WP/AP: GLAAD Voices Concerns Over 'American Idol'

[DeepModem Mom]

GLAAD Voices Concerns Over 'American Idol'
The Associated Press


NEW YORK -- Is "American Idol" homophobic? The Fox talent show elicited a response from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD) after judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson made what the gay rights group deemed questionable comments on last week's premiere episode.

On Tuesday's show, seen by a Nielsen-chart topping 35.5 million viewers, Cowell told one male contestant to "wear a dress" and Jackson asked another, "are you a girl?"

"The real offense here was in the producer's decision to add insult to injury by turning a contestant's gender expression into the butt of a joke," said Damon Ramine, a spokesman for GLAAD, in a statement posted on the group's Web site.

Ramine updated the situation Monday with another statement: "We've spoken with Fox and have entered into what we hope will be a productive, ongoing conversation about the show's representation and discussion of sexual orientation and gender expression."...


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/23/AR2006012301147.html

[Nightflurry]

1. As a gay man..

As a gay man who happened to see that show last week, I was not horribly offended. I don't watch American Idol, but for some reason I happened to tune into that episode. Simon was an ass, but with EVERYone, he just offends me in general. Jackson's quote is taken way out of context, and was completely unoffensive to me in the way he said it.

I still don't like the show, but I think this is being overblown. The two things that did offend me about this bit was Simon's attitude towards the obviously gay or transgendered boy, and the shows hyping it up before the event. The producers of the show were FAR more offensive and homophobic in the way they presented it than in the actual judge responses (I think Jackson made a fair attempt to act professional, and the question wasn't out of place nor offensive).

[LizW]

2. I saw it too.

I thought it was overhyped, too, to the point that it seemed they were trying to make it a freakshow when it shouldn't have been. (Many of the other people were FAR freakier!)

Unfortunately, the boy wasn't a good singer. It would have been really interesting what they would have said and done if he had been great.

I felt sorry for the boy because he said that he was embarrassed. That made me feel bad, but his family seemed very supportive.

My sons, 13 and 11, were watching, and they had lots of questions about transgender. My older son asked why he didn't just change his name to a girls's name and then no one would questioned him. My younger son asked some more specific stuff, and it made me realize that, as a straight woman, I don't even know the answers!

It all led to some good conversations with my kids about tolerance and difference.

[Nightflurry]

3. Well there ya go

It actually might have done some good then, least for your family.

I totally agree though, he was not a very good singer at all. If he'd been amazing then I'd be VERY curious to see the response.

[Marnieworld]

4. two words

clay aiken. Seriously, this is just bullshit. There are bigger fish to fry.