I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I'm gay.

I'm proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. It's just another part of me.

I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.

I knew that it was my only shot to be taken seriously in the recording industry, because it's fast and broad.

I think theatricality is just one way of performing. I don't think it's a better way or the way, but it's my way.

Wait a minute, I'm a fan of yours; you can't be a fan of mine!

I think you kind of have to put yourself out there.

The biggest risk I've ever taken is going on American Idol and trying to be myself. I wasn't going to try too hard to conform, and I knew that it could possibly not work out.

It's been a transformative period and I really wanted to make music from what I've experienced.

All these songs honestly explore the ups and downs of my reality.

I'm proud of my sexuality.

I've only dressed in drag three or four times.

I have nothing to hide.

I am who I am.

I like 'Rocky Horror.'

Female performers have been doing this for years - pushing the envelope about sexuality - and the minute a man does it, everybody freaks out.

I started to realize I wasn't like every other boy.

I need to be able to explain myself in context.

There's a certain level of pageantry with 'Idol,' and in order to work the show, you kind of have to feed into it.

I like to get real pretty.

At least I can say that I'm honest.

You can't plan everything - if I did a performance exactly how I rehearsed it, it would be so boring.

I worked at Starbucks when I was 16... It was all right.

My mother was always supportive.

I'm not a babysitter.

There's no regrets for me.

I wasn't unhappy, but I was a little like: 'Is this it? Really?' I was thirsty.

I try to go throughout my daily life just as if nothing has changed, but you don't have much anonymity anymore, which feels really good. People come up, and say hi and they enjoy your work.

I was really beating myself up about performances and how I looked and this and that.

I don't like to look typical.

Bowie's been a huge influence on me.

So pretty much, to sum it up, if you can freak someone out and bring that kind of emotion out of somebody with a song, you're doing something right.

When I was kid, I remember playing 'Vogue' by Madonna over and over and over again. And ah, you know, something about the beat was really cool, and Madonna, visually, was on TV all the time and I thought she was just so beautiful.

I think Lady Gaga is great and is changing pop music and bringing back a certain rock 'n' roll spirit, swagger to the game.

Those shows I did with Queen were pretty surreal. I was really excited and super-flattered, but intimidated at the same time.

A lot of my male vocal influences are British - people like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant.

Carving out an identity for yourself is important so I'm trying to do that as well.

I think the British audience might be more open-minded with some of my imagery and weird choices.

There's not a blueprint for me to follow.

There are female artists I can look at that I find more in common with than the male artists, because they're blending the pop, dance and theatricality... but currently there aren't a lot of guys who go there.

'Come out' is so funny to me because I've never been in.

I don't feel closeted.

I wanted the focus to be on my ability as a singer and as an entertainer - not on my private life.

I have crushes on women all the time.

There was a lot of me trying to be a 'fixer.' I was that kind of guy. I'd meet someone who had 'so much potential' that needed 'help.' I think that was kind of my curse for a long time.

Conforming is not cool.

The kids that are different and out there and expressive and are bold with those choices, those are the people that grow up to be people we all want to hang out with, that become celebrities or become really successful in what they do because they believe in who they are.

I've sung other people's music all my life.

I get why certain actors want to stay in the closet.

I nitpick details.