Gee Shelley reveals he didn't want to 'jeopardise' Unn J by revealg he was gay | Daily Mail Onle

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How Rsia's vasn of Ukrae — and his longstandg csa agast LGBTQ rights — forc a gay uple to make a vastatg cisn

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GEE SHELLEY REVEALS HE DIDN'T WANT TO 'JEOPARDISE' UNN J BY REVEALG HE WAS GAY

Unn J sger said he is rpondg to reports labellg him gay, straight and bi * george union j gay *

Speakg BBC Three documentary Learng to Grieve, Gee, 25, of Somerset, revealed he was so crippled by his loss that he stggled to leave his room and uld not brg himself to say his sister's name for months after her former I'm A Celebry nttant told how his prsn was exacerbated by his anxiety, which he veloped as a rult of tryg to keep his sexualy secret durg his boyband explaed he felt the need to hi the fact he is gay orr to be the right kd of 'product' to 'sell to their largely teenage female fanbase.

MEET UNN J, THE BRISH BOY BAND WH THE OPENLY GAY MEMBERBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 27, 2013/12:15 PMBY DAN AVERYAPRIL 27, 2013 / 12:15 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MEET UNN J, THE BRISH BOY BAND WH THE OPENLY GAY MEMBER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2013-04-27T16:15:29.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2013-04-27T16:15:29.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"DAN AVERY"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[PTN ID="ATTACHMENT_98342" ALIGN="ALIGNCENTER" WIDTH="473"] UNN J'S J.J. HAMBLETT, GEE SHELLEY, JAYMI HENSLEY AND JOSH CUTHBERT (PHOTO: GETTY)[/PTN]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S NOT UNMON FOR A MEMBER OF A BOY BAND TO E OUT—BOTH N'SYNC'S LANCE BASS AND NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK'S JONATHAN KNIGHT HAVE SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THEIR SEXUALY. BUT A BOY BANR WHO'S OPENLY GAY AT THE START OF HIS REER? THAT'S A NEW ONE ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOLLOWG THE FOOTSTEPS OF ONE DIRECTN AND THE WANTED, UNN J ARE ANOTHER BATCH OF BRISH LADS HOPG TO NQUER THE WORLD WH THEIR MELOD VOIC AND ADORABLE MUGS. BUT UNLIKE THOSE CHART-TOPPG ACTS, BAND MEMBER JAYMI HENSLEY HAS BEEN OPEN ABOUT BEG GAY ALMOST SCE THE START, WHEN THE QUARTET WAS FORMED ON THE UK VERSN OF X FACTOR LAST {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SCE THEN, UNN J HAS BEEN PERFORMG, MAKG PUBLIC APPEARANC AND WORKG ON A BUT ALBUM. THEY JT BUTED THEIR FIRST SGLE, "CARRY YOU," ON CAPAL FM THIS WEEK. (IT'S AVAILABLE ON ITUN ON JUNE 2.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A NOVEMBER TERVIEW WH BRA'S SUN, HENSLEY CREDS THEIR MANAGER LOUIS WALSH, WHO ALSO GUID BOYZONE AND WTLIFE TO FAME AND FORTUNE: “I SPOKE TO LOUIS ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID, ‘PUT THIS WAY, BOTH OF MY BIG BOY BANDS HAD A GAY MEMBER THEM.’ SO HE SAID FS THE FORMULA QUE WELL!"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}TO HIS CRED, HENSLEY WANTED TO BE STRAIGHT UP (SO TO SPEAK) OM THE START: “I DIDN’T WANT TO DO FIVE YEARS’ TIME WHEN I HAVE MA MONEY AND HAD A REER," HE SAYS. "I DON’T THK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO HI WHO THEY ARE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HENSLEY SAYS HE'S ALREADY HEARD OM APPRECIATIVE GAY FANS:{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I GOT A TWEET OM A BOY WHO MT HAVE BEEN 13 OR 14, ASKG IF THE MOURS THAT I WAS GAY WERE TE. HE SAID HE REALLY WISHED I ULD BE OUT BEE HE DIDN’T HAVE ANYONE TO LOOK UP TO AND WAS FDG REALLY HARD TO F AND TELL HIS PARENTS. I WAS THAT KID AT 14 AND REALLY WISH I HAD SOMEONE TO SAY WAS OK TO BE PICTURED ON THE RED RPET WH A GUY AND BE GAY A BOY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN ADDN TO BEG OUT AND THE SPOTLIGHT, HENSLEY OFFERS YOUNG GAYS SOMETHG NEW: A GAY CELEBRY WHOSE JOURNEY WAS ANGST-EE: "I ME OUT WHEN I WAS 14 TO MY FAY AND IENDS AND NEVER HAD ONE PIECE OF NEGATIVY," HE SAYS OF HIS SEXUALY. "I HOPE THE REACTN WILL HOPEFULLY BE, ‘OK, WE KD OF KNEW, BUT WELL DONE ON G OUT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HENSLEY'S NOT SET ON BEG A SPOKMAN FOR THE LGBT MUNY—HE JT WANTS TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY THE PERKS OF BOY-BAND FAME ON HIS OWN TERMS: “I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO GAY CLUBS AND BE PICTURED WH [UK PERSONALY KATIE PRICE] AND HER GAY IENDS. I WANT TO HAVE FUN WH MY LIFE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WELL DONE, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELOW, TAKE A LISTEN TO "CARRY YOU."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND UNN J'S LIVE PERFORMANCE OF "CALL ME MAYBE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{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

I didn't want to jeopardise anythg for the band by beg gay. ' He add: 'We already had a gay member of the band Jamie, but I felt that if we had two members of the band that were gay would change the perceptn of the band and people's perceptn of me. Her sudn passg left Gee shock, grievg for his siblg and the future they were planng together as she was set to move wh him London Gee adms the BBC Three documentary that he spent a lot of time hidg who he really was bee he didn't want to 'jeopardise' Unn J om sellg rerds if their female fans learned he was gayShe died eight days later at the cy's Southmead Hospal wh e of ath listed as 'severe trmatic bra jury' 21-year-old had been planng on movg to Gee's London and the sudn ath left her brother grievg for the future they had planned together.

'She was one of the first people I told I was gay.

UNN J AND ONE GAY BOYBAND MEMBER

' Gee said Harriet was the first person he opened up to about his sexualy to: 'She was one of the first people I told I was gay.

“Jt gog to the band, one of the first thgs that was said to me [by management] was ‘You’re not gay are you?

GAY THE USSR

Bee if you are then you’ll be lled Unn Gay’. Dpe boastg an out and proud gay member Jaymi throughout their time the spotlight, the group’s youngt star Gee was secretly sufferg silence when me to his own sexualy, g out publicly shortly before partg the group dramatic fashn early 2016.

Now wh two out and proud gay members, Unn J are ready to fally she thentilly as a foursome for the first time as they prepare for a mil eback on their own terms. Of urse, one of the thgs that’s amazg about you guys as a foursome 2022 is that you have two out gay members. Jaymi And vice-versa, om a gay man’s perspective for you Josh as well, there’s a difference you and JJ now the way the straight men n be so much more open about their feelgs.

IN RSIA, GAY PEOPLE ARE ROUTELY TARGETED. THAT’S WHY THIS UKRAIAN SOLDIER IS FIGHTG.

Even as the pletely Pri flag-wavg, hell-bent gay Sufagette that I am and always have been, even I wouldn’t necsarily have talked about my issu. ’ and I thk I have a role as a straight guy this world to ll out homophobic ments like that.

I learned about beg gay om beg 14 and sneakg to gay bars… Gee didn’t have that opportuny so I thought was very important to give him a groundg space to learn about himself and fd who he is whout the prsure. I went out last night wh iends, I was at a gay bar…’ and I was like ‘How is this nversatn [still happeng]?!

GAY COUPLE STGGL TO STAY TOGETHER AS WAR UKRAE RAG ON

’ I was given such a safe space by the media to do : I didn’t want to do the whole whe t-shirt on the ont of The Sun wh the sad-lookg face, ‘My trma of beg a gay man’ like so many other gay boyband members had to do.

But hold on a mute, like you said, the ntradictn om two years ago, you’ve jt done this [piece] wh me, Rylan, Christopher Maloney, Lucy Spraggan, Ja Ellis; six or seven of the whole st of The X Factor were gay, but yet you want to pick on this one boy to make him outed. Jt gog to the band, one of the first thgs that was said to me [by management] was ‘You’re not gay are you? Josh: I remember gog to our management offic and I remember the nversatn about how I was a ser relatnship wh Chloe and was gog to get engaged and married; Jamie was obvly gay, Gee [was] gay, and JJ had a baby, and I remember the sort of vibe of the meetg was ‘Look, this isn’t what boybands do’.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GEORGE UNION J GAY

Gay the USSR – Foreign Policy .

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