'Idol' Contestant Rayvon Owen Opens Up About Identity

In an exclusive interview with Billboard, 'American Idol' ex-contestant Rayvon Owen talks about his sexual identity and how it impacted his new video.

Recently the former American Idol contestant was preparing the video for his first post-Idol single and had an issue with his director.

"Owen read the director's idea for the last scene, in which Owen would leave a nightclub with a beautiful girl," Billboard reports in an interview with the singer.

"'When I read that treatment, I knew I couldn't be dishonest,' Owen tells Billboard, 'not that I ever lied to people in the past, but the truth had been omitted. I felt like I was doing a disservice because I've always been an honest, loving person.'

"The ending was changed -- now, in the video's closing scene, Owen kisses a man," Billboard continued.

Owen placed fourth on Idol on the 14th season of "Idol." He used the Billboard interview as an opportunity to talk about his identity.

"First I had to become comfortable with myself and who I am as a person. For the longest time I kept that part of my life separate, away from music, away from a lot of things. As I was growing as an artist, I realized I was missing out on so much of my artistry by not connecting the two. It's easy to ignore when there are only a few thousand people who are fans and know who you are, but after�'Idol' millions of people know me and I'm much more public."

It was a death of a friend and a meeting with activist Shane Bitney Crone at an event in Detroit last year.

"'His story really inspired me,' says Owen. Crone starred in the 2013 film Bridegroom, which documents the death of his partner, Tom Bridegroom. Crone was denied the right to visit Bridegroom in the hospital before he died and was warned by his partner's family not to attend the funeral. Crone is the stranger seen kissing Owen in the final seconds of the video for 'Can't Fight It,' which is appropriately being released today, Valentine's Day."

Owen co-wrote "Can't Fight It" with Mylen, Nate Merchant and Isaiah Tejada.

"For a long time I fought wanting to be with a guy, even though I was attracted to and connected with men," Owen concludes. "This is the perfect song to say there's nothing you can do about that, accept who you are, and when you love someone, that's OK. It took me a minute to come to the point of knowing there's no sense in fighting anymore, so I hope that resonates with people when they hear the song. I get that it's so easy to be afraid in this society, but why let it stop you from loving someone that you feel naturally led to love."

To read the Billboard interview, follow this link.

Watch the video of "Can't Fight It" here: