Here's how Clay Aiken used to deal with the gay rumors:
"Rolling Stone - 07/10/03:
Some people, for example, seem to think that because he is slender, has long, fluttering eyelashes, and currently doesn't have a girlfriend, he must be gay.
...This kind of stuff seems to amuse Aiken more than it upsets him.
"One thing I've found of people in the public eye," Aiken says, "either you're a womanizer or you've got to be gay. Since I'm neither one of those, people are completely concerned about me."
"Prime Time Live with Diane Sawyer 10/09/03:
"I have some very effeminate qualities, you know, I try to make sure I'm clean. I was raised by my mom and my two grandmothers really for a long time. I'm not completely blind to it. I...I have gotten used to people asking the question. They think, ok, he doesn't drink; he doesn't go out and have sex with...with every woman that he sees. I think it's high time there's somebody who represents people who aren't gay, but doesn't sleep around with everybody...you know. If I'm supposed to carry the banner for all the nerds in the world I'm fine with that, too, so...""
Then he realized that giving an honest answer only prompts the gossip mongers to make up more lies, and stopped bothering.
Just recently, NY Post reported seeing Clay at a NYC gay club on December 19th, at the exact same time when he was performing a Christmas concert in Minneapolis. Oops.