( This thread is not about the AMA performance Mods )

So, I am getting into this really heated debate with a young gay activist over Adam Lambert. He feels that Lambert's overt display of sexuality makes him groundbreaking while I consider his behavior more akin to a Madonna media stunt and use Elton John, David Bowie and George Michael as examples of groundbreaking lgbt men who actually concentrated on artistry versus media antics.

What say thee org? Is Lambert a queer groundbreaker or just a poser?

sosgemini said:

He baits people and then uses the discrimination card. he's pathetic in my opinion and I want to a real gay pop star.
[Edited 11/24/09 16:21pm]

who said this was grounbreaking? it was stupid, he wanted press and now he has it...mission accomplished

sosgemini said:

Ironically this is all coming up when its now 18years since the greatest frontman (and very Gay man) Freddie Mercury died. U see the difference was obviously the time periods of all, Elton,George and especially Freddie had to hide it. But not so much the hiding of it, because no one should have to hide, its the lack of talent behind it. Does anyone even know the song he was singing, doesnt anyone care about the artist. I mean George,Elton and Freddie were all hugely talented men that happend to be gay. With Lambert its more of this is what i am, and by the way i sing too. Thats not how to do it, thats why we have the glut we do in all industries. Tomorrow Kim Kardashian could have a song slap on some beats and throw a sexy shocking music video together mocking something and she will have a number one record or at least front page news for awhile. Its all so see through now. I cant believe anyone will defend anyones bullshit antics anymore, ITS PLAYED OUT!

this was a lame performance. I actually turned it off!

mimi07 said:

Exactly, at this point its so easy to manipulate the media who then manipulate the zombies (the public), this shit is held up in front of people like a "shiny object" that impresses idiots. I heard that at the MTV movie awards this coming year they are going to fly the balloon boy across the audience and have a guy dressed like Bin Laden shoot him down, and then have Adam Lambert give him mouth to mouth while on the floor.

mimi07 said:

i think the 16-22 year old queers of the world are calling it groundbreaking...or that's how i perceived things based on my conversation with a youngen on facebook.

mimi07 said:

It was a very Madonna-esque media stunt.

lastdecember said:

Elton had the biggest selling song of all time (still does, doesnt he?) after he came out, Bowie was out as "bi" and yet was very successful in the 70's, Michaels has had numerous internation hits after coming out...

That's why I mentioned those three...I didn't mention Mercury because, as far as I know, he never came out.

it was LAME it was like he ripped off Britney's Gimme More from the VMAs
[Edited 11/24/09 16:51pm]

sosgemini said:

Mercury never came out, and technically neither did Elton, Elton said he was BI in 1976 and his sales dropped off big time. Bowie (did he ever say it) and George was forced out pretty much. Mercury had a different time period when you could not be openly gay, people already thought it, but his biggest love in life was a woman, Mary Austin whom he left half of his estate to. The thing is that Though Mercury never came out, in the beginning of the 80's when Freddie cut his hair grew that Mustache and had the leather jacket, people assumed he was from the look, and then the "I want to break free" video dressing as a woman, that got them out of America all together.

lastdecember said:

and let's not forget

Rob Halford, one of the nicest men i've ever met

Elton never came out? He walked into Princes Di's funeral with his lover and they were announced...well, the US press announced them...Candle In The Wind/English Rose (or whatever it was re-named) was the song I was referring to but he also had hits with the Lion King soundtrack after he started discussing his partner in the press.

Unlike the past, grounds are very easy to break these days.

hmmm

the performance was sloppy, if it's groundbreaking it's for his GAY sexual expression in his art on national tv which to my knowledge is a first. Even GM continues to have females the idol of his affection in music videos long after he's come out.

yes it's nothing new, totally a page out of Madge's book (or even marilyn manson's) but that doesn't take away how impressive it is to FINALLY see outside of the gay clubs and festivals.

YES people have been out before Adam but even with pop performances becoming more and more 'sexual' and or erotic, Adam's one of the first to not de-gay himself on a main stage.

does that make sense??? Adam's performance has done nothing for my life but for some people i'm sure it really was groundbreaking and inspiring.


There IS a place for theatrics, ya know. you dont have to stand there and sing, that's boring for some people.

What performances ARE groundbreaking if not this one?
[Edited 11/24/09 17:21pm]

matthewgrant said:

agreed 100% but it shouldn't be at the expense of artistry.

WaterInYourBath said:

Did someone mention his stage presence.

sosgemini said:

Elton came out in a different climate, things were accepted than, lets not forget that Elton got married in 1984 to a woman for 2 years. It wasnt until he got sober in the very late 90's did he feel that he could fully be out

I just watched it and honestly dont see anything shocking about it? Did I miss something? Sam Harris was a better singer LOL, did he ever come out?

lastdecember said:

I'm not discounting any of that..all I am saying is that he had hits after he came out. Lambert didn't come out till after he tried (and lost) the AI title so they all had some level of "wait".

Americans get shocked by anything LOL. Heck UK is quite easily shocked too but wouldn't be by this I feel?

thesexofit said:

people love to CREATE drama, i don't think it matters where in the world

mimi07 said:

ya think?

i watched the performance online, and i didn't see anything shocking about it. madonna, britney, manson, etc....are always pushing the envelope. i don't know why GMA got all freaked out?

America is not ready for, and never will accept male homosexuality.
There is more acceptance in the Caucasian community, but still by and large, the African-American community rejects it.
To see two males kiss on national prime time tv is an abomination to the so-called moral majority. Notice they didn't get as outraged over the three way kiss of Madonna, Britany Spears and Christina Aguilera - but there has always been a double standard when it comes to lesbians and homosexuals (male).
I surmise in part because The Bible, that book written by mortal men, does not make any references to 2 women being intimate , it only sites examples of God calling it an abomination of two males knocking boots ( 7 references of such in the rag of rags).
Additionally the kiss by the female singers was done on MTV (which is cable), and the Lambert display was on regular network tv. Cable is far more liberal, and people have to pay for it.
The fact that some in this thread have mentioned that people like Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, etc. never officially came out, whatever that is, LOL -
their homosexuality is/was apparent, regardless of how many women they are seen with or indulge in fake marriages to.
There are so many homosexuals in music, sports and movies/tv, and 97% of them live their lives in denial, lies, cover-ups and 3 dollar billism.
When a celeb so-called comes out, it is a like 'woah' moment, but the females can do it and it seemingly does not harm their careers, but males - oh well, especially Black males.
Imagine if Will Smith, Mase, P Diddy (or whatever she is called this week), Tyson Beckford, Maleek Yoba, Tyrese Gibson, Johnny Gill, Prince, Chris Brown, Soulja Boy Tell Em, Usher Raymond, Dr. Dre, Arsenio Hall, Eddie Murphy and Tyler Perry were to all hold a press conference at the same time and say, "Yes we are all homosexuals".
Even Little Richard has never admitted, or Bobby Jones or Paul Morton, or Freddie Jackson, nor did the late Luther Vandross.

America is so full of shit - who should care what anyone's sexuality and/or lifestyle is...to each his or her own.
Once people can seperate the battle of choice versus born that way - then it will be better accepted. I guess their Christianity won't allow them to get around that, but they can get around all other so-called sins.. shaking my head at the hypocrisy.
[Edited 11/27/09 6:58am]
[Edited 11/27/09 7:00am]

I haven't seen it referred to as groundbreaking but it DID get over 1500 complaints so....

I don't know why ppl think no one got angry about the Madge, Brit, Xtina kiss. It damn near ended all their careers!

purplesweat said:

Exactly, I don't he trying to be groundbreaking. I think he wanted to just put on a show that followed the template set by Madonna, Britney, Gaga and any other bi-sexed-up performer.

It's only the ridiculous reaction and censoring of it that may turn it into something groundbreaking.

sosgemini said:

1. They're given Adam Lambert (too much?) credit because he is THE only gay artist to have this kind of performance that was NOT on cable TV.

2. You forgot to mention Freddie Mercury & Liberace.
[Edited 11/25/09 7:05am]

purplesweat said:

yeah none of them had much of a hit for awhile after that and that became a media frenzy, but also that was on MTV on the VMAs, its known for controversy, its not the show you bring you little ones to. The AMAs are usually much more tame. had Madonna, Brit and Christina kissed on the AMAs there stink would have been MUCH bigger.