Love overcomes hate. Love has no color. Love has no orientation. All is love.

It's an honor to be up there singing the songs that Freddie helped to write and make famous.

[on Freddie Mercury] I love him just as much as you.

[accepting the 2013 GLAAD Media Award for promoting equality in the openly lesbian, gay, bisexual and LGBT media] One person thinks you should be more this, one person thinks you should be more that; the label thinks this, the fans think that; your family wants this; this community wants you to shut up, that community wants it louder. The best we can do is keep it real and to spread the message of acceptance. If we can inspire even one person to open their mind, or another to be who they want to be - whether they are gay, straight, old, young, man, woman, black or white - then it's worth being objectified by the sometimes frustrating world of media sensationalism.

[on talent shows like 'American Idol'] I'm Team Everything. I mean, really, I'm Team Give a Good Singer a Good Shot. The industry is so hard to break into, and these shows provide an incredible p.r. platform.

[on being chosen to perform with Queen at the Sonisphere Knebworth Festival on July 7th 2012] I'm completely in awe of the Queen phenomenon. The thought of sharing the stage for a full set is so beautifully surreal. I'm honored to be able to pay my respects to Freddie Mercury's memory. He's a personal hero of mine and I am deeply grateful for the chance to sing such powerful music for fans of this legendary band. I know the evening will be a huge milestone for me, and with the support of Brian May, Roger Taylor and the rest of the band I know magic will be on display.

I wasn't popular in high school. I was the weird kid. So to all you weird kids out there - you can do it!

I'm like your boy next door who decided that he wanted to be a rebel one day. So.. I'm a nice rebel

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

(About rooming with Kris Allen) They put me with the cute guy. Distracting! He's the one guy I found attractive in the whole group on the show: nice, nonchalant, pretty and totally my type - except that he has a wife. I mean he's open-minded and liberal, but he's definitely 100% straight.

I'm proud of my sexuality. I embrace it. It's just another part of me.

Right after the finale, I almost started talking about it to the reporters, but I thought, "I'm going to wait for Rolling Stone, that will be cooler". I didn't want the Clay Aiken thing and the celebrity-magazine bullshit. I need to be able to explain myself in context.