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Adam Lambert yesterday announced the launch of his own “Feel Something Foundation.” Posting the new organization’s logo to Instagram, a brief message said: “FEEL SOMETHING FOUNDATION! Mission: to support LGBTQ+ organizations that are moving the needle for communities of all ages and backgrounds.”
Billboard reports that Lambert’s non-profit will work with charities that are helping to improve LGBTQ life in a number of areas, including education, homelessness and suicide prevention.
According to a statement from Lambert, the Foundation, which he found in 2019, also wants to “abolish ‘coming out’ as a term used to define someone simply being themselves.” No further details about this were forthcoming at the time of writing.
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Lambert decided to form the philanthropic foundation following his own global travels, meeting many other members of the LGBTQ community, hearing their stories and witnessing first-hand the difficulties so many continue to face.
“Having spent time throughout his career engaging in LGBTQ+ activism and as a member of the community himself, the foundation sees Adam’s philanthropy institutionalized into an organization with the aim to truly make a difference,” says the launch statement.
The Feel Something’s first fundraiser will be an auction of some of Lambert’s clothing, due to take place over the next few weeks.
Related: Adam Lambert opens up about dealing with gay music execs and their internalized homophobia
Lambert shot to fame as a contestant on the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. He has enjoyed solo success and become the touring frontman for Queen. He, Brian May and Roger Taylor are currently on the Asian leg of their Rhapsody tour.
Lambert fans will know that Feel Something was the title of a track he released last year.
Cam
Worry about getting rid of the term “Coming Out” AFTER you’ve gotten rid of the bigotry that keeps people “in”.
Donston
I’ve always seen “coming out” as problematic. The very term is part of what helps keep some people “in”. It adds sensationalism and drama to the idea of wanting to be yourself, express yourself, living freely, be with who you want to love and be with. It also allows folks to dismiss “queers” as attention seekers. I see more issues with the “coming out” thing than the whole “labels” thing.
Cam
@Donston
I don’t see the wording as the problem. The words aren’t creating the situation. They are just words describing a situation somebody is going through. The fear of naming things has gotten pretty out there.
Donston
A lot of people just don’t want to play by the same rules. It can be problematic. But if a large percentage of “queers” are saying “this ain’t working for us” then adjustments need to be made. Abolishing homophobia, trans-phobia, effemiphobia, internalized homophobia, gay shame, hetero pressures need to be the top priorities. But focusing on that stuff alone reduces some very nuanced issues and social structures. Not everything needs to be about hate. Not everything needs to be about getting validation from the “straight world”. If a group of people want to move on from the “coming out” perspective then let them do that. Sociology, the use of words, how we communicate and express ourselves, and the understanding of sexuality, gender and the overall spectrum- these are always in flux. And it’s so all over the place at this point that telling people they need to follow certain guidelines and stay attached to certain words or phrases just comes off as controlling.
Jim
It’s the 21st century and “coming out” is an antiquated term
Cam
Except for the fact that we still have a massive amount of bigotry keeping people in hiding.