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Is Clay (Aiken) gay? You know we asked -- An Advocate Exclusive
The Advocate ^ | May 22, 2003 | Alonso Duralde

Posted on 05/28/2003 8:20:50 AM PDT by Mister Magoo

Is Clay gay? You know we asked

Advocate.com was on the scene in Los Angeles for the American Idol finale and couldn’t resist asking runner-up Clay Aiken backstage if he knew how many of his gay fans hope that he’s family too.

By Alonso Duralde

An Advocate.com exclusive posted May 22, 2003

OK, so when Fox offered me press credentials to attend the big climactic results show of the second season of American Idol, I figured I could write something funny for Advocate.com about fashion (season 1 finalist Christina Christian carried a small dog with her down the red carpet) or bad singing (did you hear season 2 finalist Rickey Smith butcher Earth, Wind & Fire during the medley? Ouch) or Paula Abdul (guess what, Miss Thing, I grew up wanting to be a critic). But all that got pushed aside after I stood up at the press conference after the show wrapped and asked runner-up Clay Aiken the big question: “A lot of your fan base thinks you’re gay. Any comment on that?”

First, a little background for those who haven’t been watching the show. Aiken has gotten a great deal of press over the course of the show because of the big voice that emanates from his scrawny body. Throughout American Idol, Aiken has had his own Extreme Makeover, changing everything from his hair (fluffed out to cover up his car door ears) to the removal of his nerdy spectacles. While teen girls and middle-aged moms went all swoony for Aiken, the gaydars of queer viewers nationwide were going off. Loudly. Here’s a performer, we thought, who can’t open his mouth without littering the Idol stage with hairpins. The fluttering eyelids; the high-pitched chuckle; the angry-diva faces pulled whenever Simon Cowell criticized him; the hammy, Sam Harris-meets-Mandy Patinkin show-tune vocalizing—just about everything Clay does reads as gay. I’m not saying that I know whether he’s queer or not, but if he isn’t, he’s a very gay-acting heterosexual.

Clay meets the press

My boyfriend talks about Aiken’s goal to become a special-needs teacher as one that screams out as a career track often pursued by gay men. And my boyfriend also points out that there’s a definite subset of closeted Christian males in their 20s (having been one himself) who have so successfully repressed their sexuality that they don’t even know that they’re really gay. And that brand of asexuality is also a hallmark of Aiken’s singing. For all his technical proficiency, there’s no feeling that he’s ever experienced the painful love he likes to sing about. There’s no heartbreak in that voice, and there’s certainly no sex. If there were really such a magazine as Non-Threatening Boy (a favorite of The Simpsons’ Lisa), Aiken would be the Crush of the Year.

Jim Verraros and Ejay Day

So anyway, back to Wednesday’s American Idol finale and the press conference. After Clay told a gushing female reporter that he’s looking for a girl who’s “not too primped and permed and curled,” I asked my question.

He looked right at me. Then, without a word, he looked at another reporter and called on him. Mind you,up to this point almost no reporters had been called on—it was one of those yell-out-your-question-or-forget-it situations. But Clay was definitely not going to answer my question, not even to give me some “I love all my fans” or “It doesn’t matter what people think, as long as they buy my album” bromides. I got nothing from him. I got the brush-off. I got a freeze-out worthy of Joan Crawford.

Ruben and Clay

The generous interpretation of this is that he thought I was from the National Enquirer or some other supermarket tabloid, out to dig up dirt. Because after all, we all know the worst thing you can say about someone is that they’re gay, right? And it’s not like American Idol is dying to have an openly gay singer on the show: The Advocate left a million messages about Jim Verraros on Fox publicity voice mail during his stint on the program, but he ultimately came out in this magazine only after Idol was over. So what if British Pop Idol winner Will Young’s album topped the U.K. charts after he came out of the closet? Homosexuality is a subject the Idol-makers would just as soon avoid, apparently.

As to the not-so-generous interpretation of Aiken’s silence, I leave that for readers to figure out.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clay; gay; homosexual; idol; mycousinknowsclay
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To: Mister Magoo
He's not "Gay" but he is very "Happy"
101 posted on 05/28/2003 10:17:54 AM PDT by tophat9000
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To: Mister Magoo
And my boyfriend also points out that there’s a definite subset of closeted Christian males in their 20s (having been one himself) who have so successfully repressed their sexuality that they don’t even know that they’re really gay.

Chilling line.

102 posted on 05/28/2003 10:20:27 AM PDT by Under the Radar
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To: Corin Stormhands
>>The problem is the gay agenda says they're "normal."

As my M.D. friend says, "normal" in the same way someone with Mongoloidism/Trisomy21 is "normal".
103 posted on 05/28/2003 10:21:45 AM PDT by FreedomPoster
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To: Howlin; Constitution Day
Alright Howlin since you know him personally I'll take your word for it. I've known a couple friend of my own family that were exactly like him and all of them are now married. Well there is one that isn't but we won't go there ;)
104 posted on 05/28/2003 10:22:40 AM PDT by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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To: Under the Radar
You mean because it's so stupid?
105 posted on 05/28/2003 10:22:55 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: Constitution Day
I can only speak for myself here, but as a die-hard Clay fan, it's annoying to see the "Clay is Gay" theme recur over and over and over and over....

Admittedly, I take protecting his reputation way too seriously! My amternal instinct to protect the younger crowd! LOL!

Maybe it's also because he reminds me of me! I was a tormented nerd in school and the horrible things folks said to and about me hurt deeply!

106 posted on 05/28/2003 10:23:48 AM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Deep roots are not reached by the frost..)
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To: dandelion
Very good post.
107 posted on 05/28/2003 10:24:50 AM PDT by Under the Radar
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To: Mister Magoo
Ya know what...who really gives a sh!t...Hell, if it weren't for the obvious, we'd be asking if Ruben was fat or black?

It serves no purpose to continue to instill sexual preferences, race or physical appearance in all matters irrelevant...other than to continue to divide the masses and fuel controversy...makes me sick...
108 posted on 05/28/2003 10:26:38 AM PDT by grumple
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To: Constitution Day
amternal s/b maternal.

I was also a bit of a class clown since it was better to laugh at myself than be laughed at in a mean-spirited way.

109 posted on 05/28/2003 10:26:39 AM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Deep roots are not reached by the frost..)
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To: Howlin
You mean because it's so stupid?

What flashed in my mind was one gay man saying to another, "You know, there is a small number of young Christian men out there who are quite vulnerable to our charms. I found out who I was by way of generous introduction from a friend. Let's not be too hasty to dismiss these young, ernest, Christian men from our midst. You never know..."

110 posted on 05/28/2003 10:34:57 AM PDT by Under the Radar
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To: Under the Radar
Ah, recruiting.
111 posted on 05/28/2003 10:35:54 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: lulabelle
giddyup.
112 posted on 05/28/2003 10:37:30 AM PDT by onehipdad
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To: Howlin
And you thought...?
113 posted on 05/28/2003 10:42:56 AM PDT by Under the Radar
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To: RMDupree
"Here's the link to the video wall. Click on the thumbnail next to "Clay? Not a fan."

Man that guy who does those interviews needs his A$$ kicked big time.I have a feeling Clay was ready to do that...Why would they even let that bozo with little to no talent even interview those kids.He put them on the spot bigtime!

114 posted on 05/28/2003 10:43:44 AM PDT by oust the louse
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To: onehipdad
Just read your profile. You are indeed one hip dad.
115 posted on 05/28/2003 10:43:44 AM PDT by Laura Earl (It's the ASPARTAME!!!!)
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To: tophat9000
One of my best friends in high-school was the happy and gentle kind for the most part. Lots of people thought he was gay. He got kicked out of school for awhile after the school bully called him gay-boy one too many times. My friend quietly put his books down, walked up to the guy without saying a word and punched him. Layed him out cold. Broke his jaw in two places. He told me he wished he hadn't been wearing cowboy boots at the time - not very good traction! (He was a black belt in karate.)
116 posted on 05/28/2003 10:46:16 AM PDT by geopyg (Democracy, whiskey, sexy)
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To: RMDupree
I didn't know it was a recurring theme.
I do understand your instincts though, having been a nerd myself. :)

Take care.

CD

117 posted on 05/28/2003 10:46:26 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Under the Radar
I thought just what I posted; that they WANT to believe that.
118 posted on 05/28/2003 10:49:10 AM PDT by Howlin
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To: oust the louse
I believe they are all actually friends in a way. I say this since one of the interviews with Josh Gracin showed them playing pool together.

It appears to be a love-hate relationship. :)

The other Clay interview with the Jaded Journalist is quite funny as well!

119 posted on 05/28/2003 10:49:29 AM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Deep roots are not reached by the frost..)
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To: Constitution Day
From one former nerd to another, thanks! *grinning*

My eldest daughter starts kindergarten this fall. I'm so distraught! I hope she doesn't go through what I did.

120 posted on 05/28/2003 10:50:58 AM PDT by RMDupree (HHD: Deep roots are not reached by the frost..)
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