After years of dodging speculation, new dad Clay Aiken is opening up about his sexuality. Revealing in People magazine’s new cover story that he is gay, the former “American Idol” hopeful explains that son Parker, born in August, inspired him to come out.

“It was the first decision I made as a father,” declared Clay, who relied on in vitro fertilization to have the baby with his best friend. “I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn’t raised that way, and I’m not going to raise a child to do that.”