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Aiken update: Clay on Good Morning America, Lance happy for him and what did Jaymes Foster mean by "natural"

by
Michael Jensen


Jaymes Foster, Parker Aiken, Clay Aiken

I'm not sure whether or not Clay Aiken fatigue has completely set in or not, but I thought I'd take a chance and post the latest tidbits People Magazine is enticing folks with about Clay. The headline of an interview on People.com with Jaymes Foster, the mother of Clay's son Parker, reads "Clay's a 'Natural' Dad" and my first thought was that it somehow referred to how Parker was conceived, i.e., Jaymes and Foster conceived Parker the "natural" away. But as Jaymes explains in the interview, Parker was actually conceived in a petri dish.

As for the "natural" part, Jaymes simply means Clay is a natural at being a dad. Said Jaymes:

He's an incredible caregiver. As far as changing the diapers and seeing what's wrong with [Parker] and getting him to go sleep, Clay's a natural and he's really, really good with that. On a larger scale, he's the perfect person. He's been a school teacher, we have the same morals, family is very important to him and Parker means everything to us.

She also says she supports his decision to come out.

As for Lance Bass, himself no stranger to coming out this way, he says:

I'm happy for him. It's good to see someone actually being true to who they are. I think it's something that's nice to share with the world, because it really does relieve a lot of pressure off of you.

There are also some unofficial quotes floating around out there as well. I haven't seen the new issue myself yet, but according to the blog Idol Thoughts Aiken discusses his dating status saying, "I've got one man in my life right now and he's crying and he needs formula! And if Jaymes continues to date, she will, but she's not going to date anyone who doesn't understand this is the dynamic."

After the jump, Clay on Good Morning America, discussing his faith and I emphathize with some of those Claymates.

Regarding his Christian faith Aiken say, "I still consider myself a born-again Christian, and I am absolutely comfortable with that, and comfortable with my salvation."

Speaking of salvation and why he might need some, Aiken says he never intended to lie to anybody, much less his fans and "...if they leave, I don't want them to leave hating me."

Frankly, if I were a Claymate, I'd be pissed at Aiken. In the People interview he reveals he came out to his mother four years ago. That means he's let his most devoted fans believe something about him that wasn't true for the past four years. And not just believe it, but argue with others that Clay was straight.

Now I hate the idea that Clay needed to be "defended" against "accusations" that he was gay as if he was on trial or that it is a terrible thing. And to those Claymates who are homophobic, I'd say they are in part responsible for the closet Clay and other gay men live in. But for those Claymates who don't have a problem with gay people and had simply built up certain fantasies about Clay, you have my sympathy.

If the shoe were on the other foot, and say, Cheyenne Jackson suddenly announced that he was really straight and all the fantasies I've had coverage we've given him on AfterElton.com was based on a lie, I would not only look the fool, but I would be pissed.

So to those Claymates out there, I feel your pain. But I'd also suggest you take your gaydar in for a tune-up.

And here is a clip of Aiken chatting things over with Sawyer. Not quite like his last interview with her, eh?


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    • Submitted by
    Michael Jensen
    on Thu, 2008-09-25 16:11.
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    David E is a Fraud!'s picture

    Thanks for this!

    Submitted by
    David E is a Fraud! (315 points) (162 posts)
    on Thu, 2008-09-25 19:35.

    It's nice to see comments from Aiken instead of about Aiken. :)

    _________________________________________

    -Sibelius

    "It's curtains for you, Dr. Horrible. Lacy, wafting curtains..."

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    Bountiful's picture

    i don't think it's a big deal

    Submitted by
    Bountiful (794 points) (228 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-09-26 01:26.

    "Frankly, if I were a Claymate, I'd be pissed at Aiken. In the Peopleinterview he reveals he came out to his mother four years ago. That means he's let his most devoted fans believe something about him that wasn't true for the past four years. And not just believe it, but argue with others that Clay was straight"

    Is that a big deal? He never once asked people to defend him. For those who were not homophobic, really the "defence" probably had more to do with being sick of the same old insults about him being effeminite. For those, the attitude of the "defence" was more along the lines of 'how long can we talk about the same old thing.' For those who were homophobic, of course they're mad now, but, oh well.

    Actually, after watching his Good Morning America interview , I understand a bit more. He wasn't just coming out to Hollywood, or to his fans, or whatever. He was also coming out to his grandmother's friends, mother's friends, brother's friends, etc. Not only is he out as a gay man, his mother is out as a gay man's mother. All his family are out as a gay man's relatives. In hollywood, that's not even news. In Clay's relatives' world it is. Thousands of fans, even millions of fans, are not more important than a single mother or grandmother. A son is, of course, more important than any of those. 

    "If the shoe were on the other foot, and say, Cheyenne Jackson suddenly announced that he was really straight and all the fantasies I've had coverage we've given him on AfterElton.com was based on a lie, I would not only look the fool, but I would be pissed."

    Well, the coverage issue is different. You're not just talking about a pop star you have a crush on. You're doing your job on this website. You would have your professional reputation to think about. As far as the personal aspect of those who did have fantasies, well fantasies are just make believe. They're not any less likely to come true now than they would have been, had Clay been straight.

    editted for clarity

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    duckiestoy's picture

    As they say, "Silence gives consent"

    Submitted by
    duckiestoy (1250 points) (274 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-09-26 04:37.

    I suggest you read my reply to Michael's story a little further down.  

    You say, "He never once asked people to defend him."  

    I had a couple years exposure as a Claymate.  I think you could find he was pleased to have them as his defenders whether it was through his fan-exclusive blog posts or as broad as the principle that "silence gives consent."

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    Randy's picture

    GMA

    Submitted by
    Randy (473 points) (93 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-09-26 00:58.

    So does GMA stand for Gay Male Aiken?!!! :)

     

    Live Long and Prosper

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    duckiestoy's picture

    Big issues of lies, manipulation

    Submitted by
    duckiestoy (1250 points) (274 posts)
    on Fri, 2008-09-26 04:53.
    Quote:
    Now I hate the idea that Clay needed to be "defended" against "accusations" that he was gay as if he was on trial or that it is a terrible thing... So to those Claymates out there, I feel your pain. But I'd also suggest you take your gaydar in for a tune-up.
     

    I think you're buying into divisive myths here. In Rolling Stone, June 2003, right after American Idol, Clay stated he was NOT gay. The quesiton was asked and answered there.** 

    Based on that unambiguous answer, Claymates "defended" him against people (maybe like yourself?) who joked about "Gayken," pushed on with the "my gaydar says he's a 'mo" mantras and demand he answer the question again-and-again in even major interviews (like Diane Sawyer). 

    When he refused to discuss the topic or his personal life any more and told Diane she was rude for asking, fans took their cue from him and pressed on with their vigorous defense of his honor and right of privacy. For them, it was an accusation (not so much gay=bad) that he was a LIAR. 

    The press refusal to accept the Rolling Stone answer was perceived as a symptom of the gotcha gossip culture that helped kill Princess Di. 

    The anger and betrayal Claymates feel is real and justified by his treatment of them. As you said, four years after coming out to his mom is a helluva long time to take before sorting this out with his fans. 

    He knew and encouraged the fans as they continued to defend his "straight"-telling (way back in Rolling Stone) and saw their efforts to get the topic of his sexuality off the table.  It was a distraction to his career and you can be sure he was glad for his fan's help. In light of the four years he let them go on duped, this was NOT a nice or even humanely decent thing to do. 

    If his fan base abandon him it won't be because he's a gay man. That would be the wrong read of the situation. They'll leave because he made fools of them. Some fans left over the years as they began to smell a rat. As a consumer, I left because the music was lacking but my early admiration and interest in him waned and probably disintegrated over his sometimes bizarre behavior and what I saw as a mocking disrespect for his fans. 

    In this political season, I'm reminded of how Bill Clinton had told some of his friends, Cabinet and political allies to their faces there was no relationship with Lewinsky. Bill let them defend him, like Clay let the Claymates fight for him. 

    ** There is also the photo of him cupping the clothed breasts of Idol Makeup Stylist Mezhgan Hussainy which caused controversy. This link from 2004, mentions The Advocate commenting on Clay's sexuality with an interesting quote about repressed sexuality and gay Christian males that rings true to me. 

    The link also happens to have the Aiken/Hussainy photo - http://www.calicocat.com/2004/06/is-clay-aiken-gay.html 

    This whole mess serves up many lessons about being swept away by personalities, the effects of gossip, celebrity, privacy, pushing people Out and more.
     
    edit - fixed typos/clarity. 
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    jeando's picture

    Intolerance ain't pretty

    Submitted by
    jeando (15 points) (5 posts)
    on Sat, 2008-10-04 21:45.

    No matter where it comes from. Clay Aiken has a right to his privacy like everyone else on this planet. Why it is anyone's business what his sexual orientation is is beyond me. And how does anyone think they have the right to drive him out, to tell him when, what, how, where he should do so. Where is your respect for an individual's privacy and right to their own life and decisions.

    The gay community and media hounded him for 5 years because he was closeted and now that he comes out, it's no big deal, he lied and we all knew, etc, etc. You've mocked him continuously and his fans for loving him and calling us fools for doing so.

    Well, guess what, most of us knew and loved him anyway and we don't feel fooled, we don't feel lied to, we feel relieved that he finally has this monkey off his back and I can unequivocally and without a doubt say, I am proud to be a Clay Aiken fan with no apologies.

     

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    David Ehrenstein's picture

    If it's "Beyond" you, why are you here?

    Submitted by
    David Ehrenstein (6310 points) (1402 posts)
    on Sun, 2008-10-05 08:20.

    Once again, the simple fact of being gay is entierly different from an "invasion of privacy" -- which would entail a detailed examination of who Clay has slept with, what they did, how many times, et. al.

    Really there's got to be some proportion in all of this, and I don't know why people can't see that. It's the same with Dana Owens. She gets all huffy when people "speculate" (a truly disgusting media term) about the fact that she's a lesbian and adamantly refuses to talk about it -- even while blabbing on about said refusal. Why can't she simply says "Yes I'm a lesbian, but I'd really prefer not to talk about my personal life."? It would make perfect sense and be completely honest at the same time. Instead she she huffs and puffs.

    Clay's flat-out lie is indeed egregious. Can't say I care as to what the "Claymates" think about it cause they're really quite nuts.

    So who's next? Barry Manilow?

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    jeando's picture

    I have a voice

    Submitted by
    jeando (15 points) (5 posts)
    on Sun, 2008-10-05 11:37.
    David Ehrenstein wrote:

    Can't say I care as to what the "Claymates" think about it cause they're really quite nuts.

    Well, you may not care what the Clay fans think but I'm going to have my say anyway.

    As for the comment in the article about fans being upset because they had fantasies about him and now those are dashed---wrong. Those of us who find him attractive, sensual and extremely sexy, still do. Fantasies are flights from reality, so the reality doesn't change a thing.

    It's unfortunate in this day and age that people even have to come out and say they are gay . I hope one day that a person does not even have to discuss their sexual orientation, anymore than they do their race or ethnicity. Until that day, whenever someone in the public eye does come out and speak about it, it is a big deal and not one to be scorned or made light of.

    We've had a young man come out and wants to talk with Clay on one of the boards and he has been surrounded with love and acceptance. Others are sharing their stories of fathers, brothers, friends, husbands, sons, daughters, sisters who are gay and how difficult it has been for their loved ones to face bigotry and prejudice. Still others who are Christian are opening their minds to the idea that people are born homosexual, it is not a choice, not a lifestyle, not a sin and they have loved a homosexual for the last 5 years and they still do. There are some who still struggle and may be leaving but the numbers are small.

    Clay's speaking openly about his life now is making a difference to a lot of people whether the cynics want to be believe that or not. And if his speaking openly has helped some young people struggling with their own acceptance then that makes it worthwhile. I found this young lady's response to be touching and painful.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwL-Ucr4qfs

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    Jimmyjazz's picture

    I'm proud of you Clay

    Submitted by
    Jimmyjazz (197 points) (39 posts)
    on Thu, 2008-11-13 22:48.

    Thank you Clay! I am so proud of you....along with Lance Bass and Neil Patrick Harris.  I don't see why Claymates should be mad at him for not coming out earlier.  Keeping something like that to yourself is not lying in my opinion.  I mean is it really anyone's business?  I'm not out at work because we have some judgemental "Christian" women there....and by the way passing judgement is not a Christian value!  Like Brian Kinney said in Queer as Folk, "it's not a lie if they make you lie."

         I did however have to come out to my family and friends...most were good....some werent.  Clay's situation was magnified because when I come out I don't have to do it on Good Morning America!  After the dust settles, Clay's gonna be relieved because it's out there now and life goes on.  I'm more concerned about the economy than who a famous person I'll never even meet sleeps with.  I was a fan when I didn't know he was Gay and I'm no more or less of a fan now.  The guy's got talent and a great personality and he'll make a great father.  Go Clay!

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