Looks like the “piecemeal” continues.
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Not that I think that about David, let me say that right out the gate. But, I gotta tell ya: the level of homophobia expressed on the previous thread (which incidentally had nothing to do with sexuality and all about his faith) is so problematic here on this blog in which I allow for any and every kind of discussion.
So, here’s the thing:
I learned very early in the days of following David not to broach that subject. The first time I did, it was in a “safe space” in which the blogger had allowed a conversation in which a “gay subtext” could be interpreted in David’s “Crush” music video. Not being a homophobe, I ran with it – check out my comments on that particular thread (God how I love the Internet for archiving everything!) - and offered my expert “gay subtext” reading and provided David’s gay fans with a whole new way of projecting themselves into the fantasy of “being with David.”
Heck, I do it all the time. Like, when folks would ponder why David didn’t have a girlfriend yet, and me and my black self would just be like – “Cause he likes black and brown girls” (i.e. his close friendship with Alexandrea Lushington, his calling Syesha Mercado “gorgeous,” his hanging out with the tall and lovely Shontelle, his flirting with Jordan Sparks when he described her “beautiful smile,” and I could go on and on…). So, my thinking went: “David doesn’t have a girlfriend because his ‘type’ doesn’t live in Utah!”
See how that works? It’s called FAN PROJECTION AND FAN FICTION FANTASY! 
I realize a gay fan might think otherwise, just like his straight fans want him to date soon, just like his LDS fans want him to “do the right thing” and marry soon after his mission.
We all have our fantasies, our projections, our expectations, and the thing that I love about David is he knows how to keep the things that are dear to him so tightly close to his heart that we never see it coming! (Who the heck was thinking he had a two-year mission thing planned all along? And maybe he’s got a fiancee already, or maybe he doesn’t. Who knows? Unless one of course is inclined to listen to those VRS).
All of which is to say: I don’t know about David’s private sexual identity and life, other than knowing that, when asked about his orientation, he said “My interest is in girls.”
Now, anyone who knows anything about human sexuality knows that things are always more complicated than that. Some folks know from childhood that they’re gay and some folks don’t realize this about themselves until middle age.
I do know that, someone who is as devoted as he is to his faith is most likely going to do what is expected of him. If his Church (and dear Mama Lupe) expects him to settle down, marry and start a family, I do believe David will do that – I do believe he will wait until the “love bug” strikes though and not just randomly select some suitable gal just cause everyone else is ready for him to do so. We all imagine, I think, that David does what he wants to do.
So, that’s my long preamble to saying: we can only SPECULATE about his sexuality ’cause he just might be the type to think that’s not something his fans need to know.
But what I do know is this:
MY FEELINGS WOULD NOT CHANGE IF DAVID SUDDENLY “CAME OUT,” THE WAY RICKY MARTIN CAME OUT, BECAUSE I’M NOT A HOMOPHOBE.
Sadly, for some fans, a sudden change in their idol’s sexual orientation could be a deal breaker.
Tell me, exactly: WHAT’S WRONG WITH BEING GAY?
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay; I think there are spiritually affirming ways of loving and accepting our gay brothers and sisters (without requiring them to be celibate since we sure as heck don’t expect our straight brothers and sisters to be celibate so that’s unfair discrimination).
I just want David to be happy, whoever is in his life or even when no one is in his life. If his first love is “Music,” then that’s what drew us to him and him to us.
Obviously, according to my latest poll, most folks want David to keep his religion private (unless he does decide to star in The Book of Mormon), and perhaps the same can be said about his sexual life. Especially since we’ve shown just how judgmental we would be, as a fanbase, when our high-profile artists identify a certain way.
Always love those hands…
I’m so glad that not too many people – neither Obama voters nor Romney voters – highlighted “faith” as an important aspect of David when casting their votes in my recent polls. Because, when you get right down to it, is it all that important in determining someone’s character? Obama voters may value David’s personality while Romney voters favor his sense of ethics and values, but what do either of these things have to do with faith?
Isn’t someone’s faith merely a compass, a guide on how you might develop your morals and values, but not really determining that you have any?
I say this because two visible Mormons in our culture – David Archuleta and Mitt Romney – seem so very different (at least to me) except for being members of the same church.
Here’s the thing.
After someone (Marie?) shared a link to a New York Times Op-Ed, in which Romney is quoted as saying that he lost this year’s presidential elections because too many people – African Americans like myself, Hispanics, young people, and young women in particular – all wanted “free stuff” and the “gifts” that Obama promised us, I’m totally offended and can breathe a sigh of relief that such a person is NOT leading our country and representing us to the rest of the free world.
I mean, are you kidding me? So, like, the Romney revealed in the 47% video is the real Romney? Thanks for letting me know why I voted the way I did! What a sore loser!
And so, I couldn’t help it, dear readers. I went back to some of the older videos revealing how David responded to his big Idol loss back in 2008 (see above video).
So let’s talk character, because maybe that’s where we fans of different political persuasions might draw a consensus. I remember how utterly sick to my stomach I was waiting for the big reveal, knowing deep down that the Idol title got away from my David. And when Ryan Seacrest announced “David… COOK!” I was ready to turn off my TV right there, and then felt even more horrible as my heart sank watching our David scurry away quickly off the stage.
I also remember how Cook eventually brought David back on stage to share the victory with him while singing the coronation song, which saved the moment for me … just a little.
So, you know, I was prepared to be devastated – for David! – that whole week.
Then something magical happened. David appeared on Idol Extra and the next morning I viewed the above video online, and he totally brightened up my day! His whole demeanor, his genuine happiness at feeling he did his best and that he thought Cook deserved the title, his spontaneous “Ohmygosh Ashley!,” let me and everyone else in the fanbase know: he (and the rest of us) were going to be just fine.
See, this is how you lose with dignity. This is how you walk away from a tight race with integrity. This is how you play the game honorably. And surely, no faith, no family, no community, no nation can teach that to you.
You either have character or you don’t!
David is one of the fine ones out there, and I look forward to what he has in store for us.
True proud fan and all that, I will always be grateful for how his personality, his values, and his talents bared witness to his strong character and how he rescued us from the abyss of darkness, despair, and bitterness to accept his Idol runner-up status all in good fun and good humor.
If only a certain presidential candidate sharing his faith could follow the same lead.
With President Obama re-elected and a sneak preview released of David’s “Rainbow” video, could this week get any sweeter? At least sweeter for some of us?
As an aside, let me just remind y’all out there…
This is my blog, and if I want to share my feelings of joy and sweet victory and allow others to express same sentiments (and even let others express their own discontent on the matter), that’s my prerogative!
I’ve never made any pretenses about being a liberal-minded David-loving sistah around here, and every now and then, I just might veer off this blog’s focus (David!) and comment on all sorts of topics – political and otherwise.
You’ve been forewarned!
And since I’m still enjoying the flavor of victory – especially as I will readily admit my bias in loving and seeing connections between BO and DA precisely because I was introduced to each fella THE SAME YEAR!! – I’m going to relish the feelings of hope they each inspire for me.
If a certain candidate had followed his fellow Mormon’s lead and the lead of a certain president during this campaign season, he might be singing the same tune of victory too and might have learned a few things about what it means to create a coalition-building presence based on DIVERSITY. JMHO.
President Obama was re-elected on the STRENGTH of a diverse group of voters – women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals, young people, white people, etc. – just like our David has been able to maintain a strong fanbase based on the same type of diverse fans. Such DIVERSITY means that David’s fans come in all colors, political persuasions, sexual orientations, and ages.
Be prepared to disagree with David’s fans – knowing just how diverse his fanbase is, and be prepared for his eventual greatness b/c a man who can attract across a diverse group of people is a man who is destined for UNIVERSAL appeal.
I will continue to hope for the president’s ability to lead us the next four years, just as I will continue to hope for David’s success when he returns in 2014.
And just to add a little more icing on the cake, feast your eyes!
