Aiken: 'I was picked on for being gay'

Clay Aiken has revealed that he was picked on at school as a child for being gay.

The singer, who remembered being teased and called names, recently became a public supporter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in order to ensure that students like himself are safe and happy.

"I don't know what it would have done for me. But I feel like there's a potential impact there," he told The AP.

"The truth is, when I look back on it, I absolutely know that [being gay] is why I got picked on. People said it, we heard it."

Aiken added that his son Parker is a large part of his inspiration in the advocacy group.

"If he's gay, I want him to not even think about the fact or have to worry about the things I had to worry about.

"I'm not going to pound the pavement as much as some folks would like... But I also think there's a place for deliberate, thoughtful advocacy."