heave-ho.org

I saw the American Music Awards and Adam Lambert’s appearance. While I didn’t particularly care for the song, I did appreciate the theatrical portion of his number.

What shocked me was the abrupt cancellation of Lambert’s scheduled appearance on Good Morning America because they couldn’t chance that sort of behavior in the morning when children may be watching. Oh, good night, people! Did they honestly expect a rerun of his appearance from the AMA’s? GMA doesn’t have the sound stage or the props and it’s unlikely that Lambert would travel with such a large entourage that would facilitate such a repeat performance.

I loved watching Lambert on American Idol. It wasn’t his Rock n’ Roll numbers I enjoyed so much, it was the way he could turn an old standard into something like I’d never heard before. It was artistry – he took license and it paid in spades.

But I digress… his number was sexually charged and it was hot. Prime time worthy? Perhaps not in this puritanical society, but a lot more tame than what I suspect your kids are viewing on the internet. Good Morning America decided Adam Lambert isn’t ‘their’ kind of entertainer. I’ve been a loyal viewer of Good Morning America since my teens and since I’m pushing 50, I’d put myself in the category of ‘Loyal Viewer’. I’ve seen many entertainers appear on GMA who have done precisely the same thing Lambert did and they didn’t get the axe… with one glaring difference: the other entertainers weren’t gay and they didn’t appear on network television kissing a member of the same sex. I guess it boils down to GMA execs being bullied by 1,500 e-mails from Neo-Cons who could benefit from ANY sort of sexual gratification. It’s a double standard and one that wouldn’t be tolerated if Lambert were ANYTHING other than homosexual. Face it, being gay in America is the one thing you can be and not be protected by public outcry for equality – being gay in today’s America means you should be afraid – very, very afraid.

Call it what it is: homophobia. So many Americans have been seduced by ultra conservatives who used to hide under the shield of the moral majority. I don’t think they’re very moral and I’m not even certain they’re the majority, they’re just the outspoken fringe who manage to keep the natural progression of things in some sort of sick time warp. It is what it is – a double standard and we, as Americans must stand up for what’s right. While I’ve always considered Good Morning America to be an open and progressive forum, they are allowing themselves to be cowed into a corner by 1,500 rabid e-mailers… out of how many viewers who saw the show that night?

Good Morning America has long been fighting against The Today Show for the top spot in the ratings. They needn’t worry about the likes of Adam Lambert – they should worry about truly progressive, open-minded Americans like me. They may have kept their 1,500 e-mailers as viewers…but they’ve permanently lost me.