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Some Clay Aiken fans apparently do not like being reminded that their favorite star is G-A-Y.
Now I know what Perez Hilton was talking about.
I profiled Perez 3-4 years ago for The Advocate for a story on gay bloggers. We were sitting at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in West Hollywood and he shared with me an anecdote about when he ticked off a bunch of Clay Aiken fans and, if I remember correctly, some even came looking for him at his HOUSE.
I’m probably about to tick off some fans right now.
Keep in mind that I don’t want to put a broad brush over anyone because it is clear Clay has many fans who really appreciate his music, his talent, and his journey from unknown to American Idol to big-selling artist to openly gay man on the cover of People magazine with his son. I’ve become a much bigger fan of Clay since he came out because it was uncomfortable to watch him get defensive or angry with interviewers who brought up his sexuality. Now he’s out publicly and no one can try and hurt him with these questions.
But the reaction to a recent item I posted on Clay’s new album indicates that there is at least part of his audience who do not want to be reminded – even in the most minor way – that the man is now one of the most famous gay men in America. It was so disappointing to read comments from so many people who were upset that I felt it necessary to write “the now openly gay Clay.”
Here is a sample of the remarks:
Susie: I’m a little annoyed that every entertainment site press announcement regarding Clay mentions his sexuality – that has nothing to do with his music! Why bring it up an article on his forthcoming album? … Nice article otherwise.
Sue: agree with Susie. What difference does it make if the man is gay. It’s his voice and talent you should be commenting on.
Judy: Totally agree with Susie~ Mentioning Clay’s sexuality is not necessary. It is ‘old’ news and has absolutely nothing to do with Clay’s voice..the awesome entertainer…the man that is he is!!!
Cara: I have to agree,,, what in the world does Clay’s sexuality have to do with this article whatsoever. Until that stops, nothing changes.
Ann: I agree Susie. Would this author say “And here’s a new upcoming CD by heterosexual singer, Justin Timberlake, etc.” It just doesn’t make sense to me.
Corrine: Susie said it better than I ever could — time to leave sexuality where it belongs — in a person’s private life.
JoJo: I agree with Susie’s comment above, why is it necessary to mention Clay’s sexuality when the article is about his music? Give it a rest people we all KNOW he is gay! Now lets put it to rest!
Molly: I was just about to echo what Susie, above, said about the gay issue. Just drop it and concentrate on the singing!
Val: Thanks for the article, and, I agree, there was no need to mention his sexuality. It’s all about his heavenly voice and the caring person he has shown himself to be.
Carolyn: Susie, ya beat me to it . I am actually pretty ticked off at yet another totally irrelevant gay reference. It’s old news, Greg. The man’s voice and charisma are what count.
Stargazer: The openly gay star thing has lost it’s ability to shock and awe. We all know it and we don’t care. We do, however, care about Clay’s fabulous voice and we care that we’re about to be blown away by some new music that is beautiful. Clay’s voice on these recordings is shock and awe and would be much better descriptor of the man and his music.
Cruz: First of all, “Claymate” is so 2003, and I’m not nor have I ever been a Claymate. I’m a loyal fan, no label necessary. Second, “openly gay” is important why? Because you say so? I don’t think so. Get over it already.
Donna: I agree with Susie about why Clay’s sexuality has to be mentioned all the time. Elton John is gay but you never hear his sexuality mentioned.Why can’t they just say Clay Aiken is covering the classics on his upcoming CD. I’m getting upset by the media always mentioning his sexuality. His sexuality has nothing to do with his music.
Cookie: Why does anyone care about anyone else’s life in their bedroom for crying out loud.,. Clay Aiken has the best voice out there.
Greg’s closing thoughts: Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I just want to say that when someone has the courage to come out – especially someone in the spotlight – it is not helpful to them to pretend it never happened. Don’t make us compartmentalize, try and grow with us and get over your own issues about it. We would prefer that you love us for who we are – not for a part of who we are.
I think the openly gay Clay Aiken would agree.
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Cate says:
Sorry, Greg, but as an Adam Lambert fan, I have to agree with the sentiments of the commenters. “We would prefer that you love us for who we are – not for a part of who we are.” That is why the emphasis on a performer’s sexual orientation is irrelevant in a review of his/her music. References to male, female, black, white, yellow, gay, straight, or bi, are not necessary to DESCRIBE an artist in this context. Orientation is only part of who you are!
Justyna says:
Okay, I’m not really sure who Clay Atkins is ’cause his fame is yet to reach either my country(oland), or me presonally ; and also I may be considered biased on account of being almost entirely homosexual(until proven otherwise), but I didn’t really understand those mentioned comments in a way that you did.
Granted I’m lazy, I’ve read thru only like five of them and then scanned the rest just generally, but for me they conveyed not the need to hide Clay’s orientation in a dungeon, lock it up and never speak of it again, but rather a notion that this is an already known fact, and delving on it on every given oportunity makes it seem like a kind of a handicap. It like calling a white singer :’ a talented singer’, while calling an Afro-American one a ‘talented black singer’, with the underlying idea of ‘talented despite blackness’.
The impression I received from these comments was rather positive really. As in :’We know he is gay, but the thing that we are interested in is his music, and not his private life.’ Isn’t that a dream come true of any equalistic society? To be able to live peacefully, do your job, fulfill one’s passion without one’s gender, race,orientation, age etc. getting in the way? Being perceived as a full person, not being reduced to one-dimentional quality? I know for sure, that as a woman in my society I’d sure like that.
On the other hand though, it is your blog, and as a blogger you happen to write about all lots of ppl- some of them gay some not.So for me it was actually helpful, because as I didn’t even know who Clay was before today, I knew even less about his orientation, or the struggle to reveal it. Now I’m informed, and I get why it may feel nice to repeat that info in the article, out of the sheer joy and empathy for Clive, who can now live his life more true to himself.
In conclusion I think you may have been a bit too harsh on your readers, but again: this is your blog, and beauty of blogging lies in it’s default subjectivity.
I hope I didn’t step on any toes,but if so blame it on me being a foreigner and not having enough of a grasp of finer details of American sociopolitics. I’m a fast learner so do inform me of that. 🙂
On another note I’ve been reading your blog for a while, and found it very interesting so just a little shoutout of appreciation here.
Justyna says:
(oland) should have said (Poland) really…
Greg Hernandez says:
Justyna, thanks for writing. You express yourself so well! Maybe you should have a blog! I’m glad you are a reader 🙂 xxoo
Justyna says:
Oh, I do have a blog, but it’s rather of little global importance on account of being rather self-serving, self-centric and ocasionally very silly.Also written mostly in Polish unless a fancy strikes me and I commit a once-in-a-while entry in English.
Which means you’re stuck with my readership, and- if time allows- onslaught of comments.
Cheers and keep up the good work 🙂
Also as a point of interest this year Europride takes place in capital
of Poland, Warsaw. And I’m really glad and yet amazed it’ll happen.
Poland is still such a deeply Catholic country, and there are still so many ppl very uncomfortable with the idea of the LGBT movement, that it’s ridiculous in the 21st century. It surely won’t be easy for the organisers, and people’s moods won’t be changed overnight (especially of elderly popole after a big LOUD party happening in the streets :>) but it’s a step in the right direction, to normalize things.
… and the rambling was supposed to show that a)I talk a lot b) I have ma LGBT social cred c) you need to shed some sparkly glamouur of Hollywood once in a while, and give us Europeans some love :))) (Somehow ‘give us some European love’ which popped in my head first, soonded better but propably more scandalous… Ah, the difficulties of the language *winks*)
Anyway Logging off, now. 🙂
joely says:
I totally get where you’re coming from. Orientation is so much more than your “private life.” (Show me one hetero who keeps his orientation private and I’ll show you . . . a closet homosexual.) “I know you’re gay, but let’s not talk about it because I’m okay with it,” says you’re anything BUT okay with it.
Cruz says:
Since you quoted me and misconstrued my comment, I have to respond. You are so into the gay, that you’re not listening. When Clay sings, he’s not gay, he’s not straight, he just is. I’m not conditioned to obsess over someone’s sexuality, as much as the media wants me to. Since Clay is not my lover or my boyfriend, nor have I ever desired him to be, what do I care what he is? It doesn’t matter Mr. Hernandez. And it shouldn’t matter to you. It shouldn’t matter to anybody. I’m straight, so I guess that makes me opening straight. I hope you know how ridiculous that sounds. But maybe that’ll go over your head too.
Bucky says:
I am pretty sure the the comment from Sue “agree with Susie. What difference does it make if the man is gay. It’s his voice and talent you should be commenting on” is my sister. She is a hugh fan of Clay and when I told her, before Clay came out, that I believed he was gay she made the same statement. The funny thing that my brother and me are both gay. She accepts us, but does not like to be reminded of it.
jerry says:
I get tired and annoyed when Pee Wee Herman is written @ and all pieces always mention his old old legal issue.
Unfortunately, it still helps to mention the gay thing over and over sos people remember it’s okay to be gay.
Lexxvs says:
Greg, as a pretty long time reader who didn’t stump upon your blog by accident I advice you not to feel bad for those comments. As it happened before –and surely will happen again- those are fans who act on mass when any of them find something that’s not up to their expectations –that is: totally worshiping their idol- and make a mutual call to fend whoever it is they idealize. They rarely will keep on visiting because they sweep the web just for news of their idols. They will attack whoever is in the middle regardless of what is written because they act with the Bush’s “with us or against us” mentality and they agree and support each other as a way to gain the strength they lack in logic.
So keep posting whatever you think about. Without opinions it would turn your site just into a news and photos blog with nothing to think about.