Well, at least not the former. Headlining the Human Rights Campaign’s Carolinas fundraising gala, Clay Aiken originally had a line in there slamming George W. Bush in his remarks. But it’s been pulled. Out of bad taste, or because there’s a new White House resident to focus on?
“I don’t feel like this is the place to be horribly politically charged and bash people and talk about the wrongs that have been done,” Aiken tells a reporter, a statement that comes after HRC lent the pop singer a speechwriter. “My goal is to be hopeful, that it’s time for everyone to have equal rights. … I’m not going to be the person who says it has to be marriage or nothing else.”
Aiken, who will be attending Saturday’s event with his bodyguards, likely will not be going after President Obama then.
But that would be par for the course at HRC events, where the president is applauded by moneyed attendees, not criticized, because that would be déclassé. And wholly unusual at these sort of things.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Fitz
Since I actually have a pair, I will be the person that says “It has to be marriage” at any opportunity. The HRCs, Barney Franks, and failed gong show winners are just Kappas to me. There is no room in my life or heart for GLBT people who want to bend over to accept crumbs.
jimsteele2008
Apparently you haven’t been to an HRC shindig in North Carolina. When the event was held in Charlotte then mayor Pat McCrory, an anti-LGBT Republican, was ripped a new one for not welcoming the event to the Queen City. The Bush administration didn’t fair so well either.
Fitz
@jimsteele2008: Excellent point… when we have Bush and overtly homophobic other elected officials, HRC knows it’s target. It’s not focused on equality enough to do anything but bow down to Obama’s, however.
delurker
Quel dommage! You must be sad, queerty. I’m sure the editors had some nonsensical, misspelled one liners they could have snuck into Aiken’s speech.
Alexa
I’m curious, has anyone ever done a poll of the LGBT community comparing securing our rights first with an insistence on all or nothing to see how it breaks down? With my friends, the people who want marriage or nothing are overwhelmingly young, single and childless, whereas the older and/or partnered are far more worried about securing equal rights as soon as possible than they are about what it’s called. In other words, those most affected by not having rights are far more likely to want to get those rights as soon as possible.
Cam
No. 5 · Alexa said…
I’m curious, has anyone ever done a poll of the LGBT community comparing securing our rights first with an insistence on all or nothing to see how it breaks down? With my friends, the people who want marriage or nothing are overwhelmingly young, single and childless, whereas the older and/or partnered are far more worried about securing equal rights as soon as possible than they are about what it’s called. In other words, those most affected by not having rights are far more likely to want to get those rights as soon as possible.
_______________________
Alexa, there is no difference between having marriage and having equal rights. Whenever something is called something different it is always an excuse to discriminate. The most recent example is Elton John. He bashed gays for demanding the word “Marriage” when he said that his civil partnership was just as good. Flash Foreward a year or so and John was turned down for adoption because the govt. of Ukraine said that children could only be adopted out to “Married” couples and that John and his partners civil partnership didn’t qualify. So please don’t tell us that people out there who are single and childless aren’t effected by not having rights. Additionally, once full marriage rights are given, the smaller laws that discriminate will fall apart because they can’t be used against gay couples after the Federal Govt. has recognized our unions as equal.
Cam
Now for what I was going to say before I read Alexa’s post…..um Clay Aiken? So this is who headlines HRC events? Some guy who demied being gay over and over when he was popular only to come out after his career tanked when he was paid for the interview?! wow, nice pull there HRC.
Erv
CAM…….at it again, I see. Since you have never heard Aiken speak, it might be more prudent to wait until you hear what he has to say.
People who pre-judge someone are just the same as people who judge all LGBT before they know them.
I might take you seriously if you didn’t say such prejudiced comments.
I will be at the event on the 27ty and I look forward to what each speaker has to say. After all, this is a very personal journey that each LGBT person takes. Cookie cutter ideas are not correct.
Fitz
@Erv: Enjoy your cocktail party, just don’t delude yourself into thinking that you are part of the solution. Kappa.
Alexa
I don’t disagree, Cam, equality means everybody having exactly the same rights, and that means marriage. I used to have a gf from the UK, so I know all too well that even getting married in MA etc would not have given us equal rights if we had gotten to the point of wanting to get married (she would not have been allowed to live here). However, a lot of people I know over 35 or so would rather settle for a civil union now and go for marriage later (for the reasons Clay gives) than hold out for marriage and have no rights at all. Most of the people under 25 want marriage or nothing. (my pool of people aged 25-35 is very limited) I’m just curious to know if that holds up everywhere.
And you know I’m going to have to correct you on Clay, as, despite what people think, he only ever denied being gay once, in an interview done six or seven years ago before he even came out to his family. And I still think he took a big career risk coming out, he lost a lot of fans because of it. It will be interesting to see how his next CD sells.
Cam
No. 8 · Erv
CAM…….at it again, I see. Since you have never heard Aiken speak, it might be more prudent to wait until you hear what he has to say.
People who pre-judge someone are just the same as people who judge all LGBT before they know them.
I might take you seriously if you didn’t say such prejudiced comments.
__________________________-
Erv…nice try. You can always tell the rabid Clay Aiken fans when they come in here because they always try to accuse gays of being prejudiced, and then comparing everything that pooor “Insert name” has had to go through in THEIR life, with the struggle gays have had. My comment was about HRC’s drawing power and the fact that they are rushing to embrace somebody who never rushed to embrace us when it mattered. Why would I wait to hear what he says when my statement is based upon what this person has done in his career over the past.
Erv
Cam……..where in the world did I say anything about poor anybody. Since I have posted here before on many topics, I think your post is pretty “dumb”. Are you saying that anyone who doesn’t agree with you is a fan of Clay Aiken??
I don’t care whether you like Clay Aiken or not…..who cares. What I do care about is the closed-minded comments you make.
Open up your mind and realize that there are intelligent people who have opinions and they might not be the same as yours.
Stop pre-judging people and then I will not think you are prejudiced.
So, instead of listening to someone, you judge them by their music?? Real intelligent!!
kallie
HRC has already received lots of publicity for their event which I’m certain they wanted. Meredith Baxter is also appearing and speaking. Clay Aiken, by all accounts, is articulate, intelligent,and has opinions, and will probably address the gay rights issue in terms that many American understand. Why bash an advocate of gay rights when support is needed?
Larkan
The article is being re-published in dozens of publications online and in print. Its fascinating to watch how each editor parses and butchers the original to give it their own slant. The most interesting and important quotes are omitted or twisted beyond recognition.
Why rewrite it when the original article’s message was perfectly clear? Shame on you Queerty!
Cam
No. 12 · Erv
Cam……..where in the world did I say anything about poor anybody. Since I have posted here before on many topics, I think your post is pretty “dumb”. Are you saying that anyone who doesn’t agree with you is a fan of Clay Aiken??
__________________
At least be honest. You said “Cam at it again”, funny when the last post on here about Clay Aiken must have been, hell, months ago? The fact that you would remember that I had something in a post about him months ago shows that you are obviously one of the fans of this guy that trolls the internet waiting for mentions of him so you can come on and post. We’ve seen it with the Lambert Fans, and to a certain extent fans of other folks. You keep calling me prejudiced. What exactly did I pre-judge? Is it not accurate of me to say that Clay Aiken denied being gay? That he did not come out of the closet until his records and his career were not doing that well? That he did it in an article for which he received money? How dare you come on here and attack gay people for taking issue with a person who is out there representing our community at this event. I have every right to not be happy with somebody representing my community based on past behavior. There is no reason for you to offer such a spirited defense of him, and to name call, other than your being a fan, and I have to say, liking somebody’s singing in no way gives you any insight on what type of spokesperson they are for the community.
Cam
No. 14 · Larkan
The article is being re-published in dozens of publications online and in print. Its fascinating to watch how each editor parses and butchers the original to give it their own slant. The most interesting and important quotes are omitted or twisted beyond recognition.
Why rewrite it when the original article’s message was perfectly clear? Shame on you Queerty!
_________________
This right here proves my point….these odd Clay Aiken fans peruse the internet to try to comment on every article about him. Why else would Larkan know that not only the article has been put up in dozens of sites, but that it is altered each time. Thank you Larkan for proving the point I was making to Erv.
Erv
Cam…….you can believe whatever you want. I guess the same could be said for you. You actually remember articles about Clay Aiken. Does that mean that you pounce on him at eah possible time.
As a gay man, I find your attitude pretty poor. Because I don’t agree with you, you call me names.
I don’t care if it is Clay Aiken or Humpty Dumpty………it is unkind to assume that if the person didn’t come out the way you wanted them to, it is wrong or that what they have to say is important You are obviously obsessed with Clay and his fans. You are the only one talking about them so I say to you……get a life and stop interrupting the flow of a conversation about important topics.
Cam
Erv,
Give it a rest, you’ve got the whole victimolgy thing that all the fangirls come in here with down pat. What names were you called? Nothing, and you keep trying to change the topic of conversation. You are insulted that I do not appriciate somebody who stayed closeted and hid when he could have been helpful to the community. Now that his career tanked he is out there looking for things to do. Fine, but once again, don’t come in here pretending to be a gay man and trying to attack anybody just because I don’t feel that some singer you happen to be a fan of is somebody I feel is a good represenative for the community. Additionally, you ignored the post right above that made it obvious you folks scan the internet to go anyplace that posts articles on your hero Clay. The fact that a few years ago this post would have had hundreds of people posting within 10 min, and now after an entire day there are less than 20 shows that not only was he not helpful to the community when he was big, but that he no longer has enough fans to make a difference anyway.
Brian En Guarde
Sweet, sugary Clay. Hope! Sugar, spice and nice. Hey Clay. The gay grassroots community is not fourteen-year-olds. We are waiting for you to show some balls. Play with the big boys, not with Joe Solmonese and the Jan Bradys at HRC. We want results, and are not afraid of the Democratic Party.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHjCwtryVg
TO
With all do respect to the consistent posters on this board, this equal rights you are discussing is the most important issue here but I can’t believe people still care about Clay?!? I mean, really? He’s a totally negative, self hating, double talking, boring douche bag. He is not a role model of any kind for the gay and lesbian community and I don’t want young people looking up to him! I love that he says that “I don’t feel like this is the place to be horribly politically charged and bash people and talk about the wrongs that have been done,” but he would certainly stand on his member’s only website soap box and criticize other American Idol performers and there level of talent? I think it’s charming that he wants to be “hopeful” along with the rest of the HRC but what we all need is less hoping and more action. Hoping gets us no where but, more hoping. I’m not confident I want to put my faith in change in a bunch of rich and out of touch gay men. I’m a gay small business owner living in a big city, I need less Clay’s and HRC’s and more activists that actually understand the concept of equal rights. In the end, it’s a good thing because it motivates me to get more involved.
schlukitz
No. 1 · Fitz
There is no room in my life or heart for GLBT people who want to bend over to accept crumbs and get bummed without lube or a kiss!
Josh AZ
HRC and Joe Solmonese HAD to pick a submissive person. They did well.
Larkan
You are insulted that I do not appriciate somebody who stayed closeted and hid when he could have been helpful to the community.
@Cam:
He is being helpful now! Explain to me why you are giving Neil Patrick Harris a big ole pass if you’re so indignant about how we are being represented by someone who was previously closeted. Why does NPH get a pass and become a gay hero when he was dragged from the closet by the tabloids?
Aiken is out. You can stop kicking him now and try to accept that he is a young gay father actively campaigning for equality.
“Focusing on equal rights for all, Aiken said he will address issues that heterosexual couples take for granted, such as hospital visitation rights.
“It’s more important to me, as a parent, that my son have all the rights — if he’s gay — than it is for me,” said Aiken. “I don’t want to do anything today that’s going to inhibit, or be a detriment to, his rights.””
He is in it for the long haul not just for today but for his son and for future generations.
dontblamemeivotedforhillary
I noticed you changed the headline! Legal stuff brewing? Journalism 101: Always have two solid sources!
Cam
No. 23 · Larkan
You are insulted that I do not appriciate somebody who stayed closeted and hid when he could have been helpful to the community.
@Cam:
He is being helpful now! Explain to me why you are giving Neil Patrick Harris a big ole pass if you’re so indignant about how we are being represented by someone who was previously closeted. Why does NPH get a pass and become a gay hero when he was dragged from the closet by the tabloids?
Aiken is out. You can stop kicking him now and try to accept that he is a young gay father actively campaigning for equality. Focusing on equal rights for all, Aiken said he will address issues that heterosexual couples take for granted, such as hospital visitation rights.
“It’s more important to me, as a parent, that my son have all the rights — if he’s gay — than it is for me,” said Aiken. “I don’t want to do anything today that’s going to inhibit, or be a detriment to, his rights.””
_______________________
Once again, he is focusing on just what is important to him. It used to be staying in the closet, and now it is about not doing anything to upset people…that is HRC’s mantra, no wonder they picked him.
Sister
I just skimmed the comments and I’m wondering why no one is posting the original article (released to AP} stating that Aiken’s Bush remark is referring to the the speech that was written for Clay by a speech writer. This was the version that had the Bush bash. Clay refused the ghost-written speech and decided to write his own. queerty twisted and y’all believed.
Bunny
I could care less about Clay Aiken except that I have a nephew with very serious intellectual challenges and Clay’s foundation, National Inclusion Project, is all about including everybody whatever their abilities, orientation, race….. etc. He’s evidently having a concert in Raleigh March 12 which sold out in minutes – a lot of people would like that as proof that they have no career. I saw him on Broadway (by mistake) in Spamalot and he was excellent. Do I agree with everything he’s ever done or said? I don’t agree with everything anybody has ever done or said. How is bashing people on your own side ever going to help anybody? The only thing I remember about Clay Aiken is that there’s always somebody taking shots at him no matter where he is, even for Unicef. What did he do to deserve that?
Cam
I just love the people that come in here…like Bunny and say things like “I could care less about Clay Aiken but…and then they type out what is basically a press release for him. LOL! Nice try. Sheesh.
And as for “Sister, number #26. Why would that make any difference, nobody on here has really commented on whether or not Clay Aiken wanted to tell some George Bush joke. We’re just commenting on the fact that HRC is pulling in a person who denied being gay, whe then only came out for money as a headlining speaker.
Bunny
Press release? That’s funny. And I didn’t say “but.” All I know about him is that my sister admires him for all he’s done for her son. I guess you don’t have anybody with any intellectual or physical challenges in your family. Lucky you. There are people I can’t stand but I don’t go looking for places to say bad things about them. I don’t really admire taking pot shots at anybody, including you.
Cam
No. 29 · Bunny said…
Press release? That’s funny. And I didn’t say “but.” All I know about him is that my sister admires him for all he’s done for her son. _____________________________________
You also seemed to know that he had a concert in Raleigh that sold out in Minutes, that he was excellent in Spamalot, which you claim to have seen “By mistake”. Because that really happens…so many of us accidentally go into our wallets and accidentally spent hundreds of dollars on a Broadway show that we never intended to see, then “Accidentally” happen to show up on a website talking about one of the stars of the show, so you can talk about how little you know about the person…except for the details of his foundation, his councert tour, his time on Broadway etc…. Seriously, if you like him great, but the pretending is just getting ridiculous now.
Bunny
I know about his foundation, I read the People article. I always wanted to see Spamalot, hadn’t a clue who was in the cast. Didn’t check on the cast when I went to see Jersey Boys either. Do you have anything against any of them? I’m too busy to defend the fact that I follow people who stand up for themselves. Why don’t you go after some of the others? I am a fan of David Hyde Pierce – he was in Spamalot, too. I didn’t get to see him, sorry. I don’t have time to defend him right now. Neil Patrick Harris was on Broadway, not in Spamalot. Did see him on purpose. I suppose he’s evil too……….. I am now going to counsel a poor kid who has ignorant way-straight parents. More important than this silly interchange.
Cam
No. 31 · Bunny
Yeah Yeah Yeah, blah blah blah, typical victimology again. Setting up the person as a poor little victim, and claiming that people are calling him “Evil”. You fans really know how to try to create an attack out of nothing. The fact that you would take my comment saying I don’t think he is a good example of headliner for an HRC dinner and use it to claim that I think he is “Evil” shows what kind of weird thought police mode you are in. Anything that doesn’t say he is “Wonderful” is seen as an all out attack. You should go join Scientology, I hear their methods are quite similar.
jay
Everyone’s path is different; from what I have seen he hasn’t done anything to harm the gay community, nothing more that take his own path, and I doubt all of those here have always, always, always, let it be known they are gay, at each and every interview, etc., even when they just suspected they were gay. I don’t see the point in continuing to bash someone who is willing to stand up and at least discuss the issues, to stand in front of millions and say he is gay, is worthwhile to be considered equal, etc. It really is getting tiresome that it’s never enough, that all past things, no matter the reasons behind them, no matter what levels they were taken to, must always be paramount beyond what is being.done.now. I could see if the man mad law that infringed, I could see if the man was disparaging in his interviews, etc., from the past, about the gay community; from what I’ve seen, he has done none of that. Sorry, can’t hold him to an interview from early on when he was recently acknowledging to himself, had not to all family and friends, etc. Just won’t do it. We are not judge and jury of another’s journey, and unless their journey included depriving you, yourself, or the community at large of something tangible, did something that was actually harmful, I can’t see continuing to bash the man. I’m sure you’ll tell me I’m a fan, etc., etc., etc., in this case, yes, I am a fan…a fan of someone who is willing to allow yet again a voice to be heard that goes with a face that is recognizable, whether some like that or not. He is known as a advocate that doesn’t take the militant, per se, approach, but the less loud approach has been proven in other arenas to be effective as well. Sometimes loud is just tuned out while thoughtful facts presented are heard. You can agree or disagree, but at least the man is speaking up. Bitterness will get you no where, and yes, forceful (not violent) protest has it’s place, but so does diplomancy, and calm presentation.
Whatever; some will always prefer to hold to their prejudices. Good luck with that…it isn’t remotely helpful. And god knows, we could use all the help, from where ever, we can get.
I’ll be reading the transcript.
Cam
No. 33 · jay said…
Everyone’s path is different; from what I have seen he hasn’t done anything to harm the gay community, nothing more that take his own path, and I doubt all of those here have always, always, always, let it be known they are gay, at each and every interview, etc.,
_____________________
Every person that came out at work, to their friends etc… helped. When this person could have made a difference he didn’t. He had the chance and he didn’t. And now that he has nothing to do he is asking the gay community to fill up his appointment book. Sorry.
jay
I sincerely doubt the man has nothing to do but if it is comforting to you to think his hesitation had to do with only making a living and getting rich, and nothing to do with the same issues all gay individuals struggle with in their journey to self acknowledgement, both in their public and private lives, I guess that’s your prerogative. I find it shortsighted and frankly lacking in compassion. That kind of closed mindedness does harm to the community the same way outright bigotry does, as it leads some to never feel accepted, never feel that they were “soon enough” in their disclosure, and that pertains to both young and older gays trying to live their lives productively. Nice to know that a person who doesn’t do as others feel warrants the appropriate timetable or steps gets to wear a scarlet letter forever, never to be, for lack of a better term, “forgiven”. That’s really beyond sad and as divisive as anything else that’s being done. Hopefully you have never mis-stepped or hesitated in sharing something of an extreme personal nature and therefore are as pure as driven snow in your actions. Not to be confrontational, by any means, but we get to post anonymously or by chosen “nic” on a messageboard, on the internet…this man is putting his face, voice, and everything else on full view, for both derision and some support. I think he at least warrants the opportunity to try and achieve something of benefit that isn’t related only to himself and he shouldn’t have to apologize for the steps it took him personally to get there. He is there.
Again, no disrespect intended, but I fail to see why it’s abhorrent and necessary to dismiss someone willing to speak out in support of a just and tenuous cause.
Cam
Aaaaaaaaand Scene!
Wow, and yet another Clay Aiken fan comes in to claim the victim status that poor Clay has and compare him making millions while denying being gay to the struggles and bigotry that the gay guys who come out of the closet in Mormon households and get kicked out on the street, or people who are beat up for walking down the street go through. Please, spare me your “Victim on parade” B.S.
I have no trouble with him wanting to be part of the community now. What I find ridiculous is HRC promoting him as a headliner to this event, when he did and has done absolulty nothing for the community including denying being a part of us until he had no other career options. Even now he is saying that rights are a long way off and he’s much more worried about small issues rather than the major ones. Attitudes like his are part of the reason that our rights have been such a long time coming. If he isn’t in it for the real push then he needs to get to the back of the auditorium and let the people willing to work do some good. All he is doing is taking up space.
Erv
Cam…….why is it that anyone who stands up for Clay Aiken is a “Claymate?”
You do only one thing and one thing only…….ridicule people who don’t agree with you.
In my opinion you do more to hurt the cause of equal rights than almost anyone else.
Your “FS” affiliation is showing.
I will leave this thread because of you. One cannot have an intelligent conversation with an idiot!
Cam
No. 37 · Erv
Cam…….why is it that anyone who stands up for Clay Aiken is a “Claymate?”
You do only one thing and one thing only…….ridicule people who don’t agree with you.
In my opinion you do more to hurt the cause of equal rights than almost anyone else.
Your “FS” affiliation is showing.
__________________
What the hell are you talking about? Is this some odd conspiracy theory you have that anybody who isn’t a huge fan of his must be from some secret society bent on his destruction? I was kinda being tongue in cheeck before when I compared you to scientolgy but if you are serious, then you really need to take a step back and get some help. You claim that I do more to hurt the cause of equal rights? No, people like Aiken who hide in the closet when they have a chance to make a difference, furthering the stereotype of the little gentleman who is just too sweet to talk about his girlfriends in public, hurt equality, The fact that gay youth who watched him when he was famous and desperate for any clue that they weren’t alone were denied that because of his selfishness. Sorry Erv, but deal with reality.
jay
We’ll just have to agree to disagree, Cam. I feel ANYONE, willing to put their face out there in ANY capacity, to speak on ANY rights we have an absolute right to, to take a very, very, public stand, should be if not respected willingly, at least acknowledged as being visible and willing to be disparaged for that visibility. As to comparing his coming out to the Mormon youth on the street, I really can’t say except that it’s appalling and if the man had acknowledged to himself at that time as well, and to his family, I would imagine he would have suffered a like fate; I guess that would give him enough cred to speak about the undeniable fact that HE is discriminated against as much as that kid. He, as you well know, comes from an area that is not exactly tolerant, and from family that he notes in the above article isn’t entirely supportive. How far does it need to go for he and others you deem too slow in your version of support for it to be legitimate and worthwhile? I shudder to think it would take something of a more violent nature than just disownment by family. That’s just sad.
As to being a fan and coming in claiming a victim card for the man and therefore posting only in support of him…just no. I have posted here on occasion, on matters not related in the least to Aiken, and I read but do not post more often than not. I read your postings quite frequently as you are not the silent type.:-) Sometimes we are in agreement but honestly sometimes we are not. I don’t always feel the need to respond; when I do, I act accordingly. However, it is truthful that I have supported his speaking here in this instance because the speaking needs to be done and if they felt he would bring notice, then it served it’s purpose. Could someone stronger have been chosen? Perhaps. But they weren’t. I say let the man speak. You can dissect the results afterward.
Other than that, I respond if I have something to say, as do you. That should suffice. Fair enough?
Bunny
I’m off with Erv. Come on, Jay, you sound like you could join the smart people too. For the Clay haters out there, I just spent a couple of hours with a teenager who was greeted with violence when he came out to his parents. Totally out of the blue he said “Do you know anything about Clay Aiken? His book was the only thing that got me through 10th grade.” That was enough for me – I’m going to buy that book and I think I’m becoming a fan. That sentence would really surprise a few people, but there it is. Time for Cam to freak out….
Cam
Bunny, how dare you. You are truly pathetic. Seriously, you come in here and claim to not be a fan of Clay Aiken, but oh gee, you just happen to know all this information, and then you HAPPEN to have to leave to supposedly council a gay kid coming out who then OH MY coincidence of coincidences happens to mention Clay Aiken’s book to you. You are a sick sick individual to try to use the coming out trama of a young gay child to try to find support for some singer that you are a fan of. What a sad individual you are. Go play victim someplace else, the gay community isn’t going to sit here and cry over the rough life that Clay Aiken supposedly had, because you know why? We’ve all gone through it and we know when somebody is bullshitting about it. If you like the guy, here’s a though, go out and buy his Cd’s, don’t try to come onto a website and argue with people who have a valid political issue with choices that OUR community organizations are making, just to try to pump up the fandom of somebody you’re a fan of. You should be ashamed of yourself.
BradSa
Cam, I hate to say it but you’re an idiot. I’d have more respect for you if you were even handed with your criticism. Dozens of gay celebrities came out at varying times in their careers but Aiken is the only one who gets your negative attention. It is patently obvious that your comments have nothing to do with our cause and everything to do with your dislike of Aiken personally. Admit it and move on.
Cam
No. 42 · BradSa said…
Cam, I hate to say it but you’re an idiot. I’d have more respect for you if you were even handed with your criticism. Dozens of gay celebrities came out at varying times in their careers but Aiken is the only one who gets your negative attention. It is patently obvious that your comments have nothing to do with our cause and everything to do with your dislike of Aiken personally. Admit it and move on.
_____________________________
Nice try Brad, but if you were really a person who posted on here regularly you wouldn’t have bothered to try that line of attack. Just try looking up some of the posts on Anderson Cooper or Adam Lambert to see just how harsh I am on closeted celebs. That plus the fact that this thread is no longer on the main page yet you somehow happened to just come here to post makes it pretty obvious what your agenda is.
Brian NYC
I don’t know what he’ll say in his speech, but I know soon after Joe Solmonese picks him up at the airport he will say “No, I’m a Bottom, too.” They’ll giggle a bit and then go to dinner.
Erv
Cam….you are amazing. Everyone who posts here knows exactly what you will say and how you will criticize whoever doesn’t agree with you.
You have done your job well. You have insulted everyone who has posted here and you will do it again with this post.
Is it even possible that you might be wrong?? Not one person here agrees with you.
You have an agenda and are much more into Clay Aiken than anyone else here. You are the one who just can’t post without talking about him…….hmmmmm…maybe you have a little crush because that is the only thing that would have you so passionate about him.
I know you don’t care, but I’ve got to say that if I had a student who came to me to find someone to talk to about being gay, I would send them to Clay before I would let him get anywhere close to you. You are mean spirited and if the poor guy didn’t do what you think is right, you would debase him and drive him into depression.
You are a sad, sad man.
Mary
I have a young son who is gay and I want equal rights for him as I do for my other children. I’ll take any advocate speaking for equal rights for all my children regarless of sexuality.
Cam, I am a fan of Clay Aiken regardless of when and how he came out and I make no excuses for him. I do know that my son found it very hard coming out and has yet to tell us, his parents but has to his siblings. I say everyone in their own time..Judge his presence there once you have heard what he has to say as it could
help the cause. Will my son Kevin ever be excepted by everyone, probably never in my lifetime but I would like him to have the same rights as my other children.
P
THANK YOU! After all our hard work for a year in preparing for the Gala (since it is done purely on the sweat and dollars of local volunteers in the real world who don’t have time to blog), I was really worried that we were not going to get enough attention. But just in the last few days almost all the local news media has mentioned the Gala and News14 is doing a fantastic job of covering the event. But the icing on the cake is that anti-HRC bloggers (the same people) are blogging against the Gala in Raleigh. YES, we did our job- everyone knows and ticket sales are going through the roof! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
BradSa
@Cam:
Gee, Cam. I guess you never noticed the handy Recent Comments on the sidebar, since you’re so familiar with the site and all.
Cam
No. 45 · Erv
Cam….you are amazing. Everyone who posts here knows exactly what you will say and how you will criticize whoever doesn’t agree with you.
You have done your job well. You have insulted everyone who has posted here and you will do it again with this post.
Is it even possible that you might be wrong?? Not one person here agrees with you.
You have an agenda and are much more into Clay Aiken than anyone else here. You are the one who just can’t post without talking about him…….hmmmmm…maybe you have a little crush because that is the only thing that would have you so passionate about him.
___________
Oh Erv, and once again, the conspiracy theroies,etc… and funny, I thought you were going to sign off? Remember, back up on post number 37 when you said “I will leave this thread because of you. One cannot have an intelligent conversation with an idiot!” Funny, you didn’t leave now did you. As for everybody not agreeing with me, go up and read the posts before this thread went off the board. You fans of this guy can come on here and trumpet him all you want. but the sad fact is, that when theres an Anderson Cooper Thread, and Adam Lambert Threat, a Neil Patrick Harris threat, there are hundreds of postins from different people. If you don’t count a few fans and myself going back and forth this thread barely broke 20. Everything you say is to try to paint yourelf or the person you are a fan of as being under attack. It’s a sad way to live.
No. 46 · Mary
As for Mary, your post was reasonable and well thought out. But asking the gay community to judge somebody only on what they are doing now is to ignore the fact that when they could have helped they didn’t. I have no problem with Clay Aiken going to an event, I was mocking him being a headliner because the gay community as a whole has seen a lot of problems with people that were closet cases and recently out being in the medial spotlight, they still have some shame about their situation and often times do more harm than god. That was the issue. I think I have been fairly easy in my postings, if you want to read what a huge majority of the community thinks, read posts number 19, 20 and 21. When fans come on to this site and try to tell us about “Poor Clay” and how can we judge him. Well we are the ones who CAN judge him, we’ve been through the same thing. What you fans do when you come in here so pushy would be like a boy coming on to a site for girls and yelling at them and saying that they know nothing about their menstral cycles.
Alexa
@Cam Replies 19 and 21 may be representative of the gay community, but reply 20’s comment about Idol makes me really suspicious it’s a disgruntled Adam Lambert fan, who, like the Claymates who descended to attack you, can’t really be taken seriously.
And Claymates, how many times has Clay asked you not to defend him? You do more harm than good, just stop it.
Cam
Alexa, valid point, although his comment about HRC being out of touch from the main community does resonate with a lot of us. Thanks for the input!
BradSa
Actually the HRC does represent the main gay population. The few obnoxious loud mouths here represent a tiny minority. Posts 19-21 are only 3 out of 50 comments which effectively illustrates my point.
Erv
Just a quick follow-up.
Re:Dear Cam who has made it his job to call people names and degrade people because they don’t agree with him about Clay Aiken.
This is the man who says he is active here and we are all people who come in and are only here because of Clay Aiken. GUESS WHAT?? I have been reading many articles here this morning…many that I think are interesting, some not so interesting. Guess who has NOT commented on any of them.
CAM…you are a fraud!!
Klarth
Hm.
Well, I kind of had the same reaction, if less intense, as Cam did, upon reading this.
I’m fine with him being on our side now, but I do wish he had come out sooner. I supported him as a talented gay man, hoping that his existence would help people see you could just be good and not have to woo the straight tween girls to sell records. I knew he wasn’t out, but I was ok with it, because it is hard to do, especially when you’re in the spotlight. I assumed it was because he wasn’t allowed to during the course of American Idol. They basically own you until they move on to the next crop.
But I figured he’d come out on his own over time after creating his own solo work, and he’d be the gay Idol I (and I’m sure a lot of other young gays) hoped for.
he didn’t do that.
Does anyone remember that scandal where he was caught on ManHunt trolling for NSA sex after one of his concerts? It really was him.
That’s when this whole thing started.
I would have respected him a lot more if he had been up front about it instead of letting himself be caught out like that.
And then he only officially came out because of that (arrangement?) with his baby’s mother (a lesbian, IIRC).
He didn’t have a new CD, he was just doing his Vegas thing, with all the old ladies and his purse dog, not fooling anyone, and he still waited until the last possible moment to come out.
Sure, anyone’s hands can help build a bridge, and better late than never, but he could have taken one for the team on several occasions, and chose not to. Even after the MH pictures, he still didn’t fess up. It’s one thing to not out yourself, but at the point where everyone knows and you’re still hiding it, that’s lying.
So, I am personally disappointed in Clay, and that’s why I’m not particularly interested in what he has to say.
And for the record, I’m not soft on other closeted celebs, either.
I’m terribly fond of Neil Patrick Harris, have been since we both were kids, but I am still a little disappointed that he waited as long as he did, too.
Sure, he’s the American John Barrowman NOW, but JB grew up here in semi-rural Illinois after his family relocated here for work, and was always out, and still played sports and all this, while putting up with Midwestern bigotry. Him, I respect. I grew up in that part of the country, some years later, and it still sucked.
I’m not going to say that New Mexico is some utopia of tolerance, and NPH has been working since childhood, so he didn’t exactly have the freedom to be true to himself, but all that started with this recent surge of popularity now that he’s back in the mainstream again. Again, better late than never, and I’ll always be a fan, but it’s strained a little.
Same for David Hyde Pierce (another crush, along with Chad Allen, b/c apparently I like emo blonds, and my gaydar worked better as a kid than it has since XD).
I just feel that these people have a platform to help us all, and while I understand not using it too soon, while it could hurt your career, you would think they’d do it as soon as possible once they’re entrenched.
Yeah, it’s selfish of me, because I’m sitting back here and waiting to reap the benefits, but you know, i do my part too, on an individual level, working on my family and friends and co-workers and acquaintances. And I feel strongly that if I became famous, i would be out in the first place, and make people respect me for my talent, so I wouldn’t have to lie about it for years and be blackmailed and Perez-ed and so on. And maybe if more people had been doing this, at least in the last decade or so, our fellow Americans might be a little more tolerant of us.
We’re making progress, so imagine how much further we’d be if everyone was pulling their weight, and had been for a little longer. Gay marriage might be a reality by now.
I do appreciate though, what Clay said about making a better world for his kid. I guess he’s finally trying to create the change he wants to see in the world, so his child won’t have to grow up in the world he did that made him hide who he was for so long.
BradSa
@Klarth, you’re really full of it aren’t you. He was never caught on Manhunt, as a matter of fact his stalker admitted that the account was a spoof to embarrass Clay. Another thing you got wrong, his good friend who is the mother of his child is not a lesbian or a surrogate. He never did the Vegas thing and Border Terriers are way too big to be purse dogs. I don’t know who you think you are but your intentions are crystal clear and your method is ugly.
Erv
Klarth……..you just wrote so many lies in one post that it is funny. How sad that you have to say all that crap!!
It is obvious that you have an agenda and that is all. Klarth……I think you are Cam……..you are answering all the questions posted to him.
It is a shame that someone like Clay Aiken has been stalked for over 6 years by a deranged man who lied about Clay and then, when he thought he would have to testify in court, changed his story. It is even worse that you would try to make people believe it is true.
Hmmmmm….Klarth = Cam = JP