An End to American Idol's Gay Problem?

American Idol has a gay problem. The show inevitably attracts gay contestants, yet the producers seem unwilling to openly embrace them. A couple have subsequently come out after their stint on American Idol, but none have competed as openly gay, despite the persistent rumors.

Two seasons ago it was Clay Aiken who inspired the speculation. This season it’s Mario Vazquez and Anwar Robinson.

From the beginning, Mario has been a favorite of fans, judges, and critics. The baby-faced 27-year-old is widely regarded as the hottest contestant, and his voice has a smoothness and rich, high timber that demands comparison to early Michael Jackson.

Part of his success has been due to his very smart song selection, choosing odd songs for his voice that nonetheless showcase his range and distinctive tone, like “I Love Music” by the O’Jays. That performance prompted the famously blunt Simon Cowell to tell him that “you look like you’ve been doing this for years and know exactly who you are. You don’t really need our criticism.” In fact, Simon has repeatedly predicted to the press that Mario will be one of the top two men in the competition.

But despite Mario's instant casting as the Latin Ladies’ Man, some viewers’ gaydar was triggered from the get-go by this New York prettyboy. Was it when he declared his mother his personal hero? The footage of that doting but perhaps overbearing mother telling a childhood story of him whining about singing practice “mami, mami, I’m so tired”? The adorably femme way he screeched that he was not losing his hair just because he likes to wear hats? The cute, post-preppy style popular among New York banjee boys? The flirty way he batted his lashes when he thanked his friends from home for giving him good luck charms?

Something tripped some wires. On the official American Idol message boards, fans of other contestants have taken to calling him Maria or Marion. “Is Mario the next Ricky Martin?” snarked one fan suggestively. This week, after Mario crooned his way through a Bee Gees ballad, the calculating Simon cracked that “there’s something very charming about you,” which could be interpreted as code for girlish or gay. A Google search discovered bloggers claiming they had seen Mario in New York gay clubs, and this reporter found one source who swears Mario used to go to gay youth dances ten years ago.

Of course, these might be only rumors and Idol speculation. The Fox publicity department did not respond to inquiries, and none of this is proof that Mario is gay. But where there is smoke there is often flame.