going to save us or make us
feel better about our lives. Those “austere and lonely offices ” belong to us [ and only us. To steal from a recent candidate for the White Hosue, we are the ones we've been waiting for].
UPDATE : After reading the comments, it’s obvious I wasn’t clear. I made some additons with the ever helpful [ ] . Sorry for the confusion.
I
agree with those who say Mr. Lambert is a media whore. No I don’t
expect every famous gay person to be an activist, but the stuff about
being kind of interested in girls? Sorry he sold his gay soul to the
almighty dollar, which makes him a big fat whore in my book.
I
did’nt read all the other comments because most of the ones I read
struck me as being ill thought out. Obviously they failed to read all
of Withers article,or ignored the meaning within. As I read it Withers
asked for us to recognise that faces on television only excite the
converted and do nothing to sway the minds of those we count as
enemies. The real heros of out times are those who go quietly through
life altering attitudes in small ways so as to gain a greater result in
the overall. By this means and by showing out heterosexual bretheren
that we do no harm and in fact contribute in a far greater way to the
well being of our overburdened planet we will spoil their attempts to
paint us a undesirables. Our heros should be those who fight tirelessly
on our behalf for our rights to simply exist and to go about out lives
freely able to follow our dreams, By the way many of those hero’s are
not gay just good friends. Rob
Man,
every day I come to this site and see somebody (usually the same
somebody) blasting James for his opinions, but this time I felt the
need to write a supportive response because these comments are
ridiculous. Some of you people really need to actually read the damn
column before you get in a huff. He wasn’t lambasting Lambert, he was
just saying that to expect greatness from him is to be naive (which I
think is what some of you were ALSO saying). Gay people everywhere are
just people. Anderson Cooper is another good example. These people who
choose to live their lives without being out are just fine and dandy. I
personally look down upon them because they could be doing so much more
(I’d have loved having a masculine gay role-model growing up, but no, I
had Elton Johns and Ru Pauls, who while fabulous, are nothing like me),
but they’re just not strong enough to meet my expectations, and they
shouldn’t have to be, because who the hell am I to expect it?
I
disagree with most of your article which resonates with the echoes of
bitterness. Yes, the famous “A-lister stars” may not be actual heroes
of political prowess, but their presence in the media is a powerful
tool nonetheless. Their voices and repetitive media attention command
the world to take a look again at gay people. Gay people are doctors,
lawyers, teachers, actors, musicians and so on and so on. How many gays
have been forced and compelled to remain in the shadows? Stay in the
dark corners of society and hold your tongue in silence and watch and
the majority rule? I disagree completely. The more voices that come
forward that can inspire and motivate the masses of straight and gay
alike; the more likely a door will open in the minds of straights that
gays are here and here to stay. We will rise up with one voice so that
there can truly be “one nation with liberty and justice for all”. The
voices of Adam Lambert and Ellen Degeneres, plant seeds of hope that
will grow andencourage others. They are Heroes. Don’t be so jaded.
Peter Formaini said:
“A
day in the life of a courageous rights-defender and advocate is worth
years in the life of this good-for-little drama queen with little or
nothing to offer.”
Thanks for saying so much in so few words.
Peter Formaini:A+ Adam Lambert:C-(I’m feeling generous)
“…but
each and every one of us has the right to choose whether or not to
fight for our rights, and how we choose to fight for them.”
Yes –
just as WE have the right to judge said actions (and individuals who
follow them) on our own terms – and just as harshly as we like.
Lambert is a split-second fame queen with little if anything to offer of any value to any adult of a lasting nature.
A
day in the life of a courageous rights-defender and advocate is worth
years in the life of this good-for-little drama queen with little or
nothing to offer.
Lambert’s statement was fairly straight forward so i don’t really understand where this is coming from.
“It
was my desire to stay away from talking about certain political and
civil rights issues because I’m not a politician. I’m an entertainer.
That is not my area of expertise. I can talk about relationships and
personal experiences because as an artist those things involve writing
lyrics and that part of my process. But I didn’t feel comfortable
talking about the March on Washington. I didn’t feel comfortable, so I
asked my publicist to ask the interviewer to stay away from the
political questions. I take full responsibility for that. I think that
the editor has his agenda and has his opinions, which I respect, but
they’re not necessarily my opinions. And I wish there was a little
respect for that. Not every gay man is the same gay man….in order for
us to progress, we need to stop segregating ourselves. And a letter
like that, that viewpoint — the letter that Aaron wrote is holding us
back. Because it’s recognizing the big difference as opposed to letting
us all ignore preferenceand just be people.”
how does one jump from that to “hero”?
I
often find myself disagreeing with Withers but on this….he’s spot on.
Lambert used his sexuality as a tool to help him advance on AI. He
didn’t win but it started his career and it was as much due to his
“sexuality” as his “talent”.
As for those who claim he bears no
obligation to represent the gay community I call BS. WE ALL REPRESENT
THE GAY COMMUNITY. Lambert doesn’t get a pass because he doesn’t want
to be a representative.
Finally, one can’t help but wonder how
this supposedly “enlightened” soul is convincing himself that NOT
standing up for his “gay” side is somehow standing up for his
individuality. Being gay is alot more intrinsic to his individuality
than his “expression of talent” …such as it is.
As far as I’m concerned Lambert is right up there with Perez Hilton.
Scum bag media whore.
Lambert says he’s gay but still likes to “kiss girls once in a while”.
OH PUHLEEZEEE!!!
Anything to sell an extra couple of albums besides the ones his middle age, sparkle cow housewives will grab off the shelves.
He
really is the ultimate poseur, his new album is a Britney Spears pop
album not a rock album like he tried to con everyone into thinking he
was when he was on Idol.
He’s a no talent hack just like Taylor Hicks, Fantasia (the declawed cat) Barino, and the rest of those so called Idols.
And like the other idols, Adam will sell a few copies and fade into obscurity where he belongs.
Like Perez, a total embarrassment
Adam
is just a leech. I can’t believe he gets a pass just because he’s an
entertainer. If this was a preacher, he would be called on his
hypocritical use of gay issues to advance his career.
This space
would be much better used to review the efforts of actual out and proud
gay artists, of which there are many. They sing better than Adam,
certainly write better, and have much better skin. What they don’t have
is a horde of confused middle-aged women to please, and millions of
dollars of marketing from a TV reality show. That limits them in reach,
but frees them in quality. They deserve to be heard.
Good God, James – you’ve really pissed on staciegirlie’s cornflakes, haven’t you?
James
Withers as the gay messiah…now there’s a thought. I can see you now
perched on your jewel-encrusted throne dressed in glorious pink spandex.
Anyway…
I
do have to agree, in part, with the sentiments expressed by
staciegirlie, and more coherently by Jenn (always great to hear the
opinion of a grandmother, someone with some actual life experience).
Just because a person is famous and happens to be gay, it is ridiculous
to expect that person to become some sort of gay rights activist or
spokesperson for the gay community.
Are all celebrities who
happen to belong to minority groups automatically expected to become
activists for those groups? Are they all expected to become
representatives of those groups? Kind of unreasonable to expect either,
isn’t it?
I am politically active because I choose to be. I stand
up for gay rights because I believe in the cause, not just for myself
but for others. It’s not the only cause I am involved in, however. I am
involved in environmental and animal rights groups. I am involved in
organizations dedicated to easing suffering abroad. I fight for
numerous causes that have nothing to do with my sexuality, because my
sexuality does not define who I am.
Adam Lambert, like many other
gay celebrities, chooses not to be defined by his sexuality. He chooses
to do what he loves and stay out of politics, just as many other people
do. If anyone thinks he should do anything else just because he happens
to be gay, they’re fools.
Yes, they’re his rights too, but each
and every one of us has the right to choose whether or not to fight for
our rights, and how we choose to fight for them.