Lance Bass of NSYNC officially comes out: "Im gay"

[xyboymil]

Lance Bass of 'N Sync Reveals He's Gay
Jul 26, 10:37 AM EST


The Associated Press

Lance Bass, band member of 'N Sync, says he's gay and in a "very stable" relationship with a reality show star. Bass, who formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, tells People magazine that he didn't earlier disclose his sexuality because he didn't want to affect the group's popularity.

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything," he tells the magazine.

'N Sync is known for a string of hits including "Bye Bye Bye" and "It's Gonna Be Me." The band went on hiatus in 2002. Bass has also found headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space.

Bass says he wondered if his coming out could prompt "the end of 'N Sync." He explains, "So I had that weight on me of like, `Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did."

The singer says he's in a "very stable" relationship with 32-year-old actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, winner of season four of CBS' "Amazing Race."

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=228739>1=7703

As a young gay male myself who followed this band...and crushed on members like Lance, excuse me if I dont give the "good for you" or "Im so proud" of him speech.

I understand that he was looking out for the other members in the band and Im sure he got alot of pressure for his band management and label to not come out..but my hero -someone I would admire and look up to-would be if a guy in Lances position would have come out years ago when NSYNC was on top.

That would have been courageous and inspired young gay people to be proud of who they are. I guess im just tired of the seemingly neverending subtle shame that still goes with a celebrity's sexual orientation. They all come out...but only when their careers are in their twlights or its "safe". It's time for that to change..

[SeveneightyWhoa]

1. Yeah, I'm not gay, but..

..there doesn't seem to be anything to be proud of in this story for the gay community.

Of all the members of the group, it seems as though he was the least popular amongst "the ladies", so I doubt this would've had much impact. In fact, I'm sure the news stories and publicity regarding his "coming out", if it had occurred, would've helped record sales. Chicks aren't homophobic; plus, homosexual dudes worldwide would come out to support the group (no pun intended).

[dsc]

10. You can't be serious

KD Lang lost her career when she came out. She restarted it on completely different venues. The Dixie Chicks can't get airplay despite having a best selling record since they blasted Bush. Conservative media outlets would have played an openly gay boy band's records? I doubt it.

[idgiehkt]

12. chicks are so homophobic

at least to queer chicks. I know alot of them like to play fag-hag but I've heard enough of them utter slurs to be convinced that some aren't as open-minded as they seem.

[battleknight24]

2. Lance Bass of NSync is gay? I am schocked!!!...

... schocked I tell you!!!...

[Psychmd]

3. What will we tell the children?...nt

[sui generis]

4. things are what they are

I'm not ready to judge anyone else's choices on their path by what I see of my own.

It's not up to Lance Bass to change the world - he may have been a hero to you or someone else for 30 seconds until his band faded into ridicule and obscurity, because that's reality.

Why is it that we think we should have choice about what we do in our personal lives and think that celebrities should have no choice? It was his choice, for his reasons, whether we agree with them or not.

Anyway, the result is that many more people bought his albums who otherwise wouldn't have and now that he's "out", he'll be much more willing to openly put money back into community causes. That's not a bad thing, considering that there were probably plenty of uptight people who wouldn't have dreamed they'd be making a second hand donation to the HRC or Brian's House or whatever he ends up involved with.

[BeeBee]

7. As always sui, well said. n/t

[skooooo]

5. And we all should care because.......?

:-)

[BeeBee]

6. Every time someone famous comes out

they get hit with this "he didn't come out soon enough" or "he waited until it wouldn't hurt his career" crap. Coming out is a very personal thing and different for everyone. Who are we to tell someone they didn't come out soon enough? Besides, he's only 27! I, for one, say good for him, way to go, and congratulations!!! :toast:

[idgiehkt]

11. Wow, 27, I didn't know he was that young.

I'm really happy for him that he feels comfortable enough to do this. Really, really happy. God bless him. It takes so much courage to come out as a public figure. I think I read he was dating someone from some reality show or something. The guy is uber-hot; that is if they are still together. I think Perez Hilton was doing alot of stuff on him and this guy. It's hard to be closeted now with the internet being what it is.

Good for Lance. Is he a megamillionaire because of that band? I know they were pretty popular. 27 seems like very young, though. Does he still perform or is he retired?

[cboy4]

8. You know, I hear what you're saying, but I still feel it's nobody's

business why Lance or anyone else for that matter chooses not to come out sooner.

We know nothing about his true personal life. (The tabloids don't count!)

Entertainers constantly say the reason more aren't out is because they're afraid they'll lose millions of dollars worth of work.

Who can really blame them?

I mean, how many "out" superstars can you name in Hollywood?

Look how long it took Ellen, Rosie and others to speak.

Sure......would I have liked to have seen Bass come out sooner? Of course!!!

But, it's never too late to come out. It really isn't.

I'm confident Lance's announcement will inspire others to take that giant step.

I'm happy for him.

[TalkingDog]

9. Hmmmm...Ya Think?

BTW, don't care when he came out...if he never does...or if he decides to pop back in the closet. Either way: NOMB.



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