Clay Aiken Comes Out

Photo Credit: People Magazine

Following the Aug. 8 birth of his son, Parker, singer Clay Aiken publicly announces in an upcoming issue of PEOPLE that he's gay.

"It was the first decision I made as a father," says Aiken. "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."

His mom's reaction? "She started crying. She was obviously somewhat stunned. But she was very supportive and very comforting," says Aiken after revealing his sexual orientation to mother, Faye Aiken. Even now, Aiken admits, "She still struggles with things quite a bit, but she's come a long way."

As for his own child, Aiken tells PEOPLE that Parker – who was conceived via in vitro fertilization with his best friend, music producer Jaymes Foster – will be raised in an environment that is "accepting and allowing him to be happy."