US STARS COME OUT THE CLOSET

Clay Aiken, the 2003 American Idol runner up, has announced that he is gay, while actress Lindsay Lohan has confirmed that she is dating a woman.

Aiken appears on the cover of People magazine holding his new-born son Parker Foster Aiken with the headline “Yes, I’m Gay.”

The 29 year old singer, who had previously refused to confirm that he is gay despite numerous rumours about his sexuality, recently announced that he had become a father thanks to a surrogate mother.

In the magazine, Aiken said: “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.”

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s President Neil G. Giuliano applauded Aiken’s openness in a media statement:

“We congratulate Clay for making this decision and for setting an example for others and his family. As we’re seeing, more and more gay people, including celebrities, are living openly and honestly, and this has tremendous impact in terms of creating awareness, understanding and acceptance.”

Discussing the news to TV’s Extra, American Idol judge Simon Cowell commented sarcastically, “Wow, that’s a shock. It’s like being told Santa Clause isn’t real – unbelievable.”

Meanwhile, actress Lindsay Lohan has for the first time confirmed that she is in a lesbian relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson.

Interviewed on the Loveline US radio show, 22 year old Lohan was asked by host Ted Stryker how long she and Ronson (31) had been dating.

“For a very long time,” responded a laughing Lohan.

The two women have been seen and photographed constantly at each other’s side for months, but have previously refused to comment on their relationship.