Former "American Idol" Star Clay Aiken Announces That He Is Gay

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) - Clay Aiken, the former runner-up of "American Idol," has publicly announced that he is gay. His sexuality has long been a big question surrounding the star.

Aiken, who is a new father to son Parker, said he decided that he needed to come out about his sexuality because he could not raise a child to lie. Aiken and his son appear on the current issue of People magazine with the headline, "Yes, I'm Gay."

In the story in the magazine, Aiken says he expects the news might overwhelm his fans. "Whether it be having a child out of wedlock, or whether it be simply being a homosexual, it's going to be a lot," he says, before adding that he hopes his fans "know that I've never intended to lie to anybody at all... But if they leave, I don't want them to leave hating me."

Aiken has had a successful music career since "American Idol" and his adoring fans call themselves Claymates. Aiken recently returned to Broadway to reprise his role as Sir Robin in Monty Python's "Spamalot."