Queer of the Month | October 2008 | Clay Aiken

Posted 1 year, 11 months ago at 4:45 pm. 0 comments

Clay Aiken grew up singing in church choirs and local musical theatre productions.  He performed the national anthem at sports events in his hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina, but a professional career in music seemed a distant dream.  Aiken enrolled at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, to pursue a degree in special education.  In 2003, he was working part-time helping an autistic boy, when the child’s mother suggested Aiken try out for “American Idol,” the phenomenally popular television talent show.

The judges thought he looked too “nerdy” to make it, but Aiken’s resonant voice blew them away.  The show’s stylists went to work on him and developed a trademark spiky-haired clean-cut look.  He earned a slot in the competition and finished the season in second place while developing an enthusiastic following of “Claymates.”  He went on to become a major star, releasing hit albums and touring the US and Canada.  He’s also appeared on Broadway in the musical “Spamalot.”  Meanwhile, he’s gone through a succession of hairstyles.

Aiken was raised in a devout Christian family, and has a deep faith which emerges in some of his songs, earning him the moniker “American Idol Christian” from “Christian Music Planet” broadcasting.  His faith is balanced by tolerance and consideration of other beliefs.  Aiken has been active in children’s causes and AIDS benefits.

From the time Aiken first appeared on “American Idol,” there was widespread speculation that he might be gay.  He denied this in a 2003 interview with “Rolling Stone” noting, “One thing I’ve found of people in the public eye, either you’re a womanizer or you’ve got to be gay.  Since I’m neither one of those, people are completely concerned about me.”  This didn’t do much to reduce concern.

In 2008, Aiken surprised fans by announcing that he was soon to be a father.  The child’s mother, Jaymes Foster (daughter of his producer David Foster), gave birth in August.  It was even bigger news, though less a surprise, when Aiken appeared on the cover of “People” magazine in September, holding his baby next to the headline, “Yes, I’m Gay.”   (Neil Patrick Harris, Lance Bass, and the fictional wizard Albus Dumbledore had preceded him on similar “People” covers—sans infants.)  During a week when the US economy was melting down, a presidential election was heating up, and the country was involved in two active wars, the number one news story was Clay Aiken coming out.

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