Lance Bass: 'I Thought I'd Never Be Able To Tell Anyone' I Was Gay | HuffPost Voic

Contents:

• WHY LANCE BASS WAS TERRIFIED TO E OUT AS GAY TO HIS PARENTS
• LANCE BASS: I'M GAY
• LANCE BASS: 'I THOUGHT I'D NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL ANYONE' I WAS GAY
• DANIELLE FISHEL REVEALS WHICH NSYNC MEMBER TOLD HER LANCE BASS WAS GAY WHILE THEY WERE DATG
• LANCE BASS: 'I'M GAY'
• LANCE BASS SAYS HE HID SEXUALY FOR FEAR OF DOOMG 'NSYNC'S CAREERSGER, WHOSE TOBGRAPHY ME OUT TUDAY, REVEALS HE HAD PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MICBY ARCHIVE-CHRIS-HARRISOCTOBER 23, 2007/2:49 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}BY ARCHIVE-CHRIS-HARRISOCTOBER 23, 2007 / 2:49 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LANCE BASS SAYS HE HID SEXUALY FOR FEAR OF DOOMG 'NSYNC'S CAREER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-10-23T18:49:40.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-10-23T18:49:40.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"ARCHIVE-CHRIS-HARRIS","ARTICLESECTN":"MIC"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR YEARS, CLUDG DURG THE HEIGHT OF 'NSYNC'S SUCCS, LANCE BASS LIVED NSTANT FEAR THAT A SECRET HE HAD BEEN SUPPRSG SCE CHILDHOOD WOULD EVENTUALLY E OUT -- AND WH VASTATG RULTS. BASS, WHO LAST YEAR [ARTICLE ID="1537155"]REVEALED HE IS GAY,[/ARTICLE] HAD PREVLY BEEN WORRIED THAT THE NEWS WOULD CRIPPLE HIS REER AND TARNISH 'NSYNC'S SQUEAKY-CLEAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WAS PETRIFIED OF PEOPLE FDG OUT," HE TOLD MTV NEWS' JOHN NORRIS DURG A RECENT TERVIEW. "AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT WOULD BE THE END OF THE WORLD. NOW, HDSIGHT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE E OUT AT THAT TIME, BEE I WOULD'VE LOVED TO SEE WHAT THE REACTN WOULD HAVE BEEN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEE OF HIS FEAR, BASS KEPT HIS SEXUALY PRIVATE. IN FACT, BASS WAS SO TIMORO ABOUT THE WORLD FDG OUT HE WAS GAY THAT HE HAD IENDS, EMPLOYE AND OTHERS CLOSE TO HIM SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. BASS SAYS NOT EVEN HIS BT IENDS 'NSYNC KNEW HE WAS GAY, AND THAT HIS DAYS THE CLOSET WERE RIDDLED WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WAS EMBARRASSED," SAID BASS, WHO IS CURRENTLY ACTG "HAIRSPRAY" ON BROADWAY AS PART OF A SIX-MONTH N. "THE EMBARRASSMENT WASN'T THAT I WAS GAY, WAS THAT, 'I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR THIS LONG, AND I HAVE BEEN HIDG THIS [SECRET] OM YOU.' I FELT LIKE I HAD TO LIE TO MY IENDS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE BAND'S PUBLICISTS, MANAGERS AND RERD LABEL SUGGTED THE MEMBERS NEVER BE SEEN WH WOMEN -- OR, FOR THAT MATTER, WH A CIGARETTE OR BEER THEIR HANDS. BUT NO ONE EVER EXPRSLY ADVISED BASS AGAST G OUT -- THAT'S BEE NO ONE KNEW, HE SAID. NOT LONG AFTER THE BAND'S REER TOOK OFF, HOWEVER, ONE CINT REAFFIRMED BASS' POSN THAT G CLEAN ULD CSH HIS DREAMS, THE SGER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE WERE MANY TIM, EARLY OUR REER, WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF QUTNS ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE'S SEXUALY, SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKG WH THE OTHER GUYS, YOU SEE HOW THEY REALLY REACT," BASS SAID. "ONE TIME, WE QUTNED CHRIS [KIRKPATRICK], BEE HE HAD A GAY IEND, AND THE REACTN WAS WE'D BE DOOMED IF ANYONE KNEW ABOUT . THAT SET STRAIGHT MY HEAD THAT I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT OR TELL ANYONE, AND I WOULD JT HAVE TO HI ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN AS HIS BANDMAT WOULD MAKE THE OCSNAL WISECRACK ABOUT GAY PEOPLE -- "THAT'S JT WHAT GUYS DO TO TABLISH THEIR MASCULY," HE SAID -- BASS KEPT QUIET AND "TRIED TO CUT OFF MY LIFE, THOSE FEELGS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT BASS ALSO SPECTS THERE WERE TIM WHEN HIS BANDMAT MIGHT HAVE WONRED IF HE WERE GAY: "WHEN YOU'RE BT IENDS WH SOMEONE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A GIRLIEND FOR FOUR YEARS, AND YOU'RE NOT SEEN WH ANYONE, YOU SORT OF START FIGURG OUT," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER 'NSYNC WENT ON HIAT BACK 2002, BASS -- WHO HAD BEEN TOLD THE BAND WOULD RETURN TO FORM FOLLOWG JT TIMBERLAKE'S STT AS A SOLO ARTIST -- STILL DIDN'T WANT TO E OUT. BUT LAST SUMMER, FOLLOWG NSIRABLE SPECULATN ABOUT BASS' SEXUALY THANKS TO NUMERO PAPARAZZI SNAPS OF HIM EQUENTG GAY CLUBS AND BARS, HE EMERGED OM THE CLOSET, WH A LTLE HELP OM PEOPLE MAGAZE. NOW BASS FEELS LIBERATED, HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE TALKG ABOUT MY LIFE SUCH TIMATE TAIL WH ANYONE," HE SAID. "SO, WHEN I DID E OUT AND KD OF ACCEPTED , AND SHARED WH THE WORLD, AND SAW HOW [ARTICLE ID="1537282"]GREATLY WAS ACCEPTED,[/ARTICLE] AND HOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE RELATG TO THE STORI -- I'D HAVE PEOPLE E UP TO ME, TELLG ME, 'BEE OF WHAT YOU DID, I HAD THE URAGE TO E OUT TO MY FAY' -- WAS SUCH AN ENURAGG EXPERIENCE, I WANTED TO SHARE MY LIFE STORY WH OTHER PEOPLE, TO SEE IF ULD HELP OTHERS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND BASS IS TRYG TO DO JT THAT WH HIS NEW TELL-ALL BOOK, "OUT OF SYNC: A MEMOIR," WHICH H STOR TUDAY (OCTOBER 23). BEYOND CHARTG BASS' RISE TO FAME AS A MEMBER OF 'NSYNC, AS WELL AS THE BAND'S CLE, HIS CHILDHOOD, HIS EXPERIENC TRAG TO BE A SMONT RSIA, THE TOBGRAPHY CHRONICL HIS STGGLE TO KEEP HIS PERSONAL LIFE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IF [I HADN'T E OUT,] I MIGHT STILL BE MISERABLE AND HIDG THGS," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WHILE BASS IS HAPPY TO BE OUT OF THE CLOSET, THAT DON'T MEAN HE'S GOG TO START OUTG OTHERS, EVEN IF HIS BOOK'S PUBLISHER TRIED TO GET HIM TO DO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE THE DTRY THAT ARE THE CLOSET AND NOT WANTG TO SHARE THAT PERSONAL TAIL OF THEIR LIFE," HE EXPLAED. "AND I UNRSTAND THAT. IT'S A VERY SRY THG, PECIALLY WHEN NEW ARTISTS ARE ABOUT TO BREAK, OR ACTORS ARE TAKG STRAIGHT ROL -- YOU'RE AAID THE DIENCE WON'T BUY . THE PUBLISHER AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED MORE DIRT [ MY BOOK], BEE NTROVERSY SELLS. TO ME, 'S NOT ABOUT SELLG A BOOK -- I JT WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY, WHOUT HURTG ANYONE'S FEELGS OR THROWG ANYONE UNR THE B. THERE'S LOTS OF THGS I ULD FELY SAY, AND POT THE FGER AT PEOPLE, BUT I WANTED THIS TO BE A POSIVE BOOK, AND MY LIFE UP TO NOW HAS BEEN VERY POSIVE. I'M HAPPY WH EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE, AND I DON'T WANT TO PLA ABOUT ANYTHG I'VE EVER DONE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE BOOK, BASS ALSO DISCS G OUT TO HIS FAY AND IENDS, AND THE REACTNS THEY HAD TO THE NEWS. IN ONE ANECDOTE, HE RELLS HOW BT IEND JOEY FATONE LEARNED HIS SECRET: HE ATTEND ONE OF BASS' HOE PARTI AND STUMBLED UPON HIS PAL STG A CLOSED ROOM WH HIS BOYIEND STG ACROSS HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HE WALKED , AND WAS LIKE, 'OH, SORRY,' AND WALKED OUT," BASS RELLED. "AND I WAS GOG, 'NO -- 'S OK, JOEY.' HE KNEW OM THAT MOMENT ON -- THAT WAS THE DAY I TOLD HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASS SAID HE THKS PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY READ HIS TOME, WHICH HE SAID ANSWERS A LOT OF QUTNS 'NSYNC FANS HAVE BEEN ASKG HIM FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I FELY THK PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED AT A LOT OF THGS THE BOOK," HE SAID. "NO ONE HAS REALLY SEEN THE TE ME. I THK A LOT OF QUTNS WILL BE ANSWERED TO A LOT OF FANS, BEE I GET A LOT OF QUTNS EVERY DAY. THIS IS MY ANSWER TIME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASS TOLD MTV NEWS HE HAS A NEW GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR: TO PROVE THAT YOU N BE OPENLY GAY AND STILL HAVE A REER SHOW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"PEOPLE HAVE SAID FOR SO LONG THAT YOU N'T BE SUCCSFUL THIS DTRY AND BE OUT AND GAY, AND I THK THAT'S A BUNCH OF BULL," HE SAID. "IT'S NEVER BEEN TTED BEFORE. BUT I PLAN TO TT NEXT YEAR. I HAVE A SHOW THAT I AM VELOPG, WHICH WILL BE A MIC SHOW BASED AROUND OUT GAY AND BISEXUAL GUYS [WHO WILL E TOGETHER TO FORM A BOY BAND]. I WILL BE STG , AND SHOULD BE FUN. I WANT TO TT THAT THEORY OUT AND DO A CULTURAL EXPERIMENT, TO SEE IF WORKS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• THE AWKWARD WAY NSYNC'S JOEY FATONE FOUND OUT LANCE BASS IS GAY

WHY LANCE BASS WAS TERRIFIED TO E OUT AS GAY TO HIS PARENTS

Lance Bass remembers tryg to "pray the gay away" as a 5-year-old boy growg up a small Mississippi town. “I was tght that homosexualy is a s and you have to fix . You hear so many horror stori — pecially the south — of fai rejectg their gay kids.

LANCE BASS: I'M GAY

Bass me out as gay 2006.

Related: 6 thgs to do before your gay kid outTo protect himself and his reer, Bass beme "the shy one" the group, he relled. "In 2006, Bass was enjoyg a night out at gay bar Provcetown, Massachetts, a popular vatn statn for the LGBTQ muny.

“I was wag on le for the bathroom and this guy regnized me and says, ‘You’re gay? “It was the first time I’d told a stranger I was gay and felt amazg. Related: Lance Bass shar how he me out to Brney SpearsAt that pot, only a few people, cludg Bass’s sister, Stacy, knew that he was gay.

LANCE BASS: 'I THOUGHT I'D NEVER BE ABLE TO TELL ANYONE' I WAS GAY

“She’s a teacher and she immediately started readg everythg about beg gay, ” Bass said.

“It was a lot of ‘you n pray the gay away, ’” Bass said.

DANIELLE FISHEL REVEALS WHICH NSYNC MEMBER TOLD HER LANCE BASS WAS GAY WHILE THEY WERE DATG

Once she realized there was a lot of false rmatn out there, she started talkg to different pastors that accepted gay people. Eight years ago, 2014, Diane spoke ont of her ngregatn about her journey as a Southern Baptist wh a gay child. “The miracle is that I learned to have unndnal love and passn for my son and others the gay muny.

“Not only has she accepted the fact that I’m gay, but she celebrat , " Bass said. CelebryLGBTQ+ Joy For All“Boy Meets World” Star Danielle Fishel And Lance Bass Jt Reflected On Their Yearlong Romance And Revealed They’re Turng Their Relatnship Into A MovieLance me out as gay four years after NSYNC went on hiat — and six years after he broke Boy Meets World star Danielle Fishel’s on Augt 30, 2022, 4:08 pm.

Lance ntued to exclively date women until he was 22 years old, but 2006 — four years after NSYNC went on a hiat — Lance me out as gay a ver story for People magaze.

LANCE BASS: 'I'M GAY'

His cisn to open up about his sexualy me amid mountg speculatn, wh Lance beg pictured at gay bars and clubs by the paparazzi the weeks leadg up to to the terview.

The sger admted that he didn’t thk that he would ever be able to “act on beg gay, ” and that his management and rerd label lay down the law on what he uld and uldn’t say and do public. Discsg the breakdown of Lance’s relatnship wh Danielle, her podst host Will Friedle asked: “When you broke up wh her, had you told yourself yet that you were gay?

I had realized that y, I wasn’t to girls, but also — my head — there was no way I would ever act on beg gay.

LANCE BASS SAYS HE HID SEXUALY FOR FEAR OF DOOMG 'NSYNC'S CAREERSGER, WHOSE TOBGRAPHY ME OUT TUDAY, REVEALS HE HAD PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MICBY ARCHIVE-CHRIS-HARRISOCTOBER 23, 2007/2:49 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}BY ARCHIVE-CHRIS-HARRISOCTOBER 23, 2007 / 2:49 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"LANCE BASS SAYS HE HID SEXUALY FOR FEAR OF DOOMG 'NSYNC'S CAREER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-10-23T18:49:40.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-10-23T18:49:40.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"ARCHIVE-CHRIS-HARRIS","ARTICLESECTN":"MIC"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR YEARS, CLUDG DURG THE HEIGHT OF 'NSYNC'S SUCCS, LANCE BASS LIVED NSTANT FEAR THAT A SECRET HE HAD BEEN SUPPRSG SCE CHILDHOOD WOULD EVENTUALLY E OUT -- AND WH VASTATG RULTS. BASS, WHO LAST YEAR [ARTICLE ID="1537155"]REVEALED HE IS GAY,[/ARTICLE] HAD PREVLY BEEN WORRIED THAT THE NEWS WOULD CRIPPLE HIS REER AND TARNISH 'NSYNC'S SQUEAKY-CLEAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WAS PETRIFIED OF PEOPLE FDG OUT," HE TOLD MTV NEWS' JOHN NORRIS DURG A RECENT TERVIEW. "AT THE TIME, I THOUGHT WOULD BE THE END OF THE WORLD. NOW, HDSIGHT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE E OUT AT THAT TIME, BEE I WOULD'VE LOVED TO SEE WHAT THE REACTN WOULD HAVE BEEN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BEE OF HIS FEAR, BASS KEPT HIS SEXUALY PRIVATE. IN FACT, BASS WAS SO TIMORO ABOUT THE WORLD FDG OUT HE WAS GAY THAT HE HAD IENDS, EMPLOYE AND OTHERS CLOSE TO HIM SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. BASS SAYS NOT EVEN HIS BT IENDS 'NSYNC KNEW HE WAS GAY, AND THAT HIS DAYS THE CLOSET WERE RIDDLED WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I WAS EMBARRASSED," SAID BASS, WHO IS CURRENTLY ACTG "HAIRSPRAY" ON BROADWAY AS PART OF A SIX-MONTH N. "THE EMBARRASSMENT WASN'T THAT I WAS GAY, WAS THAT, 'I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR THIS LONG, AND I HAVE BEEN HIDG THIS [SECRET] OM YOU.' I FELT LIKE I HAD TO LIE TO MY IENDS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE BAND'S PUBLICISTS, MANAGERS AND RERD LABEL SUGGTED THE MEMBERS NEVER BE SEEN WH WOMEN -- OR, FOR THAT MATTER, WH A CIGARETTE OR BEER THEIR HANDS. BUT NO ONE EVER EXPRSLY ADVISED BASS AGAST G OUT -- THAT'S BEE NO ONE KNEW, HE SAID. NOT LONG AFTER THE BAND'S REER TOOK OFF, HOWEVER, ONE CINT REAFFIRMED BASS' POSN THAT G CLEAN ULD CSH HIS DREAMS, THE SGER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THERE WERE MANY TIM, EARLY OUR REER, WHERE THERE WERE A LOT OF QUTNS ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE'S SEXUALY, SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKG WH THE OTHER GUYS, YOU SEE HOW THEY REALLY REACT," BASS SAID. "ONE TIME, WE QUTNED CHRIS [KIRKPATRICK], BEE HE HAD A GAY IEND, AND THE REACTN WAS WE'D BE DOOMED IF ANYONE KNEW ABOUT . THAT SET STRAIGHT MY HEAD THAT I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT OR TELL ANYONE, AND I WOULD JT HAVE TO HI ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN AS HIS BANDMAT WOULD MAKE THE OCSNAL WISECRACK ABOUT GAY PEOPLE -- "THAT'S JT WHAT GUYS DO TO TABLISH THEIR MASCULY," HE SAID -- BASS KEPT QUIET AND "TRIED TO CUT OFF MY LIFE, THOSE FEELGS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT BASS ALSO SPECTS THERE WERE TIM WHEN HIS BANDMAT MIGHT HAVE WONRED IF HE WERE GAY: "WHEN YOU'RE BT IENDS WH SOMEONE AND YOU DON'T HAVE A GIRLIEND FOR FOUR YEARS, AND YOU'RE NOT SEEN WH ANYONE, YOU SORT OF START FIGURG OUT," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AFTER 'NSYNC WENT ON HIAT BACK 2002, BASS -- WHO HAD BEEN TOLD THE BAND WOULD RETURN TO FORM FOLLOWG JT TIMBERLAKE'S STT AS A SOLO ARTIST -- STILL DIDN'T WANT TO E OUT. BUT LAST SUMMER, FOLLOWG NSIRABLE SPECULATN ABOUT BASS' SEXUALY THANKS TO NUMERO PAPARAZZI SNAPS OF HIM EQUENTG GAY CLUBS AND BARS, HE EMERGED OM THE CLOSET, WH A LTLE HELP OM PEOPLE MAGAZE. NOW BASS FEELS LIBERATED, HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE TALKG ABOUT MY LIFE SUCH TIMATE TAIL WH ANYONE," HE SAID. "SO, WHEN I DID E OUT AND KD OF ACCEPTED , AND SHARED WH THE WORLD, AND SAW HOW [ARTICLE ID="1537282"]GREATLY WAS ACCEPTED,[/ARTICLE] AND HOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE RELATG TO THE STORI -- I'D HAVE PEOPLE E UP TO ME, TELLG ME, 'BEE OF WHAT YOU DID, I HAD THE URAGE TO E OUT TO MY FAY' -- WAS SUCH AN ENURAGG EXPERIENCE, I WANTED TO SHARE MY LIFE STORY WH OTHER PEOPLE, TO SEE IF ULD HELP OTHERS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND BASS IS TRYG TO DO JT THAT WH HIS NEW TELL-ALL BOOK, "OUT OF SYNC: A MEMOIR," WHICH H STOR TUDAY (OCTOBER 23). BEYOND CHARTG BASS' RISE TO FAME AS A MEMBER OF 'NSYNC, AS WELL AS THE BAND'S CLE, HIS CHILDHOOD, HIS EXPERIENC TRAG TO BE A SMONT RSIA, THE TOBGRAPHY CHRONICL HIS STGGLE TO KEEP HIS PERSONAL LIFE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IF [I HADN'T E OUT,] I MIGHT STILL BE MISERABLE AND HIDG THGS," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT WHILE BASS IS HAPPY TO BE OUT OF THE CLOSET, THAT DON'T MEAN HE'S GOG TO START OUTG OTHERS, EVEN IF HIS BOOK'S PUBLISHER TRIED TO GET HIM TO DO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE THE DTRY THAT ARE THE CLOSET AND NOT WANTG TO SHARE THAT PERSONAL TAIL OF THEIR LIFE," HE EXPLAED. "AND I UNRSTAND THAT. IT'S A VERY SRY THG, PECIALLY WHEN NEW ARTISTS ARE ABOUT TO BREAK, OR ACTORS ARE TAKG STRAIGHT ROL -- YOU'RE AAID THE DIENCE WON'T BUY . THE PUBLISHER AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTED MORE DIRT [ MY BOOK], BEE NTROVERSY SELLS. TO ME, 'S NOT ABOUT SELLG A BOOK -- I JT WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY, WHOUT HURTG ANYONE'S FEELGS OR THROWG ANYONE UNR THE B. THERE'S LOTS OF THGS I ULD FELY SAY, AND POT THE FGER AT PEOPLE, BUT I WANTED THIS TO BE A POSIVE BOOK, AND MY LIFE UP TO NOW HAS BEEN VERY POSIVE. I'M HAPPY WH EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE, AND I DON'T WANT TO PLA ABOUT ANYTHG I'VE EVER DONE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THE BOOK, BASS ALSO DISCS G OUT TO HIS FAY AND IENDS, AND THE REACTNS THEY HAD TO THE NEWS. IN ONE ANECDOTE, HE RELLS HOW BT IEND JOEY FATONE LEARNED HIS SECRET: HE ATTEND ONE OF BASS' HOE PARTI AND STUMBLED UPON HIS PAL STG A CLOSED ROOM WH HIS BOYIEND STG ACROSS HIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"HE WALKED , AND WAS LIKE, 'OH, SORRY,' AND WALKED OUT," BASS RELLED. "AND I WAS GOG, 'NO -- 'S OK, JOEY.' HE KNEW OM THAT MOMENT ON -- THAT WAS THE DAY I TOLD HIM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASS SAID HE THKS PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY READ HIS TOME, WHICH HE SAID ANSWERS A LOT OF QUTNS 'NSYNC FANS HAVE BEEN ASKG HIM FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I FELY THK PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED AT A LOT OF THGS THE BOOK," HE SAID. "NO ONE HAS REALLY SEEN THE TE ME. I THK A LOT OF QUTNS WILL BE ANSWERED TO A LOT OF FANS, BEE I GET A LOT OF QUTNS EVERY DAY. THIS IS MY ANSWER TIME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASS TOLD MTV NEWS HE HAS A NEW GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR: TO PROVE THAT YOU N BE OPENLY GAY AND STILL HAVE A REER SHOW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"PEOPLE HAVE SAID FOR SO LONG THAT YOU N'T BE SUCCSFUL THIS DTRY AND BE OUT AND GAY, AND I THK THAT'S A BUNCH OF BULL," HE SAID. "IT'S NEVER BEEN TTED BEFORE. BUT I PLAN TO TT NEXT YEAR. I HAVE A SHOW THAT I AM VELOPG, WHICH WILL BE A MIC SHOW BASED AROUND OUT GAY AND BISEXUAL GUYS [WHO WILL E TOGETHER TO FORM A BOY BAND]. I WILL BE STG , AND SHOULD BE FUN. I WANT TO TT THAT THEORY OUT AND DO A CULTURAL EXPERIMENT, TO SEE IF WORKS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

“They’d disguise a way … If they knew that I was gay, then they wouldn’t say, ‘Hey, if you’re gay, don’t e out. “So I knew beg out gay was fely not gonna be [an optn. Durg the chat, Danielle revealed that several people — cludg her mother — had speculated about Lance’s sexualy after he dumped her, but bee beg gay was a much more taboo topic back the '90s, she didn’t believe them.

“Other people said to me, ‘Danielle, Lance is gay, ’ before Lance did and were really tryg to tell me, like, If you n’t see , that’s what’s gog on, and was such a thg back then, Lance was so private about and… You were forced to be the closet, ” she shared.

THE AWKWARD WAY NSYNC'S JOEY FATONE FOUND OUT LANCE BASS IS GAY

“Even for me, someone sayg to me, ‘It’s actually that he’s gay, ’ I was like, ‘Well, no, that’s not possible, ’ bee wasn’t as accepted, wasn’t as mon, was like everyone was sayg that [so I’d] thk ’s not me. It didn’t matter that Lance was gay and that I was not gog to end up marryg him, we have mataed a iendship through all the years.

Lance Bass' plan on how he would e out as gay to his 'N Sync band members didn't exactly go acrdg to plan.