For me, the most memorable moment of American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert's barely year-old professional career is not his rousing performance with KISS during last year's Idol finale, the above-average interest in his debut album, For Your Entertainment, or the gyrations and suggestive behavior demonstrated during a performance at last year's American Music Awards.

The most memorable moment was Lambert having to confirm he was gay to a reporter at Rolling Stone last summer.

Are you serious?

I would hope that most reporters working for an international media outlet of that stature would be a little more worldly. In fact, it would surprise me if there was anyone not sporting a beard with no moustache and making fine-crafted furniture in the middle of Dutch Pennsylvania farm country, who didn't greet this news with a resounding, "Duh!!!"

Had Rolling Stone actually seen or met Adam Lambert before? During the Screen Actors Guild awards he wore more eyeliner and foundation than all of the contestants on Project Runway combined.

He actually looked like a prettier version of Boy George. No joke.

More importantly, hasn't Rolling Stone — and the rest of American society as a whole — progressed beyond the "Is he gay or straight?" witch/warlock hunt? It's such an ugly, tawdry and outdated form of passive finger-pointing.

And have you ever noticed that it's only people that others might think are gay that are put through this public scrutiny, that it never works the other way around?

Why didn't William Shatner ever get the probing question, "Are you straight?" during all those years on Star Trek? Has anybody ever questioned if Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee or Grateful Dead icon Jerry Garcia were heterosexual?

Why is it always handsome, highly-emotive guys like Ricky Martin, Liberace and Lambert who must justify their sexuality? I say it's BS that must stop right now.

From now on here's the litmus test we all should abide by: If you don't know if someone is gay and you can't figure it out by their public actions (like say, Lambert making out with his male keyboard player on stage at the AMA's) then perhaps — just perhaps —it's none of your damn business.

Gay or not gay, if you liked what Lambert brought to American Idol and you find the club singles like "Whataya Want From Me" and "For Your Entertainment" as addictive as Ho-Ho's, than you will probably love the dance party spectacle that Lambert is bringing to the Hobby Center on Wednesday night ... regardless of the over-inflated ticket price.

$52.50 (including taxes and fees)!!! Who does he think he is? Some superstar gay icon like Cher or Madonna?

(As a rule, no artist with only one album should be able to charge more than $25 for a concert ticket. The bigger payday should be earned with time and continued success.)

Adam Lambert, 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets: $52.25