Time for the Queerty Week in Comments, with the most compelling, thought-provoking or just downright bitchy comments that came directly from you, the readers!
“I have a better idea: Lets put an electric fence around North Carolina and shove all the religious nutjobs inside. They can breed themselves out of existence. The stupid runs deep in the Bible Belt.”
Ron Jackson wants to fight fire with fire, in MD Pastor One-Ups Worley By Saying His “Flesh Agrees” With Killing Gays
“[Luka] Magnotta is part of the grubby and vile porn industry. Many porn performers—I refuse to call them stars—are unbalanced individuals with drug problems.”
jason has some unkind words to say about the adult-film industry, in Canadian Gay Porn Star Wanted For Murder – And This One Is A Doozy
“You can’t fault one church for the actions of another. There are some hateful people out there and with all the hate and killing talk being made by some of the stupid preachers, we need all the support we can get.
That, along with buying a gun and keeping it near.”
Macmantoo reacts to Our Hearts Are With You’s “apology” in PHOTO: Church Launches Billboard Apologizing For NC’s Amendment One
“Lambert’s fanbase is mainly obsessive straight girls–witness them descend here in their hordes should anyone say anything negative about him (usually telling “us” with a degree of condescension they’re clearly oblivious to that we should be embracing gay stars whether their music is shit or not). It’s funny how he never mentioned that obsessive and irrational element of his fanbase when he was criticizing gay men for not supporting him.
This statement is just like the “Oh, I’m not a gay singer–I’m just a singer (or whatever) who happens to be gay” rubbish. … What a bland empty platitude. Still, good for him. I hope his success continues. He seems a bit better than most of the crap out there…”
Lefty seems to think Glambert is “trespassing,” in Adam Lambert: “Music Doesn’t Have An Orientation”
“Since [Tyler Clementi] was in the closet to most people, including his parents, his parents are way more responsible for the circumstances surrounding his death than Ravi was. People don’t commit suicide because of one incident. His perception of what people’s reaction to him having gay sex would have been says a lot about the home he was raised in.”
TJ thinks there’s plenty of blame to go around, in BREAKING: Clementi Family Rejects “Apology” As Ravi Marches To Jail
LiamB
“It’s funny how he never mentioned that obsessive and irrational element of his fanbase when he was criticizing gay men for not supporting him.”
What? LoL Lambert has often stated in interviews that there are obsessive and fanatical women in his fan base, and has even had to publicly call them out for their behavior towards others. And his statements about gays supporting him were about gay male singers in general, that the gay community tends towards supporting straight female singers more often. nothing more, nothing less.
As for the “singer who is gay” comments, those were made in conjunction with saying that is how he wishes it was like in the world because orientation shouldn’t be that big of a deal, however the reality is that to many it is a big deal. Which is a shame. Context does actually matter. Seriously, did you actually read any interview he has given, or do you just skim highlight?
I get that sensationalism is the key to getting hits on low traffic sites, but this just shows poor journalistic integrity on your own part.
Lefty
@LiamB: “What? LoL Lambert has often stated in interviews that there are obsessive and fanatical women in his fan base, and has even had to publicly call them out for their behavior towards others.”
Oh, has he? I’m glad to hear it – can you link me to a few instances, I’d love to read them, thanks.
Lefty
@LiamB: “And his statements about gays supporting him were about gay male singers in general, that the gay community tends towards supporting straight female singers more often. nothing more, nothing less.”
Ignoring the slightly insulting generalisation… I hate to break this to you and Adam but people tend to listen to music because they like the music/lyrics, nothing more. If gay men tend towards listening to female singers, maybe its because female singers generally sing about things which appeal to those gay men. If a majority of gay men don’t listen to male singers, maybe it’s because they don’t like the music they tend to make or the lyrics they tend to write.
Criticising gay men for mainly listening to female singers (if accepted as true) is missing the point completely.
The distancing or rather separation some gay men make between the fact they “just happen to be gay” and what they do is almost always an attempt to de-sexualise themselves, in a way – to appeal to straight people who (it’s assumed) aren’t interested in gay people if their sexuality is in any way prominent.
So, we get these attempts to generalise everything into one homogenous mass – “it’s just about LOVE, not about being gay at all” – whereas I see plenty (if not all) straight singers writing songs specifically about the opposite gender – their sexuality is entirely prominent.
I prefer to hear gay singers singing honest songs with real lyrics about being gay, not more mundane generic non-specific love songs which could be directed to a man, a woman or a sack of potatoes.
I know singing those kinds of songs is the path to major success (and more so for a gay singer, obviously) and so I understand why he writes songs like that and makes statements about music having no orientation, but I think one result of that dilution of oneself in pursuit of success is that people who want to hear some truth in the lyrics and some specificity which they can identify with will begin to look elsewhere.
I mean, does Adam mention gender even once in any of the songs on Trespassing??
MoJo
Adam Lambert’s music is Certainly no better or worse than the music currently clogging the annals of the top 40. More power to Anyone who can make a living amongst the shit-pile!
Flop
Adam’s first two singles from his new album have flopped (the first one only reached #76 and the second one didn’t even chart) and the album flopped as well. Yes, it debuted at number one, but sold only a pitiful 78,000 copies. The second week, it fell out of the top ten and sold only a pitiful 23,500 copies. This is not a success. I’m not trying to put him down at all, but these are the facts. I wouldn’t be surprised if got dropped from his label.
MKisNE
Adam has a point gay people do tend to support women over men. I’ve seen it in kareoki bars time and time again, the gay male singer loses to the pretty female even when he’s twice as good.
PRINCE OF SNARKNESS aka DIVKID
@MoJo: “Adam Lambert’s music is Certainly no better or worse than the music currently clogging the annals of the top 40”
i’d rather listen to a 40-something top clog *his* annals — musicologically speaking, it would have more merit.
rodca
@Flop I believe there are several facts you haven’t considered:
1) Adam sells more records outside the U.S. His U.S. sales of his last CD were roughly 840,000, Internationally he sold an additonal 1.2 million.
2)He ranked #5 in worldwide sales for Trespassing
3)His current single was just released to radio in the U.S. this past week. Time will tell how well it will do. I think its fair to say that its a bit premature to call it a flop.
4) His single is in the top ten in several countries and his album was number one as well.
5) He is currently promoting his CD overseas starting in the UK. Release date is July.
6) He will be perfoming 6 concerts with Queen in the UK and Eastern Europe which will likely give him some buzz in Europe and translate into increased sales of his album.
7) His album has, with a couple of exceptions, received excellent reviews.
8) I believe Adam has a great deal of support in the gay (particularly the younger) community. I believe that the bitchy, snarky comments on gay blogs represent a vocal minority but are not representative of the gay community in general.
So, don’t write him off too soon! I predict his record sales/audience will be predominately overseas, similar to the Sissor Sisters. Primarily because of pressures from the religous right (asking radio stations to sign a pledge not to play his music, for example) and institutional homophobia within the radio industry.
ADAMFAN
@rodca I agree with all your facts. The younger guys seem to really like Adam. I think the new album was written for the gay community. Those bitching – have you even listened to it?
ScaryRussianHeather
What we have here is a anon called “Lefty” who knows absolutely nothing about his target, Adam Lambert. Obviously has never read a single thread here since 2009 and just MAYBE is the only person on the face of the earth who missed the AMA performance in 2009. Stop wasting everybody’s time with your ridiculous goal of insulting fans, too. btw.
“I mean, does Adam mention gender even once in any of the songs on Trespassing??”
And Trespassing has an entire SONG about marriage equality, dope.
Uh, you missed Fever on the 2009 album “There he goes my baby walks real slow, sexual tic tac toe…”
PFFFT.
ScaryRussianHeather
The radio adds date for NCOE was May 29,2012. NCOE is nowhere near a flop.
It is on HAC with a positive bullet at #37 today, and it’s a slow growing chart, It took WWFM 4 months to reach #10.It also has a positive bullet on CHR and about to break into Top 40.
Bruno Mars debuted on Billboard 200 at #3 with 55K copies when he was an INDUSTRY INSIDER,
.
Billboard 200 second week drop is commonly 50 – 70% drop for TONS of artists. It was STILL #12 the second week. When he was #1 he knocked out Carrie Underwood from 1st place and HER sales dropped 55%. And she’s a beast in sales.
Lefty
@ScaryRussianHeather: I’m not insulting all his fans – I’m not trying to insult any of his fans, in fact – I’m taking issue with the obsessive straight female ones who feel they have a right to come on gay sites and tell gay men what we should be doing.
Your (and their) condescension speaks of a mindset that clearly couldn’t care less about real gay people and their autonomy – otherwise you wouldn’t feel you have the right to dictate to us what we should or shouldn’t be doing. In case you missed the point, we (and Adam is one of us) have finally won the right not to be dictated to by ignorant straight people.
If you don’t understand that, then either Adam isn’t getting that message across to his fans or – and sad to say this is more likely – you’re just completely misunderstanding and are possibly a bit blinkered by what you mistake to be support of Adam Lambert.
I didn’t miss the AMA performance or the “controversy” surrounding it – it’s clear he started out with a much more honest/sexual gay-specific approach and now he’s aiming at this more generic, basically sexless (or genderless) direction – which is unsurprisingly proving more successful. Good for him, but as I say, I’m not surprised if that dilution of his lyrics/image is making some of his gay fanbase start to look elsewhere.
Which song on Trespassing is about marriage equality???
The lyrics are so vague that most of them could be about anything, which I think is the point he’s making…
Lefty
@ADAMFAN: Adam’s the same age as me – I hope he does appeal to younger gay fans.
And I hope more openly gay singers follow in his path and have similar success.
I just look forward to the day when gay singers don’t have to de-sexualise themselves to get that level of success – a day when what happened at the AMA performance would be a matter of indifference rather than faux outrage.
I have the album and I like a few of the songs (Cuckoo and Underneath, mainly) but for me it’s just a bit generic and over-produced (which is a crime as his voice is so often praised, why overwhelm the voice so much in the mix???) and none of the songs really “speak to me” in any way, unfortunately.
I’d rather listen to this than Born This Way though, any day…
queenrosered
@Lefty: Yes Lefty CLEARLY non of us “straight” fans knows any REAL gay people….LOL!
I’m typing this as fast as I can because my husband and I (huge Lambert fans!) are going to dinner with a gay couple who have been together for thirty-five years. They’ve been my close friends for over 15 yrs and my hubby’s for 10 (since we married)
So who is the “condescending” one?
You are correct in the sense that not EVERY gay man is going to like Lambert’s music anymore than EVERY gay man loves musicals, LOL! That’s just silly.
But here’s the thing…..By practically disavowing him and acting as if one is “above” his music and talking as if every record store should have a separate “genre” section ie: pop, rock, jazz, gay, alt., etc..the COMMUNITY sends the message that Adam is not “the right kind of gay”…
Was Freddie Mercury the “right kind” when he waited until the DAY before he died to finally publicly (through a spokesperson) admit he was dying of AIDS? Make no mistake, that was totally HIS choice to make.I just believe it was doing an injustice to the LBGT community at a time when they needed the high-profile support from the world.His death really effected people (like myself) who loved the music of Queen.
So like Adam’s music or don’t. Buy it or don’t. But please stop knocking him and stop assuming that ALL his straight fans are from another planet and don’t know any LGBT people, OK? Thanks.
Lefty
@queenrosered: “Was Freddie Mercury the “right kind” when he waited until the DAY before he died to finally publicly (through a spokesperson) admit he was dying of AIDS? Make no mistake, that was totally HIS choice to make.I just believe it was doing an injustice to the LBGT community at a time when they needed the high-profile support from the world.”
Are you fucking kidding me!!???
Do you even realise how offensive that is?
So you’ve got a couple of gay friends, what do you want a fucking badge?
I’m sure they must be very grateful to you for being their friends, eh? Lucky them…
Are these idiots in some sort of competition to be more patronising than the last??
Lefty
@queenrosered: “But here’s the thing…..By practically disavowing him and acting as if one is “above” his music and talking as if every record store should have a separate “genre” section ie: pop, rock, jazz, gay, alt., etc..the COMMUNITY sends the message that Adam is not “the right kind of gay””
I said I’d prefer it if his lyrics were more openly gay – nowhere did I suggest there should be a gay section at record stores.
I think it’s quite telling that you’re the one who introduced that.
If his lyrics were more gay specific (my suggestion) why would that mean it would have to be put in a separate section of the record store (your suggestion)?
“So like Adam’s music or don’t. Buy it or don’t. But please stop knocking him and stop assuming that ALL his straight fans are from another planet and don’t know any LGBT people, OK? Thanks.”
Thanks for yet again telling us what we can and can’t do.
I’ll reciprocate: Like Adam’s music or don’t. Buy it or don’t. But please stop telling gay men what they should or shouldn’t do. I’m not knocking Adam Lambert, I’m knocking his patronising obsessive straight fans… but I’ll knock whoever I like, thank you very much.
And please don’t assume that because you know a couple of gay men that gives you the right to criticise Freddie Mercury for the way he dealt with the fact he was dying of AIDS.
Carl
@Lefty: Congratulations on making gay men look like complete pricks, Lefty. Bravo indeed.
Queenrosered is right in one thing – like him or loathe him, whatever, the choice is yours. But stop acting like you speak for all or even a minority of gay and bisexual men. You don’t. You speak for Lefty and that is it. She is asking (not telling – there’s a vast differenc between the two) that you stop stereotyping Lamberts heterosexual fans – just as we have been asking people to stop stereotyping our community. It swings both ways.
I see the point she was trying to make with her Freddie quote, however it was very poorly worded. Bevablittle more careful with your wordin next time.
rrr
@Lefty I think you are ignoring all the obsessive gay fans, past and present, of female performers. We’ve been known to be equally passionate as a fan base and plenty patronizing to others at times. Are female performers supposed to diss their own ardent gay fans before they are allowed to complain about other women who don’t like them?
If you don’t think you should have to feel obligated to support gay performers then it would be best to just make that argument instead of freaking out over the fact the suggestion has been made that we should provide support and some of the people making the suggestion are female. Likewise when progressive women are told they should support the career of someone like Palin out of gender solidarity the best response is to say why they decline to do so not to freak out that some of the people who are suggesting it are men. Not to imply that Lambert is awful like Palin.
I don’t think we should have to support out gay artists, but I think we need to bear that kind of lack of support in mind when we later think about complaining about the scarcity of out gay celebrities and getting worked up about what all gay celebrities should be doing to make us happy and boost us up.
queenrosered
@Carl: Thank YOU Carl, for your very well-worded response to Lefty.I believe I DID say that I was typing in a “hurry” as we had a dinner engagement.Lefty chose to ignore that. And I didn’t mention our gay friends just to prove that we KNOW some. I have a MUCH longer list of gay and lesbian friends but didn’t feel the need to list them for the purposes of this discussion.
I was merely pointing out the fact that not ALL of Lambert’s straight supporters/fans are unaware of HIS (and all LGBT people’s) personal tribulations or were not aware of the ongoing struggle for equality for ALL.
Since I WAS in such a hurry (and dinner was excellent, btw!) I used Freddie as ONE example of how a beloved, highly visible gay person MAY have made a bigger, BETTER impact at a time when the stigma of HIV/AIDS was at a peak and the diagnosis of AIDS was a death sentence.
I believe that I clarified MY position by clearly stating that it was HIS (Freddie’s) choice to make, whether I (or anyone else) agreed with it.I stand by that.
I KNOW that YOU understood me.You’re obviously of a different personality and reading comprehension level than Mr. Lefty.
Just as you so eloquently point out that Lefty does not speak for “all or even a minority of gay and bisexual men” neither do I speak for ALL heterosexual men or women. What I CAN tell you is that Mr. Lambert is having an impact on peoples from all walks of life and IS changing hearts and minds. I’ve personally met a few who admit that before becoming a fan of his, they knew little or nothing about gay people or gay culture/history (other than negative, church-indoctrinated stereotypes) and a few have even broken with their churches due to having their eyes (and hearts) opened.
He has “put a face” on GAY for many.Along with that face, he has very intelligently and honestly articulated the struggle with equal rights and continues to do so.
If he did no more than that…it would be quite an accomplishment.Yet in the midst of educating us…he also manages to joyfully engage and entertain us.Surely that cannot be a bad thing?
While I appreciate the efforts of female pop stars with large gay fan bases…am I to assume that these largely hetero females with their hetero husbands or boyfriends know MORE intimately the very real struggle for acceptance and equality than a real gay, out MALE pop star? (How many other CURRENT, SOLO, OUT male pop stars are there?)
Yet I watched Lady Gaga receive a GLAAD award the same year that Adam was up for one.PUUUULEEZE!I get it…”don’t bite the hand that feeds you” yada, yada. But for God’s sake…enough already.Give the award to one who REALLY knows the struggle.
Anyway Carl, thanks again for getting it. Truly. No matter how many bitterberts I run into, I know my husband and myself will continue to support the LGBT community with our votes. Every single time.
Real quick about the friends we ate with tonight….Gary and Abel have been together 35 years…Abel is 8 years younger than Gary who is very ill.Gary made much more money over the years than Abel. If they were allowed to be legally married and have it recognized at the Federal level, then Abel, when he retires, would draw the HIGHER of the SS checks if Gary passes first (which is likely)
My husband and I have that option, guaranteed by Federal Law.Why are THEY excluded?
What do we want? EQUALITY! When do we want it? NOW!
Thanks again my friend. ~Rose~
PS: I’d also like to acknowledge the great post from “rrr” above. The Palin reference is a good one insofar as a woman supporting another woman for office just because they have the same plumbing, lol.I wouldn’t have Palin as dog-catcher.
You also got my point about gay males bitching about Lambert. If one doesn’t care for his music, fine. Music tastes cannot be dictated. But as you say, if the community does noting to support someone as openly OUT, famous, visible and honest as Lambert….then they have no right to bitch about the lack of such stars in the mainstream.I should think that gay men would be happy to have an openly gay male as well-received by the hetero community as Lambert. No role-playing, no pretending.He’s out and proud. And his fans are PROUD too! 😀
Pygar
Why the f*** are all these comments about f***ing Adam Lambert??
You know me
@Pygar:
“Why the f*** are all these comments about f**king Adam Lambert??”
Because he’s the motherf*cking bomb!
Lefty
@Carl: “I see the point she was trying to make with her Freddie quote, however it was very poorly worded.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but her “point” seems to have been that Freddie Mercury didn’t die with AIDS in a way which she – as someone who clearly thinks she’s a spokeswoman for the good of the gay community now she has two gay friends and an Adam Lambert CD – thinks was as beneficial to the gay community as it could have been.
If you can’t see how offensive that is then I’m not sure how it can be explained any simpler. Sorry.
And I never claimed to speak for the gay community – minority or otherwise – the generalisations are coming from the other posters (and you, by saying my posts are making all gay men look like pricks; you’re doing exactly what you wrongly accuse me of: conflating my views with those of all gay men – I mean, can you understand that, Carl? Take your time now…)
Lefty
@queenrosered: “Since I WAS in such a hurry (and dinner was excellent, btw!) I used Freddie as ONE example of how a beloved, highly visible gay person MAY have made a bigger, BETTER impact at a time when the stigma of HIV/AIDS was at a peak and the diagnosis of AIDS was a death sentence.”
I think his mind may have been more focused on the fact he was dying of a terrifying disease than on what the best way to die might be.
Just a thought…
Lefty
@rrr: Good points. I don’t disagree. 🙂
Daez
@Lefty: Some of my best friends are …
Very simple formula.
queenrosered
@Lefty: Oh but Carl was correct in that, by assuming to speak for ALL gay males, you DO seem a right prick.
We recently had a woman killed in our town when she stopped her vehicle and got out to assist an injured dog in the road. Another car going too fast ran her over.
Her own fault I suppose, since SHE wasn’t a dog. Why should SHE have stopped? See where I’m going with this?………
You, my dear Lefty, are insufferable and willing to strike out at anyone.
If you didn’t understand my point re: Freddie’s death and the service his coming out with it COULD have done for gay men BACK THEN (as many people very CLOSE to him have also stated!) then you never will.But as I made clear TWICE (now THRICE!) that was HIS decision to make.
And please don’t lecture ME on death and dying.I’ve had more than enough of it around me, both personally and as a nurse since 1973.
As for Daez….If you don’t think the LGBT community wants or needs the help and understanding as well as the solidarity of the hetero one, then by all means, try going it alone.Look at the stats. You wouldn’t get far without us.I was wondering how long it’d take before some pompous ass used the old “my best friends are” line. What took you so long? When it comes to that, I suppose I’m much like Lady Gaga.Just not as wealthy or visible.smh……
Lefty
@queenrosered: Your comment to Daez shows your true colors, I’m afraid.
We don’t “need” the “help” of anyone – the rights we fight for are ours and we deserve them as much as you or anyone else. So don’t treat us like some trophy cause you can parade around to show how compassionate you are.
People will vote for and support gay causes because they think equality is right, not because they’re condescending to “help” us in our “need”.
I’d rather keep my dignity and “go it alone” than trade it in for such patronising “understanding”.
Lefty
@queenrosered: “We recently had a woman killed in our town when she stopped her vehicle and got out to assist an injured dog in the road. Another car going too fast ran her over.
Her own fault I suppose, since SHE wasn’t a dog. Why should SHE have stopped? See where I’m going with this?………”
I can’t say that I do, I’m afraid. Are you the tragic martyr and we’re the dog?
queenrosered
@Lefty: My compassion is REAL. Without the same compassion and partnership from many white people during the civil rights marches of the 1960’s…important changes would not have been made (blacks were a MINORITY…) And make no mistake,those changes were critical. Ditto for women’s rights.
I’m not a religious person. But I am spiritual, believe in karma and believe that we, as HUMANS, have the same rights as the next man/woman.That’s not even a matter of “compassion” in my book. It’s just plain common sense.Do what is right.
Just because something (equality in this case) is morally right doesn’t mean it gets done without a struggle.If I sounded “patronizing” then I am sorry. That was not my intent.
Are you familiar with PFLAG? It’s a program for helping realize the goal. “Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays” They do great work.
Just because I, personally, am not gay, doesn’t mean I can’t/don’t/shouldn’t have empathy for the injustices that I see every day.
So I am done with you on this topic Lefty.You say you’d rather “go it alone” and “keep your dignity” but I don’t see how you can keep what you never possessed in the first place. You’ve made a point of harassing me and blatantly attacking and misstating my position from the start of this discussion.
Because one is gay, that doesn’t make them a bad person.At all. It also doesn’t necessarily make them a decent one. So I bid you a good day and good luck.
queenrosered
@Lefty: This is my last response to you Lefty. I’m not saying “we’re” the dog (there YOU go again, speaking for the entire gay community!) I am saying that YOU are the dog.Biting the helping hand.If I hated you because you were gay, I’d be just as bad as you hating me because I’m hetero (or more likely, because I’m female!) Spare me Lefty. You are just NOT a nice PERSON, period.
christopher di crapito
LUKA MAGNOTTA ARRESTED IN BERLIN
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18325047
Lefty
@queenrosered: I don’t hate you, at all. I’m compassionate towards you.
And I don’t have to be a nice person – I’m a person, period – and as such I have dignity.
No one gives me that dignity because it isn’t anyone’s to give.
Like everyone else, I’m capable of being “nice” and I’m capable of being a total c*nt, but it’s my firm belief that “we” (if you’ll forgive me referring to the gay community as a whole) don’t have to be “nice” or “acceptable” to gain the rights which should be ours anyway, because support for gay rights shouldn’t depend on compassion but rather it should depend on reason.
I’m not a wounded dog that requires help – in a society which harbours homophobia (or racism or misogyny) it’s the society which requires help, because they’re the ones in the wrong.
I commend anyone who comes to the reasoned conclusion that homophobia is wrong, but I don’t believe they deserve (nor should they seek) my gratitude anymore than I believe a black person should be grateful to anyone who isn’t racist.
Gratitude should be sought when a wrong is forgiven – society shouldn’t seek my gratitude; I should be seeking their gratitude for having forgiven them their past irrationality and bigotry.
To me, these are key differences, and recognition of every gay person’s individual dignity is of paramount importance in the fight for gay rights (which is why I took issue with people telling “us” what “we” should be doing).
Finally, I’m sorry that you feel I’ve been harassing you. If you’ll read up the page you’ll see that it was you who responded first to something I said and then I just replied to your comment(s).
Adam Lambert is a good singer and seems like a nice person and a good role model for gay kids, but he’s one in a long line of out gay artists who have had success to a greater or lesser degree.
I’ve been listening to Bronski Beat’s debut album, The Age of Consent a lot recently and my criticism of Adam Lambert’s genderless lyrics (on his latest album) was merely frustration that it seemed like a step backwards after having listened to an album by an openly gay artist/group with gay specific lyrics that was a huge success… and was released 28 years ago (Adam isn’t the only one guilty of this, it seems most out gay artists write non-specific lyrics, for obvious reasons).
As I’ve said many times, I hope he has even greater success and I’m glad he has a devoted fanbase…
Lefty
@christopher di crapito: Good news at last.
Lefty
@ QRR: (I already posted this three times but it seems anything I post in reply to you is now automatically flagged – it’s funny how someone who claims to support gay rights tries to silence the voice of one just because she disagrees with him – I’ll try one last time)
“If I hated you because you were gay, I’d be just as bad as you hating me because I’m hetero (or more likely, because I’m female!)”
I don’t hate you, at all. I’m compassionate towards you.
And I don’t have to be a nice person – I’m a person, period – and as such I have dignity.
No one gives me that dignity because it isn’t anyone’s to give.
Like everyone else, I’m capable of being “nice” and I’m capable of being a total pr*ck, but it’s my firm belief that “we” (if you’ll forgive me referring to the gay community as a whole) don’t have to be “nice” or “acceptable” to gain the rights which should be ours anyway, because support for gay rights shouldn’t depend on compassion but rather it should depend on reason.
I’m not a wounded dog that requires help – in a society which harbours homophobia (or racism or misogyny) it’s the society which requires help, because they’re the ones in the wrong.
I commend anyone who comes to the reasoned conclusion that homophobia is wrong, but I don’t believe they deserve (nor should they seek) my gratitude anymore than I believe a black person should be grateful to anyone who isn’t racist.
Gratitude should be sought when a wrong is forgiven – society shouldn’t seek my gratitude; I should be seeking their gratitude for having forgiven them their past irrationality and bigotry.
To me, these are key differences, and recognition of every gay person’s individual dignity is of paramount importance in the fight for gay rights (which is why I took issue with people telling “us” what “we” should be doing).
Finally, I’m sorry that you feel I’ve been harassing you. If you’ll read up the page you’ll see that it was you who responded first to something I said and then I just replied to your comment(s).
Adam Lambert is a good singer and seems like a nice person and a good role model for gay kids, but he’s one in a long line of out gay artists who have had success to a greater or lesser degree.
I’ve been listening to Bronski Beat’s debut album, The Age of Consent a lot recently and my criticism of Adam Lambert’s genderless lyrics (on his latest album) was merely frustration that it seemed like a step backwards after having listened to an album by an openly gay artist/group with gay specific lyrics that was a huge success… and was released 28 years ago (Adam isn’t the only one guilty of this, it seems most out gay artists write non-specific lyrics, for obvious reasons).
As I’ve said many times, I hope he has even greater success and I’m glad he has a devoted fanbase…
Clockwork
@christopher di crapito:
Canada lacks a death penalty, which he deserves.
Hopefully he didn’t kill anyone else during his week on the run.
BYork
Definitely good news that Magnotta was arrested. Despite how horrific his alleged crime was, I am proud that Canada is beyond needing capital punishment/death penalty to punish any crime.
As for Adam Lambert representing the LGBT community, I’m with Lefty. If you want representation that has meaningful lyrics, I suggest you check out Bronski Beat and Indigo Girls. They were out and committed to telling their stories in their lyrics. They also had stellar tunes to capture our attention.
Adam Lambert claims that sexual orientation shouldn’t matter in one breath and then tries to ride the PR attention over the fact that he is openly gay. He seems a bit flakey to me and his music is just not that good.
Red
We know many gay men love to eat their own. This is one of the most baffling paradoxes of the gay community. I don’t care that you don’t like Adam lambert’s music. What I don’t get is why some gay men feel the need to constantly nitpick and undermine every little thing he does. There is an evident lack of openly gay artists on top40 radio and there are hardly any openly gay male solo artists on major labels in the first place. That’s because if you’re an openly gay man you’re not even gonna get a major label record deal, at least not in the US. The fact is much of this country is still homophobic. So why don’t you drop the negative attitude and just acknowledge young gay man’s accomplishmens. You can’t dismiss the fact that Adam is the first openly gay artist to reach #1 on the US albums chart. ‘The Human Rights Campaign’ declare that he made HISTORY. When’s the last time any of you bitter gays accomplished anything like that?
RedRoseQueen1
@BYork: And once more, the whole POINT is missed, either intentionally or out of ignorance.
Adam Lambert wants to live to see the day when an artist is NOT defined PRIMARILY by their sexual orientation, but by their craft and personal character.By insisting that his lyrics be somehow MORE GAY, you paint him into a corner in which he can only achieve modest, cultist success at best.In other words..”he’s not the RIGHT KIND OF GAY”
Red (above) is absolutely correct.You eat your own.
Lambert’s lyrics on many of his songs ARE meaningful to gays. Especially the younger ones today.He himself has MANY times, explained HIS interpretation of the lyrics to songs such as “Outlaws of Love”, “Trespassing”, “Shady”, “Underneath”, “Master Plan” (maybe you should give that a listen on YouTube) etc….
If he makes the songs ALWAYS gender specific, as he did in “Fever”, then he will NOT get mainstream radio play and therefore will be FORCED into the GAY CORNER (aka sub-culture) which is like preaching to the choir! No converts needed there!
As an aside, Lambert, even though he was Idol “runner-up” was signed to an International record deal while hetero “winner” Kris Allen was signed only domestically. Sony/RCA KNEW that Lambert was much more likely to be accepted in FOREIGN counties than his own.And he is.Sad truth.
Bronski Beat had fair success and it was all in the UK and Oz. None in the USA (or at least not in the mainstream) Indigo Girls were a little more successful but there is that double standard for men vs women again. Hetero translation: “Lesbians are HOT! But gay men? EEwwwww!” Lesbians are much more “acceptable” still to much of America, more so than gay males. Is that fair? No. But it IS fact.So is the fact that Adam is the first openly gay artist to reach #1 on the US albums chart.All the bitterness and backbiting in the world can’t change that.
His voice is incredible, even to opera experts who have dissected and discussed it at length and are HUGELY impressed.Lambert is VERY aware of the lack of support from the gay community as a whole. Yet he soldiers on.The more you turn your nose up at him, the more determined he is to really make it big. So, good job and thanks I guess. Ha!
Lefty
@BYork: Bronski Beat are a fantastic example. Openly gay with very gay-specific lyrics, which were true and therefore spoke both to a gay audience and a mainstream one at the same time. Their videos were very open for the time, too.
It’s a shame that, 30 years after Bronski Beat proved you could be openly and unashamedly gay-specific and still have mainstream success, we’re still debating whether gay artists should dilute their sexuality to reach a mainstream audience. 🙁
NinaNais
@Lefty, this is a tired topic so I won’t say much except to request that you check out Adam’s interviews on youtube and his Glam Nation Tour videos and fan girl “Adommy” and “Saulbert” videos (try to avoid the “Glambulge” videos if you can. Those are pretty scary. Lol.) The performance and fangirl videos will show you that for the fanatic Glamberts, Adam’s alternative sexuality is more of a red flag to the bull (or in this case, the heifer) than a deterrent. I don’t see Adam doing much neutralising of his sexuality – he knows his loyal fans, and knows he doesn’t have to do it for them. Of course, his record company may be pushing him to reach a wider audience, but that sure isn’t stopping him from talking about his boyfriend in nearly every recent interview. It’s actually kind of cheesy. I could also ask, why do you expect so much more of Adam, who is doing so much by being out and unafraid and joyful and matter of fact with his relationship, than you seem to expect of those who have done nothing but hide?
NinaNais
@Lefty: @Lefty, this is a tired topic so I won’t say much except to request that you check out Adam’s interviews on youtube and his Glam Nation Tour videos and fan girl “Adommy” and “Saulbert” videos (try to avoid the “Glambulge” videos if you can. Those are pretty scary. Lol.) The performance and fangirl videos will show you that for the fanatic Glamberts, Adam’s alternative sexuality is more of a red flag to the bull (or in this case, the heifer) than a deterrent. I don’t see Adam doing much neutralising of his sexuality – he knows his loyal fans, and knows he doesn’t have to do it for them. Of course, his record company may be pushing him to reach a wider audience, but that sure isn’t stopping him from talking about his boyfriend in nearly every recent interview. It’s actually kind of cheesy. I could also ask, why do you expect so much more of Adam, who is doing so much by being out and unafraid and joyful and matter of fact with his relationship, than you seem to expect of those who have done nothing but hide?
Raquel Santiago
No matter what Adam Lambert said, he would have been critized by someone, that said he still should have edited those words before posting. I myself have made some of my worst tweets, emails, postings at 3:00 AM in the morning but this is a doozy.
ScaryRussianHeather
@Lefty:
“It’s a shame that, 30 years after Bronski Beat proved you could be openly and unashamedly gay-specific and still have mainstream success, we’re still debating whether gay artists should dilute their sexuality to reach a mainstream audience. :(”
LOL Bronsky Beat? They charted ONE single Smalltown Boy on Billboard Hot 100 at #48 in 1984. WOW such a success!
AND LMFAO there is nothing even remotely gay in the lyrics of that song. It’s about a boy leaving his unkind family. So your entire argument FAIL.
The guy attends every single public event holding his boyfriend’s hand FFS.
What is a shame is that you disingenuously dismiss all of Lambert”s genuine out and proud actions, ignore Outlaws of Love the VERY FIRST song written on the subject of marriage equality by a gay man, and pretend that it’s possible for one artist to change the entire music industry. With people like YOU not supporting any of his efforts.
Oh wait. What happened to Lefty? Haven’t seen any other posts since this thread. I guess he’s not into ~facts.
RedRoseQueen1
OMG ScaryRussianHeather! Ooooohhhh SNAP! ^5! So true! ALL of what you said, 100% TRUE! Thank You.