View Comments in 'Press Coverage'

"Confusion over People"
Posted by Randall from Illinois (Wed, Feb 1, 2006)

If looking for People magazine, be sure not to pick up the larger 2005 special edition yearbook. I almost made that mistake myself!

"Sexual orientation"
Posted by Aaron from Arkansas (Wed, Feb 1, 2006)

Wow, I guess if the People magazine article is correct then he does want to become a girl with sexual reassignment surgery. The sad thing is no matter how you look at it surgery will never make you one or the other. I feel for Zach I really do.

"Another take..."
Posted by Randall from Illinois (Thu, Feb 2, 2006)

There's always the possibility that he just said that out of frustration, like he's tired of people only caring about his gender identity than his actual talents. So he gave People what they "wanted" so to speak -- some useless gossip. I'm transgender myself, and I know that when people continually overlook you as a person, there's a point where you don't fight it any longer. You just go with the flow rather than delving into some long explanation that few people would appreciate anyway.

Posted by Kate from PA (Thu, Feb 2, 2006)

I defenitly found the comment to be interesting. I'm transgender, myself. I'd like to know for sure what the deal is with Zach, among other things as well. That's why I want to get in contact with him so much. I do think it is wrong to say Zach is transgendered unless he says he's transgendered. I wonder if he will ever come here or reply to any of us. (Undisclosed Email Address)

"Zach is one of the most beautiful peopple I have"
Posted by Mike from Ky (Wed, Feb 8, 2006)

ever seen. I would love to get with him. Write me Zach

"like"
Posted by john from tn (Thu, Feb 9, 2006)

im a str8 guy and i would love to get w/him...very sexy

"Meet me"
Posted by admirer from springs (Wed, Feb 15, 2006)

In love with Zackary and would love to go out with zackary

"My thoughts"
Posted by Julie from Chicago (Wed, Feb 22, 2006)

No surprise AI played this up. Like all other media, they are all about ratings and selling what they have. Zach was played up before he/she went on to keep the viewers watching. The usual "wait until you see this one" stuff. Too bad Zach just didn't tell them he/she was trans and planned to change his/her gender. That would have had a huge impact. But who was to know it would have created the stir it did. I give Zach a big thumbs up for having the guts to be him/herself! Our society is too hung up on gender.

"Zachary on American Idol"
Posted by Kari McAllister from Hayward, CA (Wed, Feb 22, 2006)

Being transgendered (Transexual) myself I have to come to view these incidents as unfortunate and stressful, especially for the individual of focus, but simultaneously an opportunity for exposure of a segment of our population that is only asking for the same respect you would afford anyone else that does not bend your expectations of the "norm." Zachary appears to be handling herself with pride and self-respect and we can only hope that Fox and others will follow that example. To be fair, the networks and the movie producers have all seem to come into a era of thoughtful exploration and realistic interpretations of the lives of transgender people in general. Hey guess what? It turns out we are not all overly done up street walkers with a drug habit. I look forward to seeing the net works at least "appear" to be sensitized and maybe someday, who knows, someone like Zach can appear and compete on the merits of only one thing. Talent.

"Being mistaken for a girl"
Posted by DJ Veronica from Los Angeles (Thu, Feb 23, 2006)

Dear Zach. As a transgendered male to female person all to familiar with discrimination part of me wants to feel bad for you and hug it all away. However the reality of the world is that most people do NOT accept transgendered people and discrimination will continue to exist whether it is fair or not. It was brave of you to appear with feminine clothing and admit openly that you are male. However why are you surprised that did not win you acceptance? We are the last hired and first layed off and I have the work record to prove this. We are attacked and become victims of hatred and hate crimes, and I have the scars to prove that as well. You have learned a hard lesson about the world at large. Whether you desire to be perceived as a male or as a female, or an androgenous person or as a transgendered person, you have value, merit and worth. You are a talented and gifted person. (No I didnt watch the show, television doesnt interest me). However the fact that you made it onto television speaks volumes. Please do

"Its all about Simon"
Posted by loricdnokc@aol.com from Okc (Sat, Feb 25, 2006)

Fox plays Simon big bucks and reaps him lucrative deals. When there was talk about Simon leaving AI you would have the their was another national tragedy. Simon is the fly in the soup, the dissenter, the person that everyone loves to hate. This is part of the rating game and when they had a chance to put someone on that they knew would get Simon's dander up they did. To those of use who are Gender Neutral, Disphoric, Transgendered it was an example of the insensitivity of the beer drinking, cigarette smoking, queer bashing conservatives that populate this country. I apologize to those gays that are offfended by language, but that is how they are characterized by this segment of our society that are the core of Fox Network audience. Maybe when people see movies like Brokeback Mountain and Transamerica which were both nominated for academy awards they will see Transsexuals, Trangender, and Gays as valuable part of society and not a bunch of deviates as they are now thought of. I applaud Zach for having the cour

"Stay with your dream!"
Posted by Marlene from Ohio (Thu, Jan 11, 2007)

Dear Zach -- I too am a MtF transgender, and I don't watch crap like AI, Survivor or and similar shows simply because it shows to me that television is losing much of its creativity simply because networks and producers want profit more than they do content. I am a musician as well (25 years in a all-volunteer community band) and know how it is when I'm concerned about losing volunteer members when we need players in areas we need the most (percussion, double reeds, etcetera). My only critique about the site is I wish the entire articles mentioned were posted. Zach -- keep you head high and never forget that you have more class, more intelligence and more bravery than those two washed-up singers and a bully who's as much of a coward as his is classless! (Undisclosed Email Address)

"Zach"
Posted by Jim from Texas (Thu, Apr 19, 2007)

Zach read Roman 1:21-32: GOD made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve. GOD did not make any junk. Examine yourself very close and come to GOD thru HIS son JESUS.

"Zach would be BOMB is he dressed like a guy..and cut his hair"
Posted by Vain from Denver (Sun, May 6, 2007)

mmmm i live in Denver... Find me

"Is he gay or what???"
Posted by Deena from Malaysia (Tue, Jun 26, 2007)

After seeing that video in American Idol,I suspect that he is a gay.Maybe he plastic surgery himself,any ideas?

"what a hottie"
Posted by matt from LA (Tue, Nov 20, 2007)

I think he looks sooo hot. He's even more beautiful now. I really like him.