G.L.A.A.D. DEMANDS A MEETING WITH AMERICAN IDOL PRODUCERS OVER PERCEIVED HOMOPHOBIC REMARKS

Yet more proof arose today that there are people out there who have nothing better to do than sit around and make trouble about nothing.

Reports are circulating on various websites and the American Idol newsgroup alt.tv.american-idol that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have responded in outrage to the treatment of two contestants on the latest episode of American Idol. Specifically, they refer to the remarks against Charles Berry (who was told he should shave his beard and wear a dress) and Zachary Travis (the androgynous boy.) GLAAD is seeking a meeting with the program's producers.

And the rest of the world, busy trying to handle things that actually matter, continues to spin on its axis and revolve around the sun.

Surely I can't be the only person that's getting tired of one group fighting another.

First of all, the two contestants in question were untalented, to say the least. And there's little question that Zachary dressed the way he did to provoke attention (probably in hopes of getting on the air.) And even if that weren't the case, hasn't it always been the case that contestants who are rejected have been the recipients of various other nasty remarks? If everyone got all worked up about that, wouldn't we have millions of special interest groups marching on Fox?? Shouldn't Weight Watchers be storming the studios after Simon's "bigger stage" comment for Mandisa Hundley?

Secondly, what about the previous gay contestants? Jim Verraros (season 1) and Anwar Robinson (season 4) are both gay, and they got the same star treatment as anyone else. Clay Aiken (season 2) claims to be heterosexual, but certainly his orientation has been called into question many times and his mannerisms are decidedly effeminate. He is still treated well by Idol after climbing the ranks to finish second. If it is true that there is homophobia running rampant throughout Fox, 19 Media, TPTB, or any other related entities, would they have been treated so well?

Sometimes one just has to wonder if issues aren't manufactured just so the people that bring the allegations can justify receiving their paychecks for yet another week. But let's be real, folks. It's just a television show. Granted, it's popular, and it has millions of fans, but in the bigger scheme of things, is it as important as it's made out to be?

For GLAAD's part, their website claims that they have been mis-represented in other reports. They claim that they have only said the following: "GLAAD is reaching out to the show's producers to discuss our concerns and the concerns of community members and allies who have contacted us about this matter. The real offense here was in the producer's decision to add insult to injury by turning a contestant's gender expression into the butt of a joke."

This after they all but belted Gene Shalit in the mouth for disliking Brokeback Mountain.

And if I may, as a heterosexual and one on the outside looking in, offer this bit of advice to the gay community: If you wish to be accepted into society, the bullyish tactics of GLAAD are not going to help; rather their tactics diminish the credibility of anything you might be wishing to accomplish. The fighting over non-issues, whether it be the AFA fighting over The Book of Daniel or GLAAD squabbling over American Idol, only serves to bring more strife and less peace. Getting angry and hurt over every little thing that someone says doesn't help either, and siccing the speech police on every little non-politically correct offense just engenders resentment and strife.

So let's all just sit back, calm down, and enjoy the show.