Callea became a favorite of young girls and grannies across the country during the Idol competition but decided to come out when persistent rumors about his sexuality dogged his time on the show. Callea now performs with his partner, former Home and Away actor Tim Campbell.

"You really have to be comfortable with yourself before you make that step," Callea says, explaining why he waited with coming out. "Everybody has an opinion. People say, 'You should have been up front about it', but you need to be comfortable.

"You don't want to get to 30 or 40 and be dealing with your sexuality. I wanted to do it my way. I didn't want my label or management to be a part of it, I wanted to write my own statement and express what I've gone through and dealt with."

Some believed coming out while being a contestant on Idol would be career suicide, but Callea says the impact on his career has been minimal.

"If you make it an issue, it becomes one," he says. "Being gay is a part of me, not who I am. I want to be known as a singer."

Callea says he doesn't think you have to be straight to win Australian Idol.

"I don't think so. There will always be a minority of people who have an issue with homosexuality," he says.

"You have to have a thick skin sometimes. If you display an attitude that you're not affected by it, it shows people dealing with their sexuality that you can deal with it and still do what you love."

Last update: 12-03-2008 17:51