The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has issues with the tone of ‘American Idol’ regarding contestants who the judges believe are gay. A GLAAD spokesperson told TMZ: “GLAAD is reaching out to the show’s producers to discuss our concerns – and the concerns of community members and allies – who have contacted us about this matter.” Jim Verraros, a gay finalist from ‘American Idol’s’ first season, feels the tone comes from the top. Verraros tells TMZ, “I honestly think that if I had come out [as gay] while I was on the show, FOX would’ve edited it out.”

TMZ.com caught up with former ‘American Idol’ finalists Carmen Rasmusen, Jim Verraros, and Vanessa Olivarez, who have all experienced financial hardship since being on the hit program and struggling to launch their own career in showbiz. “Three months after I was on the ‘American Idol’ tour,” says Verraros, “I was working in a tanning salon. I had to deal with people coming into the salon saying, ‘Weren’t you that dude on ‘American Idol’?’ I got through those kinds of hard experiences with music.”

Contributed by britny:

Former American Idol contestant Jim Verraros made a big decision after his Idol experience. Jim came out and admitted that he is in fact gay. “It was a big risk, careerwise, but I have to be true to myself,” the Chicago native tells People magazine. Verraros says that the fan response and his fellow Idols’ response has been all positive.

EJay Day, RJ Helton, Vanessa Olivarez, Charles Grigsby, Kristin Holt, and Jim Verraros are amongst the former ‘American Idol’ finalists who are uniting for a new tour that will visit 21 malls starting in Miami and New York simultaneously on Saturday (April 5). Mall visitors will enjoy a Q&A session with the former ‘American Idol’ stars, participate in an ‘American Idol’ trivia contest, and see behind-the-scenes video clips from the show.

Adam Graham of The Detroit News reviewed Thursday’s ‘American Idols Live!’ tour stop at Detroit’s Fox Theatre. Graham says, “While a handful of contestants from Fox’s smash summer star search ‘American Idol’ have deals already secured and futures to look forward to — step forward Kelly, Justin and Tamyra — for others, it’s time to begin considering other options. Let’s put it this way — Thursday was probably the last time an audience will ever hear the words ‘Detroit, make some noise for Jim Verraros!’”