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Adam Lambert too gay? In a scathing letter, OUT editor Aaron Hicklin reveals drama behind cover shoot
So yesterday I featured the year-end cover of Out Magazine that revealed its top 100 people for 2009.
What I did not realize was all the drama behind Adam Lambert’s participation in the issue. Editor-in-Chief Aaron Hicklin explains it all in a letter in the issue.
Here it is in its entirety:
Dear Adam,
I like you, I really do. Although I’d never watched American Idol, I became a fan this year thanks to your unapologetic flamboyance and sexual swagger. It was refreshing to see someone playing by his own rules among so many cookie-cutters. And although you narrowly lost to Kris Allen, you were the real winner for those of us who saw your success as a test of America’s growing tolerance. That’s why we’re proud to have you in this year’s Out 100, along with all the other men and women who don’t believe their sexuality should be a barrier to success. It’s unfortunate, therefore, that your record label and management don’t share the same view.
We’re curious whether you know that we made cover offers for you before American Idol was even halfway through its run. Apparently, Out was too gay, even for you. There was the issue of what it would do to your record sales, we were told. Imagine! A gay musician on the cover of a gay magazine. What might the parents think! It’s only because this cover is a group shot that includes a straight woman that your team would allow you to be photographed at all — albeit with the caveat that we must avoid making you look “too gay.” (Is that a medical term? Just curious). Luckily, you seemed unaware that a similar caution was issued to our interviewer.
Perhaps we should have had you and Cyndi [Lauper] in a tongue lock. That would be radical. It’s odd, because this magazine has done covers with Pete Wentz and Lady Gaga — getting straight men and women to do Out is easy these days. It gives them cred. Getting gay stars like yourself is another matter. Much easier to stick you in Details, where your homosexuality can be neutralized by having you awkwardly grabbing a woman’s breast and saying, “Women are pretty.” So are kittens, Adam, but it doesn’t mean you have to make out with them. Imagine how much more radical it would have been to go down on a guy instead of that six-foot Barbie. We don’t think you would have a problem with that — why should you? — but your record label would, and letting them dictate the terms is the very opposite of rock ’n’ roll. And did you read the article? You would think your entire fan base was made up of women and heterosexual men, or “straight dudes” as the writer describes them, just so we can all be clear. No mention of your gay fans, which is kind of disappointing, don’t you think, given what your success represents?
We don’t want to sound ungrateful — you agreed to do our cover, and your interview is gracious and frank — but if the Out 100 has a purpose it’s to challenge the kind of apartheid that lays down one rule for gay mags and one for all others. We think you probably feel the same way — you even say as much — so we don’t mean to diminish your achievements this year. That’s why you’re in this issue. You’re a pioneer, an out gay pop idol at the start of his career. Someone has to be first, and we’re all counting on you not to mess this up. You have to find your own path and then others can follow. We just hope it’s a path that’s honest and true and that you choose to surround yourself with people who celebrate your individuality. The irony is that right now it would be easier to get Kris Allen to do a solo cover shoot for us. But only because he’s straight.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Lexxvs says:
May be I misunderstood what the editor said but… is he really lashing out against Lambert because of…. What exactly? Lambert is just in the beginning of his –open and successful- career and that means that not always he can do whatever he feels fit but have to rely on many people who surround him, so I don’t know what this editor is so resentful about. Bad attitude. Sounds like he had to swallow a big toad and he really hates Lambert even if he –purportedly- is happy with all the “gay out in the open” things. What’s the problem with him posing with a girl in a dashy way? Should he make out with a guy for all the world to see as a statement? I mean, it was just a photo shoot, being ironic if you want –cause Lambert sexuality is no secret anymore- and that’s it.
If this guy had principles, he would swallow his toad in silence. Or avoid having Lambert on the cover altogether. But having him and later whining about Lambert, that’s foul dude.
Jason says:
I completely agree with Mr. Hicklin’s outrage. The purpose of his magazine, and especially the Out 100, is for people to apologetically embrace their sexuality publicly. For Labert’s people to issue the caveat of “not too gay” if an offensive affront to Lambert’s cover-stature. Playing middle of the road, and not stepping out of line, and playing up the homo while hiding the sexual has been the cornerstone of subjugation for gays and lesbians for years. Lambert, or more directly his “people” are working to create a product and lose the purpose which I find offensive. He doesn’t have to make out with a dude, but he doesn’t have to fear coming off “too gay” either.
MW says:
But the editor is lashing out at Adam. It’s not him, it’s his people. but it’s NOT Adam. I think the editor needs to appropriately differentiate adam’s behavior from that of his people. It’s apples and oranges.
captivity hurts says:
Hicklin revealed the next day that the handler is GAY. Imagine that. Never mentioned it in the blasting letter. Snuck it in on Twitter. That changes the conversation entirely. Waiting for Hicklin to out the handler since he feels every gay person owes the world absolute adherence to being as unapologetic as possible and in fact take a leadership role even when unwanted.
I’m betting he said something like “So, not too gay-gay no Village People inspired shots, ok? And politics is off our radar now”.
Knowing he was a gay man that would not offend me a bit, I’d understand the language. THEN I’d either cancel the interview/shoot or further negotiate. Shana is being quite dramatic and should have gone and gotten her superior if unable to handle the negotiation. It happens with all pr handlers.
Gene says:
@Jason
Do you really think Adam Lambert fears coming off “too gay” ?? Look at his album cover! If they are trying “not to offend potential costumers”,(who? homophobic ones?) why let Adam even be on the cover of the gay magazine, or give a four-part interview? In the interview, he talks about his sexuality and his gay relationships and frankly says that he likes pretty boys. Are there any other openly gay young celeb who talk about his sexuality so openly like that? Plus, the OUT100 cover looks no different then previous covers so I don’t get that editor’s complaint. None of the other people on the cover even look remotely gay. As a matter of fact I think maybe Adam is the only one wearing makeup out of the guys. What did he have to do more, ride a rainbow unicorn?
Lippi says:
I am gay. But I agree there is a line when people are too gay or too straight. He needs to focus on his talent of being a singer…not his talent of tongue twisting on stage with a boy toy.
But some people like to throw the gaydome into everyone’s face. Just like the bible beaters do.