SAN DIEGO, Calif.—Gay adult studio Corbin Fisher has come out in solid defense of American Idol competitor Adam Lambert and the First Amendment by contradicting a conservative group’s criticism of Lambert’s controversial American Music Awards performance before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
“We read the [FCC] complaint filed by the Liberty Counsel, a notorious homophobic organization, and we were appalled,” said Corbin Fisher Chief Operating Officer Brian Dunlap. “We had our general counsel review the legal claims made by this hate group and it was his conclusion that their legal position was preposterous.”
Two days after Lambert’s AMA appearance aired in some ABC markets, the Liberty Counsel delivered a formal complaint to the FCC calling the routine “an outrageously lewd and filthy performance” and “obscene sexual conduct.”
“Among other things, Lambert simulated oral sex, simulated digital penetration, simulated sadomasochistic conduct and engaged in homosexual open-mouth kissing,” the complaint noted.
Liberty Counsel President Anita L. Staver requested ABC “be held accountable for airing this indecent and offensive performance. ABC promoted Lambert’s performance to boost its ratings. Now ABC should have to pay a hefty penalty to the FCC for assaulting its viewers with a debased performance by Adam Lambert.”
Poppycock, Corbin Fisher’s management responded. The real problem, in their opinion, was not broadcast indecency, but bigotry.
“Fringe hate groups like the Liberty Counsel have an inordinate amount of say because they interject themselves into every situation where they stand to denigrate gay Americans, and the media seems to give them a platform from which to preach their bigotry,” Dunlap said. “If the FCC only gets letters from people who are complaining about a show, they are only getting half the input they need. Gay Americans have had to stand by as small but organized groups of bigots assail us with a constant din of hate speech.
“It is time that those of us who are victimized by groups like the Liberty Counsel start to show our government that they aren’t the only ones with a point of view,” he added.
According to Corbin Fisher General Counsel Marc J. Randazza, “Corbin Fisher respects the Liberty Counsel’s First Amendment right to broadcast their bigoted point of view, but we have a First Amendment right to add our voice to the marketplace of ideas. I believe that in the end, people who think like us will win out over the narrow-minded homophobes who listen to the Liberty Counsel.”
The FCC letter is not the studio’s first foray into the marketplace of ideas.
“We have given financial support to marriage equality organizations in California and Florida, and we are ramping up our efforts to give back to the larger community in that regard,” Dunlap said.
Dunlap urged others to join in the positive FCC campaign.
“If the FCC got more letters in support of the performance than letters against, that would send a strong message that the Liberty Counsel is out of touch with most Americans,” he said. “And if ABC got more letters in support, you can bet they will go with their viewers over some fringe group, if only they knew how their viewers felt.”
ABC may be contacted by mail at 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521, by phone at (818) 460-7477 and on the web via its Audience Relations Department.
Instructions for filing comments with the FCC are on the commission’s website.
For more about Corbin Fisher, visit CorbinFisher.com.
