Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wowsie wow wow wow! (TM Wendy)
I’m back on the Clay Aiken bandwagon, y’all! And look out, because I think I’m gonna be on it for, like, ever.
Yesterday my friend Jane emailed me that Clay would be on the cover of People magazine, with his coming-out story in the pages. The first thing I did was yelp with joy, then I called Tony, and then I emailed my bestest Clay Aiken friends with the good news. I believe the subject line of my email was YAYAYAYAYAYAY! YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAY! was pretty much the tone of everything that followed for the next several hours. We’d been waiting for this day to come for what seemed like an eternity, wondering if he’d ever find the courage to just say it out loud, conservative fans and media jackasses be damned. It seems that his wee little darling baby (omg! cute pointy head! omg!) was the catalyst for the decision - one he’d made among family and close friends years ago. He says he couldn’t raise a child to learn to lie or hide anything, and for that, he gets a standing ovation from me. I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of him as a fan, and I couldn’t let this day go unmarked on my blog. After all, he’s the reason I started writing online in the first place.
I’ve always said that while some of Clay’s decisions have not thrilled me in the least, I’d always have a soft spot in my heart for him. That soft spot has hardened at times, but it’s always been there. After today’s events, I am rather certain that there is little Clay could do to lose me again. I’ve joked about him on a silly, superficial level. I’ve been angry with him, too. But to come out publicly as his most honest self, showing the world that gay parenting is a beautiful thing - I have so much respect for that. And so today, there will be no jokes, no snark, no poking fun at Clay Aiken. Today I can only wish Clay all the love, peace and happiness in the world.
Congratulations, Clay.