I wanted the focus to be on my ability as a singer and as an entertainer - not on my private life.

I don't feel closeted.

'Come out' is so funny to me because I've never been in.

There are female artists I can look at that I find more in common with than the male artists, because they're blending the pop, dance and theatricality... but currently there aren't a lot of guys who go there.

There's not a blueprint for me to follow.

I think the British audience might be more open-minded with some of my imagery and weird choices.

Carving out an identity for yourself is important so I'm trying to do that as well.

A lot of my male vocal influences are British - people like David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Robert Plant.

Those shows I did with Queen were pretty surreal. I was really excited and super-flattered, but intimidated at the same time.

I think Lady Gaga is great and is changing pop music and bringing back a certain rock 'n' roll spirit, swagger to the game.

When I was kid, I remember playing 'Vogue' by Madonna over and over and over again. And ah, you know, something about the beat was really cool, and Madonna, visually, was on TV all the time and I thought she was just so beautiful.

There's a certain level of pageantry with 'Idol,' and in order to work the show, you kind of have to feed into it.

I like 'Rocky Horror.'

It's been a transformative period and I really wanted to make music from what I've experienced.

Wait a minute, I'm a fan of yours; you can't be a fan of mine!

I think theatricality is just one way of performing. I don't think it's a better way or the way, but it's my way.

I knew that it was my only shot to be taken seriously in the recording industry, because it's fast and broad.

I'm trying to be a singer, not a civil rights leader.

Nelson Mandela is awe inspiring - a person who really sacrificed for what he believed in. I feel truly humbled by him.

You know, I would say that songwriting is something about the expression of the heart, the intellect and the soul.

Having children, they're not your property. They need to figure out their own views. I think my daughters have a pretty healthy self-awareness, but I can't speak on their behalf.

The person who inspired me the most was a friend of mine, Anita Roddick. I know that Anita wasn't known to be an ardent feminist, but she truly was.

My issue with the state of women became incredibly stimulated when I was visiting developing countries and it became obvious that women bore the brunt of so many things in society.

Women's issues have always been a part of my life. My goal is to bring the word 'feminism' back into the zeitgeist and reframe it.