ADAM LAMBERT ACCUSED OF HOMOPHOBIA

Openly gay American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert has been accused of homophobia after his representatives said that they were wary of him coming across as “too gay”.

The claim comes from Aaron Hicklin, the editor of Out magazine which has just included Lambert in its list of top 100 gays in a recently published issue and featured him and other celebrities, such as Cyndi Lauper, on the cover.

According to Hicklin, Lambert’s representatives, 19 Entertainment, told the gay magazine that they were uncomfortable with him appearing on the cover alone and at the magazine’s events.

“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,” writes Hicklin in an open letter to Lambert in the magazine.

“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).”

Hicklin goes on to say: “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.

The journalist who interviewed Lambert, Shana Naomi Krochmal, also expressed her surprise at 19 Entertainment’s requests made before she spoke with the star.

“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.”

Lambert briefly commented on Hicklin’s letter on Twitter: “Dear Aaron, it’s def not that deep. Chill! Guess ya gotta get attention for the magazine. U too are at the mercy of the marketing machine. Until we have a meaningful conversation, perhaps you should refrain from projecting your publications’ agenda onto my career,” he wrote.