This is so wrong on so many levels. Like Genre's never outed anybody? And Hicklin's right - Cooper and Foster want it both ways, to enjoy the fruits (?!?!) of their sexuality while having their careers boosted by staying in the closet. The joke, of course, is that if they just did a Neil Patrick Harris and said, "I'm gay. I'm happy," no one would care anymore.

I don't hear either Anderson Cooper or Jodie Foster denying anything or acting all offended. I am not so certain either one is so much closeted as they are private. Anderson Cooper in particular makes no real effort to hide when he goes to gay places. He doesn't seem to sneak around with it. I think he simply doesn't consider it a matter to be discussed. Jodie Foster has always seemed intensely private. I have no idea what her relationships are about.

To give them credit, neither one pretends to be involved with someone of the opposite sex. Being closeted is not the same as being not out. I always defined closeted to involve active attempts to enforce the pretension of not being gay.

interesting distinction, Rob. I'll have to examine that approach.

Your comment regarding Mr. Aiken is just plain mean and infantile. In fact, this whole "outing" process is mean and hateful IMO.

no comment.

Since my love for GENRE has waned considerably since last fall's non-coverage of NOAH'S ARC, and the alleged statement that people-of-color covers hurt sales--I feel like this is Ciompi's chance to pretend that his magazine is still relevant.

I LOVE that all these Clay Aiken fans (read: joyless teenagers in faraway forelorn places) get all hot and heavy on queerty because their love object's been outed for - what? - the 2,599th time.

I agree with Rob. Neither Anderson nor Jodie has ever tried to beard or deny, they just don't discuss it and should be left alone.

Anyone boo-hooing about the privacy of Jodie and Anderson�adults with millions of dollars and more career security than any of us can ever dream of having�is woefully misspending his or her pity reserves. First, neither of them flatly denies being gay. Their gayness is beyond an open secret. Oh, Jodie would PREFUHHHR to be known as an actress, not as a gay actress? Too bad. I'm sure Tom Cruise would prefer to be known as an actor and not a nutso actor, Tara Reid would prefer to be known as an actress and not a skanky actress, etc. Public figures can not control how they are perceived and what parts of their lives become a part of public discourse. If Chris is so upset, he should be in tears over every single celebrity-driven magazine that's printed, because every one of them prints personal details, but embarrassing and mundane, about every star alive. Gayness is no different. Making it different makes it bad.

Nystudman, shoulodn't one be IN the closet before they can be outed?

If Clay Aiken did not come out by now after a year-long smear campaign by the gay media, then he never will.

I lend more credibility to a gay editor's comments about outting. Isn't Aaron Hicklin supposedly straight? Isn't this simply another case of a straight man's insecurity and need to feel superior to the gay man? I'd rather look through the lenses of an editor who has my back. The comment about Clay and Jodi and two Lesbians on the cover was a crack-up!

Dave says:

I agree with Rob. Neither Anderson nor Jodie has ever tried to beard or deny, they just don't discuss it and should be left alone.
April 9, 2007 5:10 PM

----------------------------------

I agree. Others have also said they WILL NOT DISCUSS it and they should all be given that right. LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!

Can somone tell me how do we know that Clay Aiken is gay? I know people talk about it but has there been some proof? I would love to know.

Seems to me that such an invasion of privacy is a tactic most usually embraced by the right wingnuts. They are the ones who care not about the bill of rights, the right to personal privacy be damned.

And here I thought all along that the gay community was somewhat more liberal than that.

Learn something new every day I guess.

I support outing Cooper. I hope he doesn't suffer any ill effects from it, but honey, you cannot have it both ways. Here's some delicious cognitive dissonance, fresh from the closet (and his wikipedia page):

"I think the notion of traditional anchor is fading away, the all-knowing, all-seeing person who speaks from on high. I don't think the audience really buys that anymore. As a viewer, I know I don't buy it. I think you have to be yourself, and you have to be real and you have to admit what you don't know, and talk about what you do know, and talk about what you don't know as long as you say you don't know it. I tend to relate more to people on television who are just themselves, for good or for bad, than I do to someone who I believe is putting on some sort of persona."

→ No. 15
Mark says:
I support outing Cooper. I hope he doesn't suffer any ill effects from it, but honey, you cannot have it both ways.

Why can't he have it both ways? Who says he can't. Don't we live in a free society where everyone has the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happeness. It looks like to me that anyone who wants to live in the closet or just not be "out" to everyone in the world should have that right.

Jill: He can't have it both ways because despite his freedom, he also has responsibilities as a journalist that he is shirking in refusing to come out of the closet.

I fully agree with the journalistic philosophy he puts forward in that quote: you should not pretend, when acting as a reporter, that you float above society as a neutral observer. The closest you can come to being a neutral observer is admitting that you come from a specific place and time, with a specific set of experiences that shape your perception of the world, and proceeding from there in good faith. Remaining in the closet is in opposition to this.

He may face open prejudice from his own organization and the general public as a result of this outing, but this is something that reporters of other minorities never had the option to sidestep.

Shane, the thing is that gay bloggers don't know squat about Clay Aiken. It's all just wishful thinking from people who desperately want into his pants, and can't accept the fact that they have no chance. They've been spreading rumors, inventing fake "sighting" and claiming that every man within 10 feet of him is his boyfriend. When that did not work, they went and hired that deadbeat who chickened out of going to Korea, hasn't paid a single bill since he got out of the military, and had a life-long dream of being a porn star. He helped them to spread more rumors about Clay, but they are still not getting what they want from him.

Isn't it time to give up?

"In the case of Anderson, we felt that was a bogus argument because he's talked about his life numerous times, he's been the cover subject on lifestyle magazines and men's magazines like Maxim. He's allowed his personal life to be scrutinized with one exception - his sexuality, his relationships."

I would argue against this by saying, Anderson does NOT speak of his stepbrothers, especially estranged Chris, nor of his nephew or his two neices. Isn't that apart of his personal life?

Why do gays spend so much time gay-bashing straight individuals?

Just wondering.

No. 17
Mark says:

The closest you can come to being a neutral observer is admitting that you come from a specific place and time, with a specific set of experiences that shape your perception of the world, and proceeding from there in good faith. Remaining in the closet is in opposition to this.

I do not agree. Perhaps if he were doing a journalistic piece on the being gay, in or out of the closet then his personal perspective would play a part. However being a journalist does not require him to admit anything about his personal and private life when it comes to what he does behind closed doors. Where is your respect for privacy? Also, when you go home from work don't you go home to a different world than your job? Why can't he do that too.

I'm a heterosexual but you know what? That is nobody's business but my own. Who I love and who I sleep with has zero to do with my job, my friends, my country, etc.
The man deserves a private life and if that is what he wants then that is what he should get.

So there is or never was any hard evidence or real proof that Clay Aiken is gay? Really? If this is true why does everyone talk about him as if he were? That's like saying that Lance Bass isn't really gay at all or taking any well known gay celebrity and denying them their identity.

Shane, Lance Bass has said that he is gay, he dated openly before he announced that he was with Reichen. Well known gay celebrities are well known because they are gay and have said so in public. Clay has always maintained that he is not gay. The gossips, gays and the rags are the ones that refuse to let him alone about it. There isn't any evidence to back up any of the gay accusations in spite of every gossip and tabloid chasing his ass around trying to find some or to make it up. It's crap like these articles that use him in their stories even when he has nothing to do with the topic. If there was any truth to it they wouldn't be trying to out him for the 2999th time.

There are plenty of paparazzi pictures of Clay on dates and traveling when he is with a girlfriend or dating a woman at public events. Those stories and pictures are completely ignored because it doesn't support the gay allegations. Have you noticed that the gossip world is all gays? There is lots of evidence to support that he is not gay, these guys don't want to acknowledge that.

Clay Aiken posted his picture on Manhunt and had sex with at least two people who documented it. Yawn! People, the guy's a closet case. Case closed.

Who the f**k told you Aaron Hicklin isn't gay? He's queer as a $3 bill!

Sorry, Dave, but Aiken has not always maintained he is not gay. He said it a couple of times four years ago and has since then refused to talk about his private life. And when he is asked in interviews, he always replies very carefully and using gender neutral language.

It's true he has been seen out with women but he has also been seen out with men, and has always called all of them, both men and women, friends. Amber, Amanda, Quiana, Kristy, all are friends, not girlfriends. The fans go on and on about the blonde girl he went to The Color Purple with, yet conveniently forget about the blonde guy he went to SNL with that same week.

The true fact is, that since the early days when he said and did what Idol told him to (as did other gay contestants who came out later, both in the US and worldwide), he has not stated that he's not gay, nor has he stated that he is. And he has never, ever, said he is straight. Like Anderson Cooper, Clay simply refuses to talk about it.

I don't understand why gay people are so mean. If you enjoy your gay life - keep it to yourself - and let everyone else keep their's to themselves also. What a sad world when you feel everyone has to be gay! What does it matter.

K, or should I say Bina, cut the crap already. The only time Clay Aiken has been with men is in the fan fiction fantasies posted on your board, and in the lies you spread on the Internet. He said plenty of times that he is not gay, but you people are refusing to hear him.

You've been inventing these fake sightings of Clay with guys for four years now, and you still don't have a single picture to prove it. You scouted all the gay bars in Raleigh and LA, and couldn't find anyone who has ever seen him there.

Isn't it about time to give up and find a new obsession?

Carol, if you were half as smart as you think you are, you would have noticed I don't write anything like Bina (and, seriously, who needs to find a new obsession? Much as you would love to believe it, your whipping girl Bina is not the only Clay fan who thinks he is gay).

Anyway, it doesn't matter what any of us think, Clay is who he is and he loves who he loves, and no amount of arguing, grandstanding or "defending" his supposed heterosexuality will change that. And the same goes for Anderson, Jodie and all the others out there who refuse to talk about their sexuality.

K, if it does not matter what any of us think, then why are you here spreading more of your gay boi fantasies about Clay? If Clay is who he is, they why do you refuse to accept it?

Yeah, I know that you're not the only one who thinks he is gay. There's an entire board dedicated to spreading rumors about Clay's sexuality, and in some ways, those "fans" have been hurting him more than the genuine haters. When will you get through you thick skulls that he is a real human being that does not deserve to have his life messed up by a handful of obsessed freaks?

Actually Clay has said he is straight. (you all ignored him). He said he's not gay.(again ignored). He's had girlfriends, gone on public dates with them(ignored). Now he's saying it's none of your damn business! Because he's tired of wasting his time!
Does anyone get the fact that in the music business when you are a young man it is often recommended that you don't advertise who you date so you don't lose some of your fan base? That you should stay "available" to your fans? And did anyone ever consider the fact that Clay doesn't want his girlfriend put through what people like you have put him through? Have any of you seen the way he interacts with women??!! If what you say about him were true I'd say the man dererves an ocar for his acting ability!

Clay's "other" girlfriend

nystudman: Clay Aiken posted his picture on Manhunt and had sex with at least two people who documented it. Yawn! People, the guy's a closet case. Case closed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Uh, nystudman aka groucho aka rick campbell---everyone knows that you set up the Manhunt account and posted Clay's photo. We saw you and your cohorts diabolical plans for selling stories to the tabloids. We know you fabricated and called the Enquirer about seeing him on a plane with a guy. We know you vowed to spend every dime you got from the federal government for Katrina damage to your tourist business to ruin Clay Aiken's career. We know you've been financing and advising picklepuss for the last year.

You're insane--case closed.

Just seems kind of odd to me that of all the people that Clay Aiken knew in Raleigh and in Charlotte, North Carolina , in Hollywood and in New York that not one person has ever come forward and said anything about Clay being gay. NOT one. You would think that one person of all the people that you know in your life or have met along the way would come forward, would just love to get in on the celebrity action, ie. "I knew him when", maybe make a little money, cause a little controversy. NO one has done that. Not one person.

Those of you who watched the interview with Diane Sawyer from GMA, Lara Spencer from The Insider and Larry King heard Clay say that he is not gay but you just refuse to believe it. You want him to state "I AM NOT GAY". Why? Someone posted one day on the internet 15 different occasions where Clay said that he is not gay. You didn't believe it any one of those 15 times so what would make you believe it now? Clay said in his interview in People magazine that people are going to believe what they want to believe no matter what he says. He went on to say that it's like when you cheat on a test in school and are asked "did you cheat", the teacher is only going to believe you if you say "yes" so what's the point. He stated further, "my fans, my family and my friends know the truth and now I am not going to talk about this again. I am done, I am through with it".

You can continue to talk about it. You can laugh and joke and poke fun. It's kind of sick but if you enjoy doing that to someone have at but at the end of the day Clay Aiken still won't be gay and he still won't be talking about it any more.

For anyone who is really interested in the truth about this innocent man who just happened to be on a TV show and who's life has now been turned up side down for no reason by total strangers who have no compassion for another human being, I am posting a conversation that took place on the internet back during the time that Clay Aiken was on American Idol. This is how long this lie has been going on without any proof, without one eye witness, no evidence, no substantiation . This was after Simon Cowell decided that it was cute and his job to tell Clay and the world how ugly he was and to make the world believe that Clay was "gay" for a laugh and to make sure he didn't win. This was a long time ago before his name was a housewhole name. This conversation took place with a person named "Howlin" who has a cousin who is personal friends with Clay. It was the truth then and it is the truth today.

To: Zavien Doombringer; Howlin

Personally, I knew a few guys like him that aren't gay, but give that impression.
As for Clay specifically, ask Howlin. Her cousin knows him first hand.

5 posted on 05/28/2003 8:28:09 AM PDT by RMDupree

__________________________________________________________________

To Howlin

Do you know first hand, or just a generalization? My daughter wants to know.

16 posted on 05/28/2003 8:52:47 AM PDT by Timesink

____________________________________________________________________
To: Zavien Doombringer

First hand, he is not gay.

18 posted on 05/28/2003 8:53:30 AM PDT by Howlin

___________________________________________________________________

To: Howlin

First hand, he is not gay.

I figured...

27 posted on 05/28/2003 8:57:55 AM PDT by Zavien Doombringer

___________________________________________________________________
To: Donna Lee Nardo

He seems to be all that; he is a counselor at the Y in our neighborhood and has been my cousin's childrens' counselor for the last five years. From what they say, he is exactly like he appears. And believe me, my cousin is just as mouthy as I am, so if there was something "there," he'd tell me......LOL.

86 posted on 05/28/2003 9:54:22 AM PDT by Howlin

________________________________________________________________________
To: Constitution Day

Have you missed all my posts?

I have said repeatedly that he is a friend of my family and he is NOT gay.

96 posted on 05/28/2003 10:10:32 AM PDT by Howlin

________________________________________________________________________
To: Howlin; Constitution Day

Alright Howlin since you know him personally I'll take your word for it.

104 posted on 05/28/2003 10:22:40 AM PDT by billbears

_________________________________________________________________________
To: billbears

I don't know him personally; I met him once up at Finley during a soccer match. My cousin knows him well though -- same Y, same church.

Frankly, when this show first started, I didn't even realize it was the same guy...he looks QUITE different!

121 posted on 05/28/2003 10:51:05 AM PDT by Howlin

______________________________________________________________________
To: Howlin

I shouldn't even ask this, but in the name of good reporting - does your cousin say Clay -says- he's not gay or does your cousin actually know his girlfriend?

123 posted on 05/28/2003 10:54:52 AM PDT by libravoter

_______________________________________________________________________
To: libravoter

He goes to church with him and his family; he knows his girl friend.

Is that enough for you?

125 posted on 05/28/2003 10:55:50 AM PDT by Howlin

_______________________________________________________________________
To: Howlin

BUT....has he ACTUALLY seen them KISS?????? sheesh.

126 posted on 05/28/2003 10:56:48 AM PDT by bonfire
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies ]

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To: Howlin

Pretty much.

127 posted on 05/28/2003 10:56:55 AM PDT by libravoter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 125 | View Replies ]

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To: bonfire

Honestly. Being on this side of it, I can see how being falsely accused of something pretty much sucks.

128 posted on 05/28/2003 11:02:05 AM PDT by Howlin

Hey you trolls,

Stop coming over to Queerty to defend your precious Clay Aiken. Most of us gays don't really give a sh*t -- from all of these foaming-at-the-mouth responses, you care a lot more that he isn't than we care if he is. In fact, I hope he isn't gay -- I wouldn't want somebody like him to play on my team. So go away already.

Now back to the topic:

I am saddened that there is still so much internalized homophobia within our community. The venoms spewed by most of the comments on the OUT web site is simply astonishing. I didn't see Jodie's or Coop's names being smeared because they were "outed" -- that WOULD imply that there was something wrong or shameful about being gay. But by most of the negative reactions I read -- some of them from GLBT no doubt -- you'd think that being gay was the love that dare not speak its name...

Spiffy, stop badgering Clay Aiken to come out of non-existent closet, and I'm willing to bet that Claymates won't ever post here again.

I find the idea that gays don't want him on their team laughable. If you didn't, then gay bloggers and magazines would not be on his case 24/7 for the last four years. They would take him at his word and move on.

Carol,

Please re-read my original comment. I don't know how you get the implication that I was badgering Aiken to come out. I'll repeat one more time: I. DON'T. CARE.

But since this thread is already ruined, I'll play the game: I'll give you a theory why gay bloggers and (I assume you meant gay) magazines were on his case 24/7 for the last four years: every time his name is mentioned -- doesn't even have to be about his sexuality, but it helps -- you rabid fans come in droves. And guess what? Readership is up! So don't blame the gay media -- you Claymates took the bait.

Spiffy, it's ok to admit that you and "your team" were wrong. However if you think that we "took" the bait then all I can say is shame on you and your team for using an innocent person for your bait. He never did anything to any of you to deserve what he has gotten. Neither has his fans.

What's sad is that Clay is the most gentle, compassion, tolerant, loving, caring individual I have ever met. He has taught me to open my eyes to a lot prejudices that I grew up with and held on to. He has shown me how to love people for who they are inside and what they are capable of doing and not the wrappings that trap each of us on the outside. He has taught me how to work to open doors that have been slammed shut to various individuals. However, in the last two years, caring about this man as much as I do as a fan and having to watch while he has gone through bashing, ridicule, and hatred from both sides , gay and straight, when he didn't deserve any of it, I have developed a set back in my attitude toward people and mostly the gay community for the way that they have talked about, handled and treated this situation. I now believe that the gay community is more prejudice than anyone on the other side. I would have thought that "coming out" is a personal, private matter in one's life that you of all people would understand. Even though Clay was never "in the closet and needing to come out", I feel sorry for those people who are. They are not extended the rights that every human being should have and that is to live their life the way they want to but rather people who have been where they are, instead of being understanding and caring, you badger and ridicule them for not doing what "you" and "your team" think they should do and when and how they should do it.

It's the same with Jodie and Cooper. If they want to live inside the closet that is their business, not your's and your team's. If they want a private life that is also their business and none of the gay community's that's their right too. Leave them alone and STOP talking about Clay Aiken. If gay sites want people to give them hits then make your dialogue interesting, knowledgable and enlightening. Instead of using innocent people's names as bait to draw a crowd use your brains.

You still don't get it.

It doesn't matter if it's JF, AC or even CA and anyone else. Just ask yourself this simple question -- but REALLY dig deep down within yourself and think about it before answering -- all that "it's their private business and nobody else's" bullshit aside, will a society's opinion of a celebrity change negatively if s/he comes out?

I suspect that most will answer "yes" if they are being truly honest. And frankly it's just indicative how much progress we have made -- not.

Ask yourself, is it right to use someone else's privae life, without their permission, to further your agenda?

How about if we put your life under a microscope and tell all about your intimate, personal, private emotional details to the world without you agreeing to it. Oh, there isn't anything that you have to hide? Well what if we just make some stuff up? And to really get everyone's attention let's add the most salacious and scurrilous thoughts and words to really cement the mind fuck.

Now let's take this to your job and make sure that your boss, your co-workers, your clients/customers, etc., all know and make sure it's everywhere so that it will absolutely be read and spread. And while we're at it, let's make sure that your parents, your brothers/sisters, children, spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, friends and neighbors all hear about it too.

You pathetic pieces of crap. You have no respect for another human being on any level. Look at how many people's lifes you have now effected and just maybe they didn't want to know any of it in the first place. But, hey you got your message out there didn't you? Positive or negative, it's out there.

Well you just lost me! And I venture to say a few others too. Is this every gay person' s fault? Well of course not, but those of you who think this is a "spiffy" idea might want to think about this further before you totally embarrass, exploit, abuse and annihilate another person. And to do this to a totally innocent individual just because they are a celebrity/well known is despicable.

Wow, claymate, it's as if you didn't read my response at all!

Please just answer this simple question: famous or not, what's so embarrassing about being gay?

spiffy I'll be more than glad to answer that question if you will answer one for me first.

Are you gay?

I thought you already knew from all the personal attacks you've been throwing my way!

But just so there are not any confusions: Yes I AM!

Don't be so sensitive. If you put yourself out there with statments that lead to you being attacked then that is your fault and not because you or your so called team is gay.

Now that I know for a fact that you are gay, I hope that you appreciated the fact that I let you answer that instead of me answering it for you.

Now, to answer your question.

There isn't anything embarrassing for "you" about being gay since you are, but what if everyone who knows you, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. were to suddenly start hearing stories, rumors, gossip s about how you are really straight and they were bombared with salacious details of intimate moments about you and someone of the opposite sex? Wouldn't that be a little embarrassing? Wouldn't it dig into the heart and soul of who you are? And the very thought of every eroctic detail of what you did behind closed doors last night with any person, same or opposite sex, would that not be embarrassing to you?

Being gay is not the issue, being personal and private and telling lies about someone is. For someone who is gay, it would seem that coming out of the closet is personal and private and from what I understand , emotional. It is also their decision and not your's or your team's. And I'm not even going into what has been done to Clay Aiken who is a single heterosexual male. How many dates with women do you think he gets now that people have been led to believe that he is gay? How many men are hitting on him now that they have been led to believe that he is gay? I just hope that you, one gay person, can understand how he must have felt to be accused, labeled, mocked and scorned, not because it would be wrong to be gay but becuase it was a lie. How it must have felt to have to face his Mother, his grandparents, his brothers, his sister, his girlfriend, his friends, his fans after some jerk took it upon himself to lie, exploit his famous name and tried to suck in his life and make it his own.

With Cooper and Jodie, whether they are gay or not, whether they want to come out or not is really up to them and that is as it should be. I don't really care one way or the other. I think she is an exceptional actress and he is an incredible anchor and newsman what they do behind their doors or who they do it with, is none of my business and I really don't want or need the details.

There is zero evidence that Clay is straight, you Claymates are speculating just the same as those who believe he is gay. Clay has never said he's straight (and before you say he has, please provide the proof of him actually saying he is straight, not some waffled answer to a reporter's question that may or may not mean anything), and he has never had a girlfriend since he was in the public eye. There's far more evidence that he dated his male ex-hair stylist, but even that is anecdotal (and John Paulus has zero credibility since his retraction and the retraction of the retraction). As someone earlier said, he has been out with both male and female friends but the Claymates ignore the men and "ship" him with any female withing arms length. It's pretty desperate. And sickening, in that nobody (on either side) should care about his orientation apart from Clay and anyone he dates.

→ No. 44
alexa says: There is zero evidence that Clay is straight

You mean other than his words and his actions? Hahaha

What else is there?

It wouldn't hurt you to maybe go back up thread and read for a while.

And you're wrong about everything regarding Clay. Of course you would have no way of knowing since you don't know anything about him. If you knew him, or someone who knew him then you would know that Clay has girlfriends, he has had 3 serious girlfriends in the last 4 years that I have known him. He just doesn't parade them for people like you to have an "opinion" about. One is seen quite often with him these days, but of course you're too busy looking for the guys right? But then his girlfriends are really none of our business either are they?

Also, I am a straight female and I go out with guys and girls all the time. Usually I am out and about with my female friends more than I am out with my boyfriend. Doesn't make me gay.

I can't beleive how many people post comments and opinions about Clay Aiken who don't know the first damn thing about him.

→ No. 44
alexa says:

1. There is zero evidence that Clay is straight.

2. Clay has never said he's straight

3. he has never had a girlfriend since he was in the public eye.

4. There's far more evidence that he dated his male ex-hair stylist

5. he has been out with both male and female friends

Oh Alexa are you are stalker? Well if you are, you aren't very good. It's obvious that you don't know much about Clay and I don't know why I even bother but here goes;

1. Well I have already addressed that, but I'll go for it again. It is true that Clay dates a lot and it is true that sometimes his fans don't know which are "dates" and which are business associates, but every once in a while you can see that there is more than a working relationship going on with him and Miss Lucky to be on his arm. So, other than him saying that he is straight and seeing him with women what evidence do you want? By the way, you might want to pick up his book and read about his girlfriends when he was growing up.

2. Of course he has publically said that he is a straight male, but what he has never, not once said is that he is gay. Never even hinted at it. Not even with, as you call it, a waffled answer.

3. He is kind of a private person that's true, however, to those of us who know him or know friends and/or family, we know.

4. Can you steer me to this evidence? I have never seen anything to substantiate that accusation. You aren't by any chance the stalker from Las Vegas named Alexa who tried her best to get to him but his security thwarted your every attempt, are you?

5. Yes he has!!!! Isn't that amazing? Imagine having both male and female friends. I must be gay too and don't know it either.

Well Claymate, not only did you bother, but you bothered twice. I guess I struck a nerve if you felt you needed to respond to my comment more than once.

No, I'm not a stalker, just a fan with a good memory who has been suffering through you obnoxious and homophobic Claymates for far longer than I would have believed possible. But YOU obviously ARE a stalker. I'm sure you know him very well - in your dreams. Or you're one of the Raleigh fans who has latched onto his mother and now fancies yourself an "insider." As if.

To answer some of your points. Many gay men gave girlfriends growing up, probably the majority when Clay was a teenager. Either they haven't come to terms with their sexuality or they are trying to hide it. I have no doubt Clay had girlfriends in school, but it doesn't mean shit.

And again, he has never, never, never said in an interview that he is straight. NEVER. And no amount of you saying he has will produce evidence of it because it has never happened.

As to the evidence of his relationship with his hair stylist, I said it was anecdotal (look it up), but it's still better evidence than that he has had a girlfriend in the last 4 years. And, honey, it wasn't an accusation, that implies having a boyfriend would be wrong or something to be ashamed of. It isn't.

If Clay doesn't feel the need to "defend" his supposed heterosexuality, why on earth do the Claymates insist on doing it for him? I'm sure he is more than capable of doing it himself should he want to. Leave him alone and try just being a fan for a change.

Wow you must be really really pissed off.

Alexa - blah, blah, blah. Using the same argument over and over and over again does not make it any more valid.

Why don't you accept a person's right to self-identify and move on already? There are plenty of hot gay guys for you to fantasize about, so why did you have to latch on to Clay Aiken? Is it about him, or about you incessant hatred for the rest of the Clay fandom, and the need to prove yourself right at all costs?

Typical Claymate bullshit. If you can't answer the question go into attack mode. So predictable.

Getting back to the topic at hand, my feeling is that unless someone does something actively against the gay community they should be allowed to come out (or not) in their own time on their own terms. They should certainly be encouraged to come out as every person helps. Anderson and Foster are well respected and would help us a lot, putting well known visible faces out there, but it has to be their decision. The same goes for Aiken, dragging him kicking and screaming from the closet - while it may feel good - does nothing to help anyone. You can see what his fans are like, he'd lose his career and just make other celebs more reticent to come out.

Kate you are the one who is full of bullshit and so is Alexa. Neither one of you have anything intelligent to say. You don't have a point. You both just like to bash and ridicule Clay and his fans. You have no proof or even hint that Clay is gay and yet you can't accept it when he says he isn't. So you think that Clay has never said that he is not gay huh? Well here ya go. Now let's see how intelligent you are. Can you read? Can you comprehend? Does he need to draw you a picture?

Today’s Christian – Nov/Dec 2005
Holly Vicente Robaina

...But celebrity hasn't been all roses. He jokes that the paparazzi know his schedule better than he does. Details of his life regularly appear on newsstands and the Internet, from what he eats for breakfast, his favorite cereal is Cinnamon Toast Crunch, to his bad habits, he used to bite his toenails. Speculation swirled about his sexuality. No, he's not gay.

Qnotes – 02/11/06

At a press conference May 21, 2003, Aiken pointedly ignored a question from Advocate reporter Alonso Duralde: "A lot of your fan base thinks you’re gay. Any comment on that?"

According to Duralde, Aiken had no response whatsoever — he simply moved on to the next reporter for another question. "He froze me out," said Duralde.

Amazon.com

Gossip has always surrounded celebrities--and one of the most common bits is about sexuality. In the past, rumors of homosexuality have been a career-killer; that is less true today, but even so most celebrities still go out of their way to deny it.

CLAY AIKEN - Pop singer Clay Aiken has often ignored the question, but he flatly stated that he was not gay to The Rolling Stone, Primetime Live, and The Kansas City Star.

USA Today – 08/07/06 12:34 PM

Clay Fires Back!

Aiken, in a statement issued by RCA Records, said Monday...

"As a so-called 'celebrity' I have become used to scurrilous (vulgar) allegations and untruths (lies) being made about me and my work. I have always taken the path of not reacting to these matters and have accepted them as, somehow, coming with the 'job.'

GMA - Diane Sawyer 9/23/06

"For a long time you want to let everybody be a part of your life.....you know what , this is ridiculous, it doesn't matter what you say, certain people are gonna believe this, certain people are gonna believe that....I'm just not commenting anymore there's no point, I've answered before (*see 1 - 14 above). I feel like a kid who is in trouble in school and is called in, did you do this? did you cheat on that test? and, of course no, but it doesn't matter what you say." - Clay Aiken

9/27/06 Larry King Live

LK: It wouldn't affect your career one iota so why not answer it and put it away?

CA: You know what? I have responded in every way that I can and I've come to the conclusion that people are going to believe what they want to believe no matter what I say. So I have decided that enough is enough and I am not going to talk about it any more.

10/28/06 TV Guide Interview

A lot of people question me and others and I think that's sad. You have people out there who clearly make it well known that they are straight males because they are sleeping with everybody and to me that is not setting a good example. So if I'm not going to do that, which I'm not, then people are going to make assumptions and their assumptions are wrong.

For all you people who love to talk about Clay Aiken and have spent month doing so even though you don't know jack about him, here is today's news about him and is far more worthy of dicussion. While we sit here and vomit trash about him he is out making a difference in the world that we all live in.

American Idol’ star and UNICEF ambassador Clay Aiken spotlights Afghanistan
11 April 2007 – United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador and singer Clay Aiken is currently on his first visit to Afghanistan, aiming to raise awareness about the hope and promise he has seen in the young people of the war-torn country.

“The people here are very strong and they are very proud of their country,” Mr. Aiken told reporters in Kabul today, praising the “strength and conviction of the Afghan people and their ability to make sure that this country returns to its glory after such a long darkness.”

The singer, who gained a name on the televised talent competition ‘American Idol,’ has been a Goodwill Ambassador since 2004, has been in Afghanistan for the past week to see first-hand the grassroots health and education projects being delivered by UNICEF.

“It has been a long winter for Afghanistan and it is Spring time finally,” he said, adding that he is “thrilled” to be associated with UNICEF’s support for the country’s rebuilding efforts.

Traveling with UNICEF country representative for Afghanistan Catherine Mbengue and his high school teacher Mary Props, Mr. Aiken has visited schools in Kabul and in Bamiyan.

In Kabul, he met young women at Macfee High School who “have an amazing positive outlook on their future now,” he said.

Mr. Aiken called Bamiyan one of the most beautiful places he has ever seen, and mentioned one school he visited there in particular where boys and girls were being educated together. He also visited clinics where he had the opportunity to administer polio vaccine to a newborn baby.

“I have never in my life seen such a thirst and an excitement for learning,” he said, joking that his former teacher, Ms. Props, was very jealous of how eager students in Afghanistan are to attend school.

Calling the people of Afghanistan the country’s “greatest natural resource,” Mr. Aiken said that he also hopes to inform people in the United States, who he said too often associate Afghanistan with conflicts, troops and military activities, of the genuine desire on the part of children to learn.

“If we did see more about the kids [in the media], we will see more positive support and help,” noted Mr. Aiken.

spiffy said: "will a society's opinion of a celebrity change negatively if s/he comes out?

I suspect that most will answer "yes" if they are being truly honest. And frankly it's just indicative how much progress we have made -- not."

Well, alrighty then, if you think the answer is "yes" then why do you hound celebrities to come out when you know it will negatively impact their careers. What makes you think them coming out will help "progress" your cause.

Treating other human beings with respect will do more for your cause. Displaying a superior attitude is a turnoff, not who you sleep with.

Nice try, but where does Clay say he's straight there? That's what you were asked to provide proof of. I see other people describing him as not gay, I see him not liking personal questions and refusing to talk, but I don't see him saying he's straight. He dodges and hovers around the question, if he's straight why doesn't he just give a straight answer? I suggest you read the latest Advocate and see how many former contestants did the same thing. Guess how many are actually straight? Go on, guess. NONE. That's because if you're straight you say so, if you're gay you get coy and don't answer until you're outed or come out.

You really disgust me. You think it's so horrible to be gay that you have to counter the attacks on his character with tales of his Unicef work (which I think is fabulous btw). It is possible to be charitable and gay, you know, they are not mutually exclusive. Just ask Elton John (someone else who didn't acknowledge he was gay at first. He even got married)

Good for Clay. He's got you bigoted cunts so snowed that you believe he's straight in spite of everything. He must get a good laugh out of your stupidity when he's in bed fucking his boyfriend.

Nicky, Nicky, Nicky. Who said anything about it being horrible to be gay? Did you read this thread at all?

What is horrible is the way both gays and delusional fans are hounding Clay Aiken and Claymates and refuse to accept no for an answer. As for the latest Advocate, give me a break! Two contestants from Season 1 who have never met or worked with Clay Aiken are suddenly an experts on his sexuality? Yeah, right. They know about as much as you do, which is nothing at all.

Nicky your response was just what I expected.

1. Try to discredit the obvious.
2. Once again call him a liar.
3. Attack his fans as being homophobs when it is actually your insecurities that you need to deal with.
4. If all else fails, bring up Elton John and other known gay male celebrities to try to convince people by comparing their lifestyles. (Wow, no offense but I probably relate Clay more to Billy Graham than Elton John >shrug>
5. If all else fails get angry and call his fans stupid and bigots.
6. And last, by all means, leave the lasting mental impression of him fucking some dude.

You have issues pal. I don't understand why homosexuals can't just believe what Clay says. Why do you guys want him to be gay? It's not like you have a chance with him.

If you guys can't take NO for an answer maybe his fans need to start posting all this comments he has made about his love for WOMEN and what he is looking for in a WIFE and how he can't wait to have CHILDREN OF HIS OWN.

The man is straight and his fans defending him against people who constantly call him a liar is not him or us degrading homosexuals. Get over it.

By the way, I am not a cunt. I am a lady and since I have not called you any names, I would appreciate the same respect from you.

You know what Alexa? You know how you keep on saying he has never ever ever ever ever said he was straight? SAME COULD BE SAID FOR HIM SAYING THAT HE IS GAY.

Never ONCE had I heard HIMSELF say he was GAY. So you can't use your dumbass logic, sorry.

GET THE HELL OVER IT OBSESSED CHICK. Again, YOU ignore PLAIN and TRUE evidence and would rather believe what you want to believe. Clay is right and always has been right about gay-haters like you.

"gay-haters" does not necessarily mean you hate gays, but the fact that you continue to attack, harass, demean, and degrade people like clay aiken, hating him only for the fact that he will not discuss his sexuality any longer after for what seems like an eternity, really need to give it a rest.

as stated for the infinite time, any and all gay evidence regarding Clay having relationships with men HAVE been determined to be false and not true. ((however, u people obsessed with your dream of Clay Aiken being gay choose t once again to ignore this))

i will not believe anything about clay being gay unless he says it himself and if it has been reported by credible sources...these people who have been constantly publishing false gay stories sure as hell AREN'T credible sources.

for someone who is a fan of Clay, alexa, as i have remembered seeing you posted that you were, you sure have a FUNNY way of supporting clay's decision, writing the offensive shit that you write, wow. just WOW. you are so funny. thanks for the laugh.

: )

--your mom

It's true. 'nuff said.

wait, i must explain how she is a hypocrite for those that don't know...

she has said that she is a fan of clay's...aka a claymate...

yet she calls claymates homophobic and unaccepting of the so-called "fact" that he is gay.

however, this is not true. TRUE claymates have said over and over again that they would support clay if he comes out. the one who is not supporting him, is obviously...*alexa* i don't see how u are supporting him, all you're doing is gay-bashing him, yep.

please tell me how u make sense alexa? anything you say never makes sense at all...i'm sure u're probably gonna say i don't make sense either, but u really don't, though. honestly, you don't make sense at all, alexa.

#52, it's not bashing Clay to say he's gay, there's nothing wrong with being gay. The only reason he doesn't come out is because insane bitches like you would crucify him.

I agree with your comment in #57. You're not a cunt, that's too good a word for you.

Claymates are truly insane.

mmhmm bob is insane.

Clay Aiken has stated that he is not gay. Seriously wtf is wrong with you people in the 'gay' media that you think it's ok to so thoroughly misrepresent this guy! Not to mentioin the fact that you're purposely completely misleading the public!

What I am looking forward to is Clay's next book. You just know there'll be one! If you people in the 'media' who have been abusing him think he'll keep your dirty little secrets, you're sadly mistaken. :)