Speaking of Adam, here's a long article about him and the subject of gays in music. The comments are also interesting. Here's part of one:
Adam’s strongest attribute, besides his incredible voice, is his honesty. It can also get him into hot water periodically, but that is a risk he is willing to take. If some in the gay community want to "pass" or stay under the radar, that is fine. but Adam should not be ostracized for not choosing that route. I was thrilled for Adam’s sake when he came out in RS.
Most gay men aren't like Adam. If some are straight acting it doesn't mean they're "passing" or "flying under the radar." This is the stuff that bothers me. Most people just are who they are. For instance, Kris could be gay and be exactly as he is now, only gay. It wouldn't mean he was hiding anything, or that Adam is "braver" because Adam is a different kind of gay man. I was just at a party where there were about 50-50 gay and straight people, and you wouldn't be able to tell them apart unless you knew them. Unfortunately, many straight people seem to be under the impression that Adam is more "honest" when he is really just more of a cross-dresser, or more into S&M, or more unusual, or something. It's very unfortunate.
I think it’s kinda hard for the gay community to admire him. I can’t talk for everyone, but I do react as to how his marketing is set up. It’s just to caiter to his straight female fans. The photoshoot with a naked woman made that really clear. And how many times has he talked about finding women attractive and saying he wants to have sex with a woman? He’s only gay when it suits him and bi or hetero when he decides that’s where the money is. That makes him a coward and people don’t praise cowardice.
I think the above poster is referencing some stuff I have thought about. I don't necesarily think Adam is cowardly. But I do think he changes his spots depending on the situation, as I've said a few dozen times. I don't necessarily even blame him for it, we all do that in life at times. I guess I only have an issue with his hypocrisy if he then acts all misunderstood or persecuted for "just being who he is," since that does seem to vary.
He served as a role modle for the weird kids out there, inspiring and refreshing new ideas. I think what the gay & lesbian community had to realize is that to achieve the recognition, they have to stand out and show themselves. Hiding in the closet or taking the "safe" road will never get the biased straight to notice that they are actually normal. Straight and gay are actually all the same. Before knowing the Lambert person, I didn’t know who gays are and what they do. Subconsciously I regared them as abnormal. Matter-of-factly, I didn’t know them.
And you still don't know them! "Knowing" Adam is to know one gay person, not all gay people. It's like knowing one person from China and extrapolating all kinds of things about Chinese people based on that one acquaintance.
And again, this stuff about "taking the safe road' from someone who admits no knowledge of gay culture. "Hiding in the closet or taking the "safe" road will never get the biased straight to notice that they are actually normal." I think this is basically equating being a non-flamboyant gay to hiding in the closet. It's two entirely different things, obviously. I kind of get from a lot of posts on the boards that any gay person who is not as OTT as Adam is somehow hiding their true colors, while he is incredibly brave and doing what his peers all want to do but don't have the guts to do. That is so wrong-headed I can't even go into it. There are as many kinds of gays as there are straights. get a clue, people!