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June 02, 2009

Adam Lambert is My Equality Hero

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the rumors swirling around American Idol contestant Adam Lambert - was he gay or wasn't he? I concluded that of course he was, and who cared anyway. It is all about his music, and I am simply enthralled with his talent.

Since that time, Adam has been incessantly asked by reporters whether he is gay - and he has gracefully avoided making any statement other than that he has nothing to hide. I suppose the media attention is to be expected.

But what I did not expect and what is far worse, in my opinion, is the fact that he has been pressured by some the gay community to make a public statement owning up to his orientation - and harshly criticized for not being their latest controversial poster child. The reason that has irritated me to no end is because I always thought that what gay people wanted was a world in which they could just be themselves without anyone making a big deal out of it. Instead, it has appeared they want to keep the "them and us" battle going on and on.

Meanwhile, Adam has just gone on about his business, refusing to play that game, making amazing music and providing entertaining interviews, and carrying on with his normal, private life.

This morning when I read the headlines about his night out with his boyfriend last night, I was tickled pink. He was pictured walking out of a club hand in hand with his boyfriend, not a hint of shame on his face, just as happy as he could be to see everyone. He did not address the fact that he was out with another man or make any kind of issue of it.

He has very coolly handled this question in such a way that he is not asking anyone to care one way or another about what he does or who he is. He is not trying to be anything or say anything or change anything or call attention to anything. He believes in a world of equality and is acting on that belief by simply being equal. Isn't that exactly what it's all been about?

Posted by Becky at June 2, 2009 03:01 PM