Adam's Great Message

This is what American Idol's Adam Lambert had to say about his image on the show:

"It's a really, really cool thing to be able to show people that you can be yourself, and you should be proud of yourself, and you should own who you are and what you're about, and never make apologies for it. It feels really amazing to be able to try and pass that on to kids and young adults who don't have a role model like that," he says. "It feels great because I never had a role model like that."

"Conforming is not cool. Embracing who you are and what makes you different is actually what's really cool. The kids that are different and out there and expressive and are bold with those choices, those are the people that grow up to be people we all want to hang out with, that become celebrities or become really successful in what they do because they believe in who they are."

I think that he is a positive role model just for this. Kids need to be taught that it is okay to be different. That is why, despite the fact that I don't particularly like his style of music, I made him one of my favourites of the season (along with Iraheta and Gokey, who I like much more musically).

As for his sexuality, he told us to keep speculating. Well, I really can't say for sure, but my guess is that he is straight.

The Movement

The Modesty Movement is a movement that has been growing in the past few years. It is all about young woman who dress nicely without being revealing. It is something that is very meaningful, I think. You know, I don't see the point of showing cleavage or dressing provocatively - you don't get respect, you don't get your message across when you want to communicate, and your body gets judged every time you do it.

However, too many things written about the modesty movement seem to take it from a religiously conservative point of view. I want to highlight that the modesty movement should be a progressive project. What is more progressive than not letting your body get in the way of a meaningful life, for example? And what is more regressive (all the way back to the age of apemen and beyond) than letting yourself get judged by how people like your body?

We're All in this Together

Ever since Miss California Prejean decided to say that she and her family don't believe in gay marriage (and lost the Miss America pageant), other celebs have come out agreeing to the marriage equality cause. It seems that there are enough people who will stand up for justice in this world, even if it has nothing to do with themselves, so yay!

Heidi Montag had this to say on Twitter: "God says in the bible that we should love our neighbor and he created us all as equals. I know in my heart that gays and lesbians should have the same government rights that Spencer and I will when we get married. So, yes, this blonde Christian believes in gay marriage and I hope to one day go to YOUR wedding, Perez!!!"

And then Miley Cyrus said she seconds that, and that "Heidi is smart".

Even taking the issue further is former beauty queen Shanna Moakler, who was a mentor of Prejean's before the pageant, has refused to speak with Prejean since the pageant.

We are all in this together, and soon the likes of Prejean will be just a marginalised memory!

Unafraid

A 14 year old gay boy in Arizona has been banned from wearing a wristband that says "rainbows are gay" to school. The principal explained that some teachers found it offensive, but apparently he says it was one of several anti-gay experiences he has had at the school. His mother is taking the case to the ACLU.

It is good that he (and his mother) is speaking up. If you are being treated unfairly you must speak up so that people that are in the same situation need not suffer in silence. While a lone teenage boy may not be able to change the world, a general consensus embracing tolerance and acceptance stemming from cases like these would be helpful for all.

Another LGB individual who is not afraid to speak up is Ellen DeGeneres. She recently interviewed her wife Portia de Rossi on her own show, and frequently mentions their love life on air. Apparently she is not afraid to put her lesbian life out as part of her on-air persona package, even though she has a large audience that may include some homophobes.

People like Ellen are changing minds across the world. When people who are not intially friendly to LGB individuals see people like Ellen, living happy, healthy lives and are likable and popular, their idea of LGB individuals may change. More importantly, young, often afraid LGB individuals get another role model to tell them that they have no need to be afraid of the world or underestimate their own potential.