Another Celeb joins us!

[vascubaguy]

I was browsing Yahoo news and low and behold, Lance Bass finally comes out of the closet. Not only that, he's in a relationship with Reichen Lehmkuhl (a hottie that won Amazing Race in season 4).

Anyway, if anyone is interested, here's the story from yahoo news (actually it's from People):

NEW YORK - 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."

Bass and Fatone, 29, are developing a sitcom pilot inspired by the screwball comedy "The Odd Couple," in which his character will be gay.

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed — that's the one thing I went to say," Bass says. "I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."

 

[ChrizJen]

Yaaaay!!!

I love that he made a point to say that he is not in any way ashamed of who he is, and that he witheld saying anything until now purely out of respect for his bandmates. Classy!

Good for you Lance!!

 

[PhotobearSam]

I had no idea he was gay...My Gay-Dar is broken I guess...

Good for him.

It must be awful to have to live such a public life not being able to feel comfortable enough to be yourself.

I hope he is happy and healthy. Good for you Lance!

 

[Viki]

Yup, saw that earlier and got so engrossed - because I'm home sick with nothing better to do!!! - that I went and googled who his boyfriend is and OMG I came across some unbelievably hot pictures. Nothing illegal, mind you, but jeesh! Good for you Lance.

 

[ConcKahuna]

Heh, I knew about him, now I'm just waiting on Howie D to come out. I mean, I've seen him downtown in clubs, and he's half-owner of one of the "straight" clubs downtown (tends to get a very mixed crowd). He may say he's straight, but I've seen him sucking face with go-go boys at Southern...

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Welcome home Lance.

 

[Psychometrika]

This is news? Not that I even remembered who he was (and think it's sad to say he is a celebrity - my how talent has slid downhill) - until you named the "band". He was caught engaged in an "event" in a washroom AT WDW of all places during a singing engagement, many, many moons ago. Not the usual rumour, mind you, but confirmed by Disney. Glad he finally had the nerve to come out. Funny how that is when you've got enough money to retire on the moon THEN you decide it's "ok" to be gay in public. I'm much more impressed with the celebs who come out WHILE celebs or even before.

 

[marklynpa]

What happened with Chip? They made such a nice couple and worked so well together on TAR. I am sorry to hear they are not still together.

 

[ILuvDVC2]

What happened with Chip? They made such a nice couple and worked so well together on TAR. I am sorry to hear they are not still together.

By the time TAR aired, they were already broken up. I liked them, but I noticed that they fought with each other A LOT when the other teams weren't around. They put on their game faces whenever their competitors were with them.

I saw Reichen in person last year at the GayExpo here in NYC, back when he hosted a show on the now defunct "Q" cable network. He looks as good in person as he does in photos! And, I swear he must be doing underwear modeling... or else a dead-ringer for Reichen is appearing in nothing but his skivvies in the Undergear cagalog!

Also, Chip was on a Logo-network special about gay reality TV stars last fall. He still seemed to be sad about the break-up, but he's definitely moved on with his life post-Reichen. I haven't seen him appear anywhere else since.

Good for Lance for coming out, but it's not that much of a surprise to me.

 

[exDS vet]

I have no problem with Lance keeping this "secret" for so long. First off, it's none of our business. I understand that the idea of gay celebrities coming out helps to put a recognizable face on gay people, but it's still a very hard decision to make. Lance lived under a microscope for a very long time. Then it appears that he stopped hiding, but didn't flaunt it either.

I worked a a teaching assistant in a high school video class for six years. Just prior to that, I was a video instructor and a local boys club. I knew I was gay, but couldn't dare to "come out" when I worked so closely with teens. These kids worked on my own television programs outside of school, and some of them went on to become my closest friends. We were very close in age back then but even in the late 80's/early 90's some of us had to hide who we were.

I finally started my slow coming out process in 1992. In 2000 I told my parents. Today I have no regrets for keeping my secret for so long. Back then, I was afraid of losing my job, friends, family, etc. Today I make all of the choices in my life, and I don't worry about what people think.

I'm glad that Lance Bass no longer has to carry that heavy burden that all gay people have had to carry. I guess it's up for debate, but Lance was the cutest of the 'nsync guys, and I believe the most real. I wonder if he was out to the other guys when they were popular?

 

[Longhairbear]

I know of another boy band member that was out to close friends, but went back in the closet recently. I never met him, but my best friend was part of the inner circle of friends. The reason for his new closet is career based.
I sometimes feel sorry for gay celebs that can't or won't come out. They do not enjoy the lives the rest of us do.

 

[vascubaguy]

I wonder if he was out to the other guys when they were popular?

I watched the "story" on Extra or Access Hollywood or one of those shows. They said that he just recently told the other members of N'sync, except for Justin, who he was supposed to be calling pretty soon to talk.

Lance had stated that his biggest regret in all of this was that the news made it to the Internet so fast that his mom found out that way rather than him being able to her himself first.

It was nice to see that he declined all interviews because he felt it did not warrant the need for more discussion.

Anyway, best of luck to him in his acting career on a new sitcom he's helping create. His character will be gay.

 

[Tony-NJ]

exDS vet - BRAVO!

 

[ChrizJen]

This is news?...Glad he finally had the nerve to come out. Funny how that is when you've got enough money to retire on the moon THEN you decide it's "ok" to be gay in public. I'm much more impressed with the celebs who come out WHILE celebs or even before.

While I do admire celebs like Rosie and Ellen who came out during the height of their celebrity, I also admire the fact that he considered the other guys in his decision to keep quiet. Yes, the other stars risked a great deal to come out when they did. And they deserve a lot of respect for that. But let's face it. It was THEIR risk to take. They were not placing anyone else's popularity and success in jeopardy when they did it. They made the choice to come out when they did because they were willing to take that chance for themselves. I admire Lance for thinking enough of the others to hold back.

 

[summer_magic]

I am glad Lance made the decision to be honest (and no it is not just because I have had a major crush on him for years).

I just hope he can be happy.

From what I hear his current bf is quite a jerk, using him for publicity. If that is true I hope that he finds someone better...

(and no I wouldn't mind if that was me but I certainly don't expect it to be)