Adam Lambert is one of OUT's Class of 2009

[EXPAT]

http://www.queerty.com/wp/docs/2009/11/cover_2009.jpg

 

However, the editor of OUT was put off by Adam's handlers on what they could talk about in the interview and he wrote an open letter to ADAM. Meow!!

 

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, OUT

[EXPAT]

More of the story

 

To back up his story, the journalist who interviewed Adam has also released a statement, detailing her part in what unfolded with Adam's people.

 

She writes:

 

"Let's get the most obvious thing out of the way first: Yes, it is totally absurd to imagine that anyone thinks they can somehow control or manage how gay Adam Lambert seems on any given day. You've seen him, right? Maybe read an interview with him? That's exactly what I love about Adam, that in addition to being able to sing his face off (his words), he is defiantly, outrageously campy and queer—and that he seems to have such a sense of humor about it, and a willingness to shake things up.

 

That said: Despite plenty of back and forth between the magazine and the label about the cover and the photo shoot, I still wasn't prepared for what happened when I showed up at the 19 Entertainment offices for the interview. I briefly met Adam, and then the publicist and I walked out to the balcony, at which point I was cautioned against making the interview "too gay," or, "you know, gay-gay." Specifically I was discouraged from asking about the March on Washington that upcoming weekend or other political topics. I pointed out the difference between the Advocate, Out's sister newsmagazine, and Out, which is more broadly a men's fashion and lifestyle book, but obviously made no promises one way or the other. It was pretty awkward, as if we were discussing two totally different people—an Adam who doesn't seem to have any real filter when talking about his life or his opinions, and an Adam who could somehow be contained, made safe for mainstream America.

 

When Adam joined us, the publicist left, and Adam and I sat down for a little over an hour on our own. You can read a transcript of it here. (It was very lightly edited, mostly to remove blathering set-up for questions on my part or redundant or vague discussion of an album that, in early October, didn't even contain a track listing.) He clearly has no trouble expressing himself on any issue, be it political, cultural, sexual or musical.

 

I still wish I'd been more surprised when I was met with such a ludicrous and offensive request. I am a journalist. I ask questions. Out is a magazine whose primary audience is gay men. Is anyone confused about that? I've been doing this for a long time and though I've been generically warned in a similar fashion before—"let's make it upbeat and fun!" reps often say, or "just talk about the album/movie/TV show!"—it's never been quite so egregious or with such an obvious expectation that I would comply.

 

When I filed my piece I included in the email what happened that day, and like Aaron's letter from the editor, it was full of anger. (Aaron at least has the excuse of being British, and in my experience when he's pissed off, everything he writes sounds more formal.) This is our profession, as much as Adam's is singing and entertaining. A decision to celebrate and respect that talent is why none of the circumstances surrounding the interview were mentioned in my piece within the actual portfolio.

 

I think Aaron's very right to point out that this scenario—a pop star at this level out from the get-go—is basically unprecedented. I've seen such striking change in even the last two or three years of how comfortable industry gatekeepers and their clients are in handling such new territory. We're witnessing a changing of the guard, and it's bound to overlap a bit in the middle, creating these strange moments where we work with both proudly out stars and their reluctant handlers, sometimes at odd with each other even when they have the same ultimate goals. I'm sorry it happened like this, too. But I'm looking forward to Adam Lambert having a long career, and to him proving every single one of us wrong in one way or another.

 

– SHANA NAOMI KROCHMAL"

[Guest zipperzone]

Sounds like all Adam needs is a new record company.

[operalover21]

He would get my vote as the most "overrated" gay man of 2009. I find him utterly boring and predictable. 5 minutes listening to that screechy voice had me running to my Judy Garland records.

[EXPAT]

I just listened to his entire new album and it's brilliant!! You can hear it on iLike where it is streaming!!!

[NYTomcat]

I just listened to his entire new album and it's brilliant!! You can hear it on iLike where it is streaming!!!

 

Agreed, I think the album has great merit. They toned down the highest "screeches", operalover and it works well. Admittedly, Vocally he's no John Barrowman but not bad.

[operalover21]

Agreed, I think the album has great merit. They toned down the highest "screeches", operalover and it works well. Admittedly, Vocally he's no John Barrowman but not bad.

 

And he's not nearly as yummy as John Barrowman either but I guess he has the "hype." I'm just not into guys who try to look like girls. Makeup, highlights in the hair, pudgy bodies, acne-scarred faces, teased hair. What is this? The 1980s? He just does nothing for me.

[josephga]

I listened to the first 4 songs just didn't care for it.