Comments on: Something as Too Gay?

By: emmi

emmi — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:16:09 +0000

ADAM LAMBERT HAD SEX WITH A GUY.AND AFTER THAT HE HAD SEX WITH A GIRL

By: Jon Trouten

Jon Trouten — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:12:01 +0000

Here's CBS' justification for their blurring out Lambert's kiss, but not Madonna's/Britney's: "We gave this some real thought. The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times, including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated and, for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences." (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/11/cbs-responds-to-criticism-over-blurring-of-adam-lamberts-kiss-on-the-early-show.html)

Legal consequences?

By: Debbie Thurman

Debbie Thurman — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:43:56 +0000

“I have to say that I kind of agree with Adam during a CNN interview when he noted similar kisses and simulated sexual acts during award shows — usually by women — that aren’t censored or labeled pornographic and questioned why it’s so much worse when done by a gay man.”

I haven’t seen any of the Lambert AMA images, and don’t want to. We get exposed to enough garbage without even looking for it. Sitting down in front of the TV even for a “family” show is still like playing Russian Roulette.

Lambert was expressing the well-known double standard with regard to men and women. All’s fair in sexual exploitation and outrageousness with women. Female bisexual behavior is coveted eye-candy for many men. It’s all disgusting, as I see it. And we are sinking ever-lower in what is tolerable.

By: Jon Trouten

Jon Trouten — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:29:24 +0000

Highlighting the double-standard, there are several blog articles circulating about the double-standard of how Adam's kiss is being treated. Adam's kiss was completely blurred out on the Early Show and then immediately following by clear footage of Madonna's and Britney Spears' open mouth kiss. (http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2009/11/cbs-early-show-blurs-out-adams-same-sex.html)

The first commenter on this particular blog was particularly interesting: "The worst part is that they ran this footage literally seconds before Maggie Rodriguez belittled Lambert's double-standard claim, using as her proof a vague claim that she hadn't personally heard anyone say the outrage was because it was two men."

By: Jon Trouten

Jon Trouten — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:56:45 +0000

I’ve seen images from it, but missed the actual performance. Seems like there is always attempts at the AMAs and similar events to create provocative sensations. I have to say that I kind of agree with Adam during a CNN interview when he noted similar kisses and simulated sexual acts during award shows — usually by women — that aren’t censored or labeled pornographic and questioned why it’s so much worse when done by a gay man.

By: Andrew Marin

Andrew Marin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:50:57 +0000

I find it quite interesting that only a few days after I posted this the national media now can’t stop asking the same question, “Is Adam Lambert too gay”, after his performance [censored on the West Coast] on the American Music Awards. Did anyone see his performance? Quite the provocative thing…

By: Andrew Marin

Andrew Marin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:01:19 +0000

At least for me, it wasn't about the 'kiss' but about the 'crotch thrusting' with a dude's head. Though, some of Britany Spears/Madonna's stuff kind of weirds me out too. Maybe I'm not the right person to ask?! But I will say that while watching the full segment it did seem like he was trying really, really hard to just be controversial for the sake of being controversial – and that is kind of played out in my opinion.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:58:25 +0000

Got ya, I’m not sure if I’d be getting to far off the original topic of the thread but the thought that you brought up about some straight conservatives having some what of a primal gut reaction, rightly or wrongly, to displays of same sex displays of affections would be an interesting topic to explore. I’m primarily wondering about the experiences of straight conservatives in their relationships with those who are GLBT, as I am attracted to other men, in relation to how their gut reactions changed if they did and what brought those changes about.
For example, in Andrew’s book he talked about how his first thoughts when one of his best friends who was a girl came out to him was the thought of two men having sex which caused him trouble in relating to his friend. Do those thoughts/feelings go away with mere exposure or does a shift in thinking have to occur. Any thoughts?

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:37:52 +0000

Debbie – I agree that straight conservatives are not always treated fairly in the media, but as this post is primarily touching on public displays of affection and the reactions that are generated, it does still seem like there is a double standard as Bill mentioned. No one seems to think twice when they see a heterosexual couple walking down the street holding hands as it just makes sense as a natural manifestation of their of their love for one another. But when two men or women are seen walking down the street, the attitude seems to still exist that their motivation must be to “just flaunt their relationship in everyone’s face” like they have alterior motives.
Now in this case where Adam Lambert may very well be intentionally flaunting his sexuality just to get attention and bolster his career, he probably will get more slack and attention as this has not yet become normalized compared to the constant barrage of heterosexual sexual expression and the objectification of women in particular that has become so commonplace.

By: Debbie Thurman

Debbie Thurman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:04:12 +0000

Valid question, Kevin. Don't know what others might say, but I think it's evident we can change our thinking about any number of things, given sufficient time or motivation. There is nothing like having a meaningful relationship with someone you then learn (as Andrew did with his friends) is gay or has something else going on in their life — perhaps a checkered past in another sense — to mess up your paradigms and cause you to hit the "reset button" in your mind. Love truly does cover a multitude of sins … or things we are uncomfortable with.

By: Debbie Thurman

Debbie Thurman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:55:49 +0000

Yes, Kevin, the two situations are different in that the one (gay displays of affection) touches something possibly primal in a great many folks whose guts just react, rightly or wrongly. I was merely pointing out that conservatives are often condemned outright merely for having these instinctive (to them) feelings. We all have to admit that pushing the envelope to roll back long-accepted mores is not a simple thing. There are many transoms out there to get over.

By: Debbie Thurman

Debbie Thurman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:54:36 +0000

Bill said: "let’s be real, to the conservative 'straight world', anything they see is too gay. when can we just let everyone be themselves, with out any judgement?"

Bill, I can well imagine someone interchanging the words "gay" and "conservative straight" in that statement, and feeling totally justified doing it — not that they would be.

There are conservatives gays in this world, too. My understanding, from hearing some of their observations, is that they get embarrassed over excessive eccentricity among fellow gays. It's a stereotype that Hollywood still proliferates for pure entertainment purposes.