This week's edition of People magazine won't hit the newstands until Friday, but excerpts from Clay Aiken's coming out interview are already surfacing. Here's a few highlights....

On the timing of his coming out.

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

On the nature vs. nurture debate.

Says Aiken [of his son]: "I have no idea if he'll be gay or straight. It's not something I'll have anything to do with, or that he'll have anything to do with. It's already probably up inside the code there ... No matter what the situation you're in, if you're raised in a loving environment, that's the most important thing." 

On possible fan reaction.

"Whether it be having a child out of wedlock, or whether it be simply being a homosexual, it's going to be a lot," He adds that he hopes his fans "know that I've never intended to lie to anybody at all. ... But if they leave, I don't want them to leave hating me."

So that brings us to the question: How are Aiken's most ardent fans (often referred to as Claymates) taking the big news? I took an extended tour through various online Aiken fan forums late last night and what I saw surprised me.

Yes, there seems to be a lot of shock among the ClayNation populace. (Remember, this is the same crowd who rabidly proclaimed the singer's heterosexuality and denounced anyone who publicly questioned it.) But mixed in with that initial shock were an overwhelming number of messages of support for the singer. The following was typical....

Note the apparently unironic "big broad shoulders" comment above! These ladies obviously still love Clay Aiken, which as a gay man I am heartened by. The denizens of Clay Nation appear more determined than ever to rally around their golden boy. 

Of course, mixed in with the many expressions of support for the singer there seems initially to be a running strain of self-pity. It showed up in comments like: "I defended him to my friends and family, now I look like a fool!" or "How am I going to hold my head up at work tomorrow?"

Presumably, these ladies will get through a day of good-natured ribbing and I told you so's and then can finally hold their heads up high as Clay Aiken fans now that they don't have to defend his heterosexuality any more. Hey, If you happen to run into a grieving Clay-Mate today — go easy on them.

More Clay-Motional fan comment threads after the break: