It’s the ultimate who’s who of who’s gay around the globe: Out magazine’s 15th annual Out 100 list. And this year, Jews, an Israeli among them, are proudly claiming their spots on it.
The 2009 edition of the Out 100, which will hit news stands in early November, will list the gay culture magazine’s picks for this year’s most influential gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people, and will include Israeli television persona Assi Azar and “American Idol” star Adam Lambert, both of whom were recently photographed for the issue.
Azar, 30, who hosts the hugely popular reality Israeli television show “Big Brother” and came out publicly in 2005, was chosen for his “work on ‘Big Brother’ and for providing a relatable face of homosexuality to not only the gays and lesbians of his country but also to those from the straight community who may not understand it,” Out’s deputy editor, Bill Keith, told the Forward by e-mail.
Lambert, the runner-up on season eight of “American Idol,” also made this year’s list. Dubbed Glambert by his fans for his extravagant stage makeup and costumes on the hit American television show, Lambert came out as gay in Rolling Stone magazine shortly after the final episode of “Idol” aired.
Before shooting to stardom, Lambert got his start singing the Hebrew song “Shir L’Shalom” (“Song for Peace”) at a 2005 tribute to Yitzhak Rabin.
Lambert’s first album is set to be released November 24, but he’s already seen early success. Within hours of being made available for pre-order on Amazon.com, the album nearly topped the best-seller list, coming in second to one of the gay male community’s greatest icons of all time: Barbra Streisand.
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To be more accurate, Adam Lambert's yet to be named Album, with a release date of Nov, 24, shot to #1 on Amazons best sellers list within 24 hours after it became available for pre-order, thusby pushing past Ms Streisand and many other notable music icons, like The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Rod Stuart and newcomer Susan Boyle. Adam's performance at the 2005 tribute to Yitzhak Rabin was outstanding and the highlight of the program. He is an outstanding talent that is destined to become the next great musical icon of our generation.
I love Adam. He's so badass talented yet sweet.
I hope his music is good (so much pressure damn) because it's been a while since we've had a male solo star (aside from JT). And his interviews will be gold because he's hilarious and unfiltered but articulate and sharp at the same time.
Agreed with Vickiefromca. His album shot to #1, not #2.
It took Lambert 3 days to hit #1 and its a good thing it was quickly reported because he fell to #8 just as fast and is still falling.
Yes the album reached #1 but it hasn't been falling in the past two days, it actually went up from #9 to #7 and hopefully it will either stay there or go up...of course it will move up!! I can't wait to see the list and photos...yay for gays!
It is notable that while on tour with American Idol this summer, Adam initiated a fund-raising drive amongst his fans for Donorschoose.org. Adam said that he wanted to have fans give to charity rather than continue to lavish him with gifts.Fans raised over $240,000 in the span of a few weeks for public school arts programs in his name. As a Jewish fan, I was impressed by his commitment to tzedakah, even this early in his career.
Hope that Adam career will rise and fly and eventually he will have some of his own kids from an idishe mame, after all!
@Sasha........Adams album made it to the number one spot with out a title to the cd or even a song title or single title, also, this was all through word of mouth---no press or media coverage....i think that is pretty damn impressive!!!!
I'm a great fan of Adam. His determination, talent, style, and manners are an inspiration to my teenage children, one of whom is in a preprofessional theatre training program. Adam's Jewish spiritual singing is out of this world!