Aussie Star Anthony Callea Comes Out

Australian pop star Anthony Callea was accidentally outed during a radio show a few weeks ago and Monday the Australian Idol star told the Herald Sun he had reached a point in his life where he was comfortable enough to reveal his sexuality.

"Yes, I am gay," Callea said yesterday.

"I have no issue with my sexuality now, but it's taken time to become confident with who I am and happy with who I am.

"I'm looking forward to living a life with no barriers and not having to worry about saying the right thing."

Callea, 24, said he was planning to come out before he was outed on radio.

"I'm comfortable enough to come clean now. It's a weight off my shoulders," he said.

"I don't think it's a big issue. Who cares? If people have an issue with it, it's their issue.

"It shouldn't really be relevant to me being a singer and a performer."

During an an interview in 2004, Callea denied he was gay because he was afraid it would harm his chances in the Australian Idol contest, but Callea now says he regrets his deciscion.

"You learn from your mistakes. I was 21, 22 at the time," he said.

"I didn't want to be known as just the gay contestant from Idol.

"It was a very confusing time."

Callea says growing up as a gay Italian teenager was difficult.

"I went through a stage of major depression," he said. "I hated myself. "I had to see a psychologist. I wasn't talking to anyone. My parents didn't know what was wrong with me.

"But getting through that makes you a stronger person, it allows me to do what I'm doing now and not be affected by what's said."

Callea met his partner Paul while working on Idol, and he says the support from him has been invaluable.

"I'm being honest but I still have a personal life I'm going to keep private," he said.

Callea's No. 1 hit The Prayer is the highest-selling single in Australian chart history.

"I'm not ashamed of being gay, but it's not in my nature to go out and promote it," he said.

"I want to be known as a singer and as a performer. This shouldn't change anything.

"I'm happy to be judged on my music, but I don't think it's right to judge people on their sexuality or their religion or their race or anything.".