Celebrate Me Home
Clay Aiken speaking at Glaad Awards
When Clay performed in “The Work”, I was lucky enough to be there more than once. Each time I teared up when he began to sing “Celebrate Me Home”. I’m not sure why. It’s a pretty song, but was never one of my holiday classics. I think it was the word home that got to me. Here’s one line of that song – “It’s time I found myself totally surrounded in your circles.” I don’t remember that line in particular, but it certainly seems meaningful now.
Saturday night, for the first time that I know of, Clay was able to publicly be surrounded in the circle of gay and lesbian acceptance. I think that this is huge! We, as fans, know some of Clay’s struggle for acceptance. I am positive that we don’t know all of it, nor should we. I suspect that acceptance in Clay’s inner circle of close friends and associates may have come sooner, but public acceptance? Yeah, that took a little longer.
Think of the fear that Clay must have experienced. Fear of letting people down, fear of losing friends and fans, fear of the letting go of dreams and plans he may have once had. We know he’s a pretty tough cookie. We know what he has been able to rise above. We know of the adjustments he’s been able to make in order to survive in a world of bullies and critics and the insane music industry. We’re so proud of him and many of us have learned from him when facing our own situations.
Bullies and critics and the “industry” are small time, though, when compared to acceptance of who one truly is. In the past year I think we have seen a happier, more open and more content Clay. We have seen that his self acceptance has allowed him to live without fear. We have seen him be able to be more trusting since he no longer is hiding a “secret”. We have seen his fans embrace him and his new self identity. Some folks weren’t able to do that, but most of us are right here where we have always been.
Saturday night at the GLAAD awards, we heard Clay say “our” community. He said it proudly and without fear of consequence.
It was a celebration of home.
by QBbabe
What an honor to have Clay Aiken friends like you and to be a Fan of Clay Aiken… you do me proud!!
love you my friend!!
March 30th, 2009 at 2:18 pm*sniff* Thank you for the wonderful post. Clay is an extraordinary man, talented, generous, funny, loving and intelligent. You have put into words what I feel in my heart.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:18 pmWonderful article. Clay Aiken is a person to be pround of, and it is sad that some people couldn’t accept him as he is. I’m glad that I could, because he is also so much fun!
March 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pmOk, so now I’m bawling like a newborn. Q, your words are so beautiful. Beautiful enough to celebrate our Clay. Beautiful enough to make us all shine in the light that is Clay. His strength and endurance should be an example to all who struggle in the day to day existence. He truly shows us the mark of a man. I love this man.
March 30th, 2009 at 6:22 pmThanks for putting into words what many have been thinking. He is quite an extrordinary man and his fans are pretty special too!
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm