Point-Counterpoint: Clay Comes Out

(Getty Images) Everyone’s got an opinion on the news that Clay Aiken’s come out of the closet publicly as a gay man.  But not everyone shares the same view on this topic…

Gay.com bloggers Clarke Hamlin and Carter Todd have two very different takes on the Aiken story.  Which view do you agree with the most?  Read both posts below and weigh in!

Read it now: Carter Todd's "pro" Aiken piece

Read it now: Clarke Hamlin's "con" Aiken piece

Comments

[Xicano87]

clay aiken gay... wow i'm shocked...like who knew???
he could have fooled me...
I'm being way to sarcastic.

[James]

It is his personal business, none of ours. It is great that such a public figure has come out of the closet, but as Neil Patrick Harris stated, it is still my private life. Best wishes to the new dad. He has taken on more responsibility than most of us ever will with a child.

[Nick]

I think Clay would have, like any other new artist, committed career suicide if he came out early in the game. Everyone knows it. Why do we try to judge when, if faced with the same choices, YOU would have chosen the million dollar paycheck over coming out. If you want to point the finger, blame society for being so close-minded. You would think now that we're in the "age of enlightenment", labels would no longer matter; however, stereotypes and infighting still exist even in those communities that complain the most about being discriminated against. It is time to wake up people and address issues that really matter. Why doesn't Gay.com keep its community informed about the fact the US is facing the worst economic chrisis since the Great Depression? How many gay men do you know are broke or have lost everything due to the poor financial climate we've been weathering? GET REAL!

[ca_panic_fan]

clay aiken gay?!? yawn... not newsworthy.

[Click2GetMe on Gay.com]

Cool that he came out. I'd rather hear more about the story behind him having a son and if he has a partner.

[Ken Williamson]

so sorry, but you don't get big awards from me when you wait until you career is slagging to make the big announcement. I am happy he can be himself now but I don't need to hear from him at GLADD or HRC. Not a role model for me.

[asdf]

who the hell gives a damn.

[George]

Clay is gay???
A) Who cares!
B) He's such a media whore!
C) It's a slow news day!
D) All of the above!

I'm thinking "D"

[Jonathan]

I think that Clay is gay.

[PAUL!]

Its funny how over the years clay aiken has developed into a fusion of ellen degenerous, rod stewart, kojo, and barry mannilo, yet still manages to look like a pixy.

[chplhiltop]

I really hope that for Clay,his son and whomever is part of their lives,
be it the biological mother or his partner, can overcome peoples opinion
long enough to be happy and raise
a strong, bright and important person
and not have to worry about choices
made in a media based judicial system...screw what everyone thinks
be yourself Clay....

[Thomas]

leave the man alone let him live his life. You either like him and his music or you don't. Being gay is not somethint the wolrd can accept. Be glad for thoes in your life that love you. Gay women have kids let gay men have thme how ever they must

[Doug Landrum]

Dear Mr. Hamlin....let's give Clay a break, shall we? When most of us came out, or those who will come out, we usually have only to deal with parents, siblings, close friends and co-workers. Before dealing with his sexuality publicly, he was thrust into the spotlight via his vocal talents. Like many contestants, I'm sure he wanted to win but who ever knows to what level one will rise competing in such a medium. Mr. Aiken hit the jackpot. Even as #2, he, in the eyes of many, became a favorite crooner, an idol of sorts and, yes, even a roll model. Even for those of us not thrust into the public spotlight, the initial steps of coming out can be threatening and traumatic. To have to deal with new found celebrity AND your sexuality is a large platter to carry. And in closing, in all the literature I've read...there doesn't seem to be an "offical" time to come out. Doesn't each one of us come out in his/her own time and way of choosing?

[Gilbert Nieto]

Clay is not gay, you just wish he was. lol The next they will say is that Liberace was gay. So obvious

[Danny]

I feel first of all, its his choice when to come out, BUT, with that said, in this day and age, who really cares AND why deny it? That's my issue... why hide it for so long? There are people who will never understand us "gay guys", but its not a choice, and yes, it is hard to come to terms with....so many issues from parents to religion, to just saying, YES I AM GAY! Face it, we all had to come to a point when we couldn't deny it and say that! Anyway, wish him the best and lets move on....OLD TOPIC! We all knew the answer to the question, is clay gayken? :)

[daniel]

I could care less, I would never date him.

[Brian Campbell]

Can we give him back to the straights? We dont want him...He turned his back on us and now he wants us to accept him...please...he sold his soul to the devil..

[greg]

can't help it. still think he's cute as hell. come out with me clay!!!!!!!!!

[David]

Never heard of him until now. Just anoter american-not-at-the-centre-of-the-universe. However, as a fellow human being, he can make his decisions about 'coming out' when he is ready.

[wolf43]

Does it still matter who's gay or who's straight? grow up people

[Jody]

Clay's music doesn't appeal to the gays. I doubt that he has any really big gay fans. Seriously, who in the gay community really cares? He will not get a boost in record sales just because he came out, at least not by gay men.

His popularity has waned. Spamalot isn't selling tickets. This is a media ploy in the hopes that gay men will flock to the musical and increase sales of his albums.

It won't work.

[sj]

I think Clay is a disgrace to the gay community and wish he would have never came out. What an insult.

[sean]

Everyone with half a brain new that he was gay from the first time we saw him on American Idol. I don't know what sickens me more
1) That we still live in a country that would lessen the celebrity opportunity of a newcomer who is out or 2) That we still have people in the public eye that don't realize that denying who you are sends a terrible and frightening message to our gay youth... taking away courage and hope
I really don't care about someones sexual orientation - just when they deny it to the public - they don't have to tell me up front, just don't lie about it.
Thanks for reading my rant...

[T]

Not really a big surprise to most, but good for him for finally coming out! I don't think he should have denied himself for so long. I guess some his fans will now be called "Gaymates" ??!!

[Lance]

Not shocked at all. But where did this baby come from?

[H]

It's really SELFISH to spend thousands of dollars to conceive a baby. There are thousand of abandoned children out there that need parents.

[tealtripo]

We all knew he was gay, I can understand why he held back it is not always to admitt your trus self exspecialy when the conservatives try to condem or destroy you after the fact comes out.

Congrats for your decision and same for your new baby

[Jamey]

He's absolutely disgusting. I agree with Sean.

[corrective_unconscious]

>so sorry, but you don't get big awards from me when you wait until you career is slagging to make the big announcement.

He got half a million from "People" for the coming out spread. All I tend to get is a shrug.

[Ali Khan]

way to go clay ! do what ever it takes stick to your guns and don't let anything bogg u down !
love ya :)
Ali

[Cam From Aus]

I have no idea who this guy is (mustn't be much since we dont hear about him in Australia), but the first thing that went through my head was "Publicity Stunt". I can't be far off if only the american world knows about him

[Arthur Graves]

Realy do not care he not very good looking to me. But realy not into tv or movies star that much so I realy don't care if there gay or not.

[ASianCuddler]

Congrats Clay, your the MAN! Ilove you baby...muahhh

[Perez Hilton]

lost all respect for him when he came out.

[MPA68]

I believe this country's ignorance is due to the fact that "we are everywhere" yet so many of us choose to stay in the closet. I know and understand it's everyones, own, private business but why should we be somebody else to please other people. Could you imagine if we all came out? Good God, it would be unbelievable. Oh my, there I go again slipping into my fantasy land where all gay people in the world came out.......snap back to reality. :(
Oh and about Clay, you would have to have been six feet under not to know.

[NoYay4GayClay]

I'm not buying into this 'yay for gay Clay' BS. He would have nothing to do with the gay community early in his career and now that the "ClayMates" are growing up and moving on, he's now going to try to tap into the gay community. I understand why he didn't want to court the gay community early on because he'd lose most of his young, female market. However, had he courted us early on, he might have had more long-term fans at this point. Sorry, I'm not buying into it.

[Kgilliland1980]

As every GLBT person knows, coming out is a very personal thing. Everyone deals with these things differently. Whatever his reasons for coming out now, I'm glad that he has become comfortable enough to share this with the world, something that most people don't have to deal with. When most of us come out we tell family, friends, and a few people at work, not millions of people all around the world. Kudos to Clay, I hope he and his new baby are happy and have a better life because of it.

[BJ]

Let's see: Spamalot isn't doing well...! his latest album has sold about 200,00 copies(!) A FAR cry from his douoble platinum selling debut! PLEASE!!!!!!! This is stupid. He is old news and he looks it too! His music SUCKS!

[Earl]

Does anyone really think he was looking for attention when he announced it? Maybe he was just finally ready to stop lying to himself, and his fans. you should cut him some slack, it's got to be hard to be constantly living in the spotlight. Plus, was anyone really surprised??? I mean, come on!Anyway, once your done debating about the significance of Aiken's outing, check out Future Claw magazine. I just stumbled on it last night, and it's extremely unique and creative! The whole issue is on the website, Futureclaw.com, I gaurentee it's more entertaining than Clay Aiken's orientation1