Clay Aiken on "Good Morning America"

Clay Aiken gave his first interview, since coming out of the closet to People Magazine, today on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer, reports Nydailynews.com.

During the interview, Aiken confirmed that the decision to come out was based upon wanting to be honest for his newborn son, Parker.

He said of raising his child, "I don't ever want to raise him in an environment where it's not OK for him to be exactly who he is, no matter what."

The 2003 Idol runner-up went on to say that his experience on America Idol actually helped in the process of coming out.

"When I got on Idol . . . people were cheering me on and being supportive. There you are in an environment that is more open and more accepting . . . where you don't feel like such an outcast."

Aiken admitted that fellow contestant Kimberley Locke was the first person he ever told about his sexuality.

What about his family?

That proved to be a lot harder as Aiken, 29, said that he had only come out to his mother, Faye, a short four years ago, and on a really awkward day.

"Poor mom, I told her the day that my brother left for Iraq for the first time. . . . I just thought, 'Well, it's a bad day already, might as well not spread it out.'"

Aiken says his mother was, "obviously somewhat stunned," but he gives her credit, "She still struggles with things quite a bit, but she's come a long way."