# What was so gay about Clay Aiken? Why did he ping gaydars? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 7, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812 "2008-10-07T05:24:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/1 "2008-10-07T05:24:21Z")
What was so overtly swishy about Clay Aiken? Everybody seems to have assumed he was gay or “probably gay”, but what specifically about his behavior was pinging everybody’s gaydar? Don’t be a non-offending PC scaredy-cat, be specific. What was so gay about Clay? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/2 "2008-10-07T06:05:24Z")
It has nothing to do with swishy. It doesn’t have to do with specific characteristics, more like the “gestalt” of a person. I just \*know \*when someone’s gay. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/3 "2008-10-07T06:55:47Z")
> [@astro](#): > > What was so gay about Clay? Soft-mannered, neat, and gay. ---
**Author:** ![phil417](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@phil417](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phil417)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/4 "2008-10-07T08:22:00Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Soft-mannered, neat, and gay. With all due respect, my husband is soft-mannered, and neat. I’ve heard him sing..quite well, actually. He’s not gay. Try again. Love, Phil ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/5 "2008-10-07T08:26:47Z")
Actual quote from Aiken: “Well, I was watching this Britney Spears interview while I was getting my manicure and pedicure…” ---
**Author:** ![Punintentional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de0a6/32.png) [@Punintentional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punintentional)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/6 "2008-10-07T09:14:47Z")
> [@phil417](#): > > With all due respect, my husband is soft-mannered, and neat. I’ve heard him sing..quite well, actually. He’s not gay. Try again. > > Love, Phil Your husband may very well come off as gay to Red Barchetta. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/7 "2008-10-07T12:19:00Z")
He looks gay, his demeanor is gay. The human mind can pick up on all sorts of subtle cues that are not easily verbalized. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/8 "2008-10-07T12:58:45Z")
I never really saw it either, but I don’t find it hard to believe. The one that confuses me is Ryan Seacrest. Why do people think _he_’s gay? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/9 "2008-10-07T14:35:10Z")
> [@Punintentional](#): > > Your husband may very well come off as gay to Red Barchetta. This husband is also married to someone named “Phil” \ ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/10 "2008-10-07T14:58:37Z")
Add me to the list…he always struck me as a bit shy and unassuming, but not at all gay. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/11 "2008-10-07T15:01:59Z")
[40 Year Old Virgin] You know how I know Clay Aiken is gay? He likes Clay Aiken [/40 Year Old Virgin] ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/12 "2008-10-07T15:02:57Z")
> [@astro](#): > > What was so overtly swishy about Clay Aiken? Everybody seems to have assumed he was gay or “probably gay”, but what specifically about his behavior was pinging everybody’s gaydar? > > Don’t be a non-offending PC scaredy-cat, be specific. What was so gay about Clay? He was so gay he could redecorate a room just by looking at it. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/13 "2008-10-07T15:09:58Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I never really saw it either, but I don’t find it hard to believe. The one that confuses me is Ryan Seacrest. Why do people think _he_’s gay? It’s some of those same hard to verbalize things. Having met the man (we used to have the same grocery store) I said to myself “Gay!” before I even knew who he was. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UncleBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBill)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/14 "2008-10-07T15:11:49Z")
Clay reminded me of two college buddies, Jay and Craig, both from central NC, small towns. They had a lilt to their voices, not particularly masculine, SLIGHTLY swishy, and roommates. This was mid- to late 80’s. Assumption: Gay. After graduation they moved into an apartment as roommates. Assumption: Strengthened. A year or two later I was talking to Jay, who said he was so concerned about Craig, he had been sneaking around more, telling lies, and generally being odd. Jay told me breathlessly that he had found out Craig was _ **GAY!** _ I burst out laughing, and told Jay I thought BOTH of them were. Jay couldn’t understand why I thought that. I wonder if Jay has come out of the closet? Or is he really straight? ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/15 "2008-10-07T15:14:58Z")
Well, just LOOK at him. **Magiver** stated it best. > [@Magiver](#): > > He looks gay, his demeanor is gay. The human mind can pick up on all sorts of subtle cues that are not easily verbalized. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/16 "2008-10-07T15:16:20Z")
> [@UncleBill](#): > > I wonder if Jay has come out of the closet? Or is he really straight? Gaylty by association? ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/17 "2008-10-07T15:16:34Z")
I can’t exactly say why he pinged my gaydar. He just did. I’d have to agree with Magiver about the mind picking up subtle cues. OTOH, I have a very dear friend whom my husband insists is a lesbian. I said that if she is, she sure doesn’t know it yet. But my husband’s gaydar is usually more accurate than mind, so now I’m wondering. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/18 "2008-10-07T15:18:00Z")
Effeminate and soft-mannered. But his trailer hitch de-chroming business really clued me in. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/19 "2008-10-07T15:23:42Z")
[He looks gay](http://agentsmithfiles.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/for-those-of-you-who-care-6/), for starters. As Red Barschetta points out, he was also neat, well-manered, and soft spoken. All of his mannerisms scream “Gay!” He also, you know, made a name for himself basically singing showtunes on American Idol. He turned songs that _weren’t_ showtunes _into_ showtunes on a weekly basis, for goodness’ sake. And as Kathy Griffin is fond of pointing out, there was the post-Idol period during which he kept mentioning in interviews that he “Just hadn’t met the right girl” to date at a time when he could have had his pick from thousands of women. He also has the gay man’s tiny dog (“Raleigh”). Basically, he’s the gayest gay to ever gay. > [@](#): > > The one that confuses me is Ryan Seacrest. Why do people think he’s gay? I’m honestly not sure if I’m being wooshed or not. Seacrest is groomed within an inch of his life, has a serious case of what Perez Hilton calls “gayface,” and rose to stardom exchanging homoerotic banter with Simon Cowell (and [Anderson Cooper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTbijJT10XE)). ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812/20 "2008-10-07T15:28:12Z")
I thought he was gay, but I think _lots_ of people are gay. Sometimes I’m right, sometimes I’m wrong, and sometimes I’ll never, ever know. If you think tons of people are gay, though, eventually somebody’s going to come out of the closet and you’ll look like a friggin’ genius. When Savage Garden was popular, I annoyed my friends by declaring that [Darren Hayes](http://darrenhayesnet.com/savagegarden/savagegardenyellow.jpg) was gay. Why did I say that? Because he just gave me that “vibe.” Clay Aiken gave me that same vibe. There was just some basic little thing that was “off” there, some unspoken straight guy behavior that wasn’t there, or wasn’t quite right. I’ve also alternately declared [Brandon Flowers](http://pianominds.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/flowers3.jpg), [Brendon Urie](http://www.foroswebgratis.com/imagenes_foros/7/6/1/6/0/632563Brendon_Urie.jpg), [Jake Gyllenhaal,](http://upload.moldova.org/movie/actors/j/jake_gyllenhaal/thumbnails/tn2_jake_gyllenhaal_3.jpg) [Ryan Phillippe](http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/MMPH/236425~Angelina-Jolie-Ryan-Phillippe-Posters.jpg), and [Seth Green](http://gaygamer.net/images/sethgreen.jpg) gay. If I’m right about any of them, I’ll look like I have amazing gaydar. There’s no real way to prove they aren’t gay, though, so I’ll never know if I’m wrong. Since the tabloids pretty much say everybody is gay at some point, they’ve got the same racket going as me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-so-gay-about-clay-aiken-why-did-he-ping-gaydars/466812.md?page=2)