Clay Aiken to speak at gay rights event

Clay Aiken has confirmed that he will speak at a gay rights event in his North Carolina hometown, reports The AP.

The 31-year-old, who finished runner-up on the second season of American Idol, will reportedly give a speech at the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala in Raleigh this weekend.

Discussing his self-penned speech, he said: "I don't feel like this is the place to be horribly politically charged and bash people and talk about the wrongs that have been done.

"My goal is to be hopeful, that it's time for everyone to have equal rights."

Aiken, who welcomed son Parker Foster Aiken in 2008, added: "It's more important to me, as a parent, that my son have all the rights - if he's gay - than it is for me. I don't want to do anything today that's going to inhibit, or be a detriment to, his rights."