'Idol' star Clay Aiken comes out

American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken has revealed that he is gay.

Aiken features on the cover of the latest issue of People magazine, holding his son Parker Foster, accompanied by the headline: "Yes, I'm Gay."

He is also quoted on the cover as saying: "I cannot raise a child to lie or hide things."

The mother of Aiken's son is record producer Jaymes Foster.

In an interview with the Associated Press in 2006, Aiken dodged questions about his sexuality: "I don't really feel like I have anybody to answer to but myself and God and the people I love."

Aiken finished runner-up to Ruben Studdard in the 2003 series of American Idol. He is the most successful male recording artist in the history of the show, with his debut album Measure Of A Man selling more then 1 million copies.