I just got the new issue of OUT magazine in the mail yestaerday, and I was living for all the amazing articles on out artists such as Wanda Sykes, Adamo Ruggiero, Lee Daniels, Adam Lambert, Neil Patrick Harris, and OLTL soap hunk Scott Evans. What I wasn't banking on hearing was some anal-retentive handlers causing shit behind-the-scenes. That'a according to gossip columnist Michael Musto. Word on the street is that Adam Glambert's "handlers" didn't want him on the cover of OUT alone, because he would have been redeemed "too gay!"
Michael Musto reports that OUT editor Aaron Hicklin told him "Adam's people were reluctant to let him appear on the cover. They only let it happen if it was a group shot, preferably including someone straight...Out was urged not to make Adam too gay in the shot...They were also informed that Adam probably wouldn't be able to attend an Out 100 event because they didn't want to jeopardize his record sales."
Ummmm if you were all worried about him jeopardizing his record sales, maybe you shouldn't have had him do that very queeny album cover. I hope his handlers aren't trying to turn Glambert into another Gayken, because if you want gays (aka the most loyal music buyers when it comes to artists we love) to buy his music and support him, it would be wise not to alienate his fan base. Otherwise, he will have a flop on his hands. The cat's pretty much out of the bag. Allowing Adam to be himself is what got him this far. I already let him slide with that atrocious interview he did for "Details" where he tried to play the bisexual card. I'm not saying gay guys don't like making out with women (hell, I do it all the time), but this feels like the same shit they pulled back in the day with David Bowie and the very first openly gay pop singer to come out back in the day
The very reason I became a fan of Glambert is because he, like Christian Siriano on project Runway decided to not only unapologetically let his flame burn bright, but refused to play bu the rules that all the other contestants played by. Adam never played it safe, and that's how they should market him. As I have said time and time again, I have much more respect for those who live their truth, and aren't afraid to be themselves, rather than deal with some fake ass who's only goal is to satisfy everyone so that greedy execs can make money off of him. Well send them a memo that not everyone is going to like Adam's music or him as an artist, especially because he's flamboyant, unapologetic, and gay. it just is what it is, and that's okay. The sooner they can get that through theur thick heads, the better off we'll all be as musicians, and as music lovers. Now on the flip side of this, Aaron should have tried to see where Adam's handlers were coming from, instead of airing dirty laundry in his magazine. While it is Musto's job to report the dirt, Aaron was a bit unprofessional in his slamming of Lambert. If he keeps this up, not only will he have one less openly gay celebrity in his magazine, he may start to scare off other future stars, based on this letter alone. Then OUT will become like every other publication made for a gay audience...filled with gay friendly pop singers and dance divas. And don't get me started of your lack of color in your magazine. We'd be here all day!
Check out Hicklin's full editor's letter to Adam, below...
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 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.
Aaron Hicklin, Editor in Chief
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