RALEIGH, NC—Clay Aiken will speak at the gay rights Human Rights Campaign Carolinas gala in his home town.

Focusing on equal rights for all, Aiken said he will address issues that heterosexual couples take for granted, such as hospital visitation rights.

“It’s more important to me, as a parent, that my son have all the rights — if he’s gay — than it is for me,” said Aiken. “I don’t want to do anything today that’s going to inhibit, or be a detriment to, his rights.”

The gala will be in held Saturday in Raleigh. Aiken will speak, along with other presenters like recently-open lesbian Meredith Baxter.

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