Sour Notes
People (February 6, 2006)

"It was horrible, because they made me look like a fool," says the Littleton, Colo., store clerk, of his AI debut--his gender-bending appearance was used as a punch line for the show. "It was rude." Still, Travis managed to wrangle some new fans out of the ordeal. "People come running up to me, saying 'Oh my God, we love you so much. Screw those judges!' It feels good." As for the gender confusion, Travis takes it all in stride. "I am whatever you want me to be. If you think I'm a boy, I'm a boy. If you think I'm a girl, I'm a girl. I don't make it a big issue. And, yeah, when I can afford it, I want to get the operation.

Idol Launches with a Bang!
Star (February 6, 2006)

Tearful Travis told his mom on camera, "I think it's prejudice to not accept someone because someone's a boy and they're singing girl songs."

American Idol ran into PR trouble during its big return. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is reportedly calling for a sit-down with the show's producers over their sarcastic treatment of losing contestant Zachary Travis, 18. Travis, an admittedly androgynous boy, was asked by judge Randy Jackson, "Are you a girl?"--and the show later played the theme song from the transgendered-themed movie The Crying Game as he left.

Simon Cowell? Insensitive?
Toronto Star (January 26, 2006)

In the following episode, taped in Denver, Jackson asked contestant Zachary Travis, "Are you a girl?" Since Travis is not, Jackson's question — repeated in stories without context — was criticized in many circles But watch the entire segment and a slightly different picture emerges. First, young Travis arrived wearing makeup, a female top, black boots with heels and jeans — not that there's anything wrong with that.

More important, Jackson's question was actually in response to something Travis offered on his own. After Jackson said, "Tell me something interesting about yourself." Travis replied, "Well, I'm a very talented person and people confuse me for a girl a lot of the time."

On Monday, GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) issued a statement.

"Last week we heard and voiced concerns about the Jan. 18 edition of American Idol — specifically, the producers' decision to turn a contestant's gender expression into the butt of a joke. We've spoken with Fox and have entered into what we hope will be a productive, ongoing conversation about the show's representation and discussion of sexual orientation and gender expression," said spokesperson Damon Romine.

(Note: GLAAD never called the show "homophobic," as some media outlets have reported.)