Gay group questions 'American Idol' judges

[estranged4life]

GLAAD takes issue with comments about contestants' masculinity

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."

A spokesman for "American Idol" said Monday that Fox had no comment.

The popular Fox show, now in its fifth season, airs Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ET.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

GLAAD takes issue with comments about contestants' masculinity

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."

A spokesman for "American Idol" said Monday that Fox had no comment.

The popular Fox show, now in its fifth season, airs Tuesdays, 8 p.m. ET.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Anybody who uses the phrase "gender expression" deserves to be the butt of any and all jokes.

[SuzeQuze]

I'm not sure how the producer turned the "gender expression" into the butt of a joke. The boy, and he's just a boy, has a feminine haircut and features and since he is so young it really isn't immediately apparent that he is a boy. The high heels do not make it any more clear. He said people mistake him for a girl. Randy said, "You're not a girl?" Maybe the kid saying "People mistake me for a girl." was setup by the producer.

If the boy had been a phenomenal singer he would have been praised for that. He was horrible. I really felt bad for him since he really thinks he's good. His mother was there, having put on too much self tanner and white lipstick, a pretty lady but put together all wrong. She said "He puts it out there, he's flamboyant." That is fine I just think she is not really helping him. She could help him more, perhaps by, giving him singing lessons rather than lavishing false praise on his talent.

He has a nice tone to his voice (just too nasal) but was off key and switched keys in the middle of the song even. It really was bad. Anyway, I don't think they were really being homophobic, he was just a bad singer. However, I did sort of cringe at Simon because he said something about the boy having to figure some things out. It seemed to me the boy had and he likes to be feminine! So that may be where GLAAD felt they needed to step in.

[jannieC]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

I'm not sure how the producer turned the "gender expression" into the butt of a joke. The boy, and he's just a boy, has a feminine haircut and features and since he is so young it really isn't immediately apparent that he is a boy. The high heels do not make it any more clear. He said people mistake him for a girl. Randy said, "You're not a girl?" Maybe the kid saying "People mistake me for a girl." was setup by the producer.

If the boy had been a phenomenal singer he would have been praised for that. He was horrible. I really felt bad for him since he really thinks he's good. His mother was there, having put on too much self tanner and white lipstick, a pretty lady but put together all wrong. She said "He puts it out there, he's flamboyant." That is fine I just think she is not really helping him. She could help him more, perhaps by, giving him singing lessons rather than lavishing false praise on his talent.

He has a nice tone to his voice (just too nasal) but was off key and switched keys in the middle of the song even. It really was bad. Anyway, I don't think they were really being homophobic, he was just a bad singer. However, I did sort of cringe at Simon because he said something about the boy having to figure some things out. It seemed to me the boy had and he likes to be feminine! So that may be where GLAAD felt they needed to step in.

Very well put (especially the part about the mother with the self-tanning and white lipstick- thank you). What I didn't understand about this boy is that he seemed so surprised that anyone would think he was a girl. Everything about him screams girl from his clothing to his haircut to his plucked eyebrows. And he really was a bad singer, despite the fact that his people encourage him otherwise. But isn't that the whole jist of American Idol- people who can't sing surrounded by family and friends who tell them they can?

[ontheEdgeof17]

Does Clay Aiken ring a bell? Jim V. from Season 1? ...and Carrie Underwood just screams lesbian.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

Does Clay Aiken ring a bell? Jim V. from Season 1? ...and Carrie Underwood just screams lesbian.

If she has a go with Kelly Clarkson, I wanna watch!

[hayley]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

If she has a go with Kelly Clarkson, I wanna watch!

Me too!

I hadn't seen the show and thought people were exaggerating when talking about him looking like a girl. Then I saw a clip of it, and oh my!

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Anybody who uses the phrase "gender expression" deserves to be the butt of any and all jokes.

Why?

From what I can tell, the judges ventured closely into inappropriate "humor". GLAAD can be over the top at times, but I think having some conversations with the producers is a good idea.

After all, the less that it is considered acceptable to make gays and femmy guys the butt of jokes, the better the chance people like Aiken won't feel the need to be in the closet.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Why?

From what I can tell, the judges ventured closely into inappropriate "humor". GLAAD can be over the top at times, but I think having some conversations with the producers is a good idea.

After all, the less that it is considered acceptable to make gays and femmy guys the butt of jokes, the better the chance people like Aiken won't feel the need to be in the closet.

What about Justin Guarini? I agree with you, Ryan.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

What about Justin Guarini?

SNAP.

I just choked on my cracker with that one.



Those who make fun are insecure themselves. I have no problem being the butt of gay jokes. It used to bother me when I wasn't comfortable with myself. Now, it's all good. It's about them, not me.

[SuzeQuze]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

SNAP.

I just choked on my cracker with that one.



Those who make fun are insecure themselves. I have no problem being the butt of gay jokes. It used to bother me when I wasn't comfortable with myself. Now, it's all good. It's about them, not me.

Ain't it the truth (3 snaps in a z formation)! Glad I could be of assistance with your laughter quota today.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

SNAP.
I have no problem being the butt of gay jokes.

Nor do I, but not everyone is as self-assured as we are. When the playing field is equal for gays, then I'll learn to lighten up a bit.

[ontheEdgeof17]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

Nor do I, but not everyone is as self-assured as we are. When the playing field is equal for gays, then I'll learn to lighten up a bit.

Well, it's not going to be when GLAAD and other groups whine around. They blow everything out of proportion. "American Idol is homophobic". Bull****. They make fun of everybody, not just the gays.

[Rickypt]

GLAAD didn't call American Idol "homophobic". They have a statement on their website outlining their specific comments about the show and that false quotes have been attributed to them. www.glaad.org

[skcin]

You guys are saying "butt" a lot.

And that kid DID look like a girl. It really seemed like he was trying to look like a girl, so I probably would've asked the same thing. He wore a white boat-neck blouse anf has his hair cut into a BOB, for Chrissake!