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In a pop culture moment reminiscent of "Brokeback Mountain's" heartbreaking Oscar defeat, heavily favored Adam Lambert lost to Kris Allen last night in the "American Idol" finale.
Admittedly, I haven't watched the show but it became impossible to escape Lambert-mania. The YouTube videos of his haunting performances are ubiquitous; his androgynous visage already graces magazine covers; and America, generally, seemed to be having an all-out love affair with the guy.
Yet, predictably, Lambert lost to the bland, non-threatening and infinitely less talented Allen. The contest was hyped as blue state vs. red state. In other words, it was smear the queer time.
Despite all the hype about the end of the culture wars and the legalization of same-sex marriage in Iowa, America is not ready for a male 'Idol' who wears eyeliner, nail polish and outlandish costumes. Even Allen acknowledged after winning that the trophy should have gone to Lambert.
Lambert plays with gender roles in ways not dissimilar to David Bowie's groundbreaking antics decades earlier. But Bowie was mostly relegated to the fringes of pop culture and was certainly never embraced as an American idol.
And so America finds itself another dull pop star with nothing to say other than what producers and marketing execs coach him to say. It was a disappointing outcome, but stay tuned because, like Jennifer Hudson before him, Lambert has what it takes to eclipse the winner of the show and become a star on his own terms.
 Posted by Kevin Naff,
Washington Blade Editor | May. 21 at
6:03 AM | knaff@washblade.com
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