Re-Dial: Could Clay be GOOD for the Gays?

Normally we would file this under the section of "Middle-American Crazies Suing for No Reason," but it seems that the class action lawsuit directed at the shocking allegations that Clay Aiken is a homosexual, might actually be a good thing for the GLBT community. The press release responding to Simon Cowell's comments from Larry King Live states:

"We have been dismayed to see our complaint characterized in the media as homophobic. That is not our intention and while central to our complaint it is regrettable that Mr. Aiken's sexuality has come under scrutiny. Our complaint is not about defaming Mr. Aiken or his sexual preferences. It is directed toward the deceptive practices of the record companies."

The history of the recording industry misleading the consumer through deceptive practices is documented from the recent settlement of New York Attorney General Spitzer's investigative probe into "Payola", the ongoing US Justice Department investigation into price fixing of music downloads, to the public spectacle of deceptions behind performers Milli Vanilli and Ashley Simpson's "live" performance on Saturday Night Live. The former fans believe that the companies' marketing and promotion behind Aiken was yet another deliberate attempt to mislead the consumer. "

The nine former Clay Aikens fans are essentially claiming that it was not the revelation of Clay's (alleged) homosexuality that bothers them, but the fact that his (alleged) homosexuality was kept a secret and not included in his marketing or promotion. They don't care that Aiken may be gay, they care that the recording industry does not want them to know if he is.

While operatorLA is all for one's privacy, we can't help but think that such a lawsuit may be a good thing. Shouldn't we all be upset if a celebrity is sold to us as 100% heterosexual meat, when behind closed doors they are a big ol' MO! We should all be outraged that one's homosexuality is considered something to be hidden and kept secret, that Big Business believes it would hinder sales or make a product less marketable. The more celebrities come out, the less "surprised" America will be when the next one does. This will eventually lead to an atmosphere where all of America will be able to accept an artist based on their work and talent rather than on the fact that they believe this artist to be heterosexual.

Come Out, Come Out, wherever you are!