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Contents:

• THE AWKWARD WAY NSYNC'S JOEY FATONE FOUND OUT LANCE BASS WAS GAY
• WHICH OF THE BOY BANRS NKOTB AND NSYNC ARE GAY?
• LANCE BASS: I'M GAY
• 'NSYNC'S LANCE BASS REVEALS HE'S GAY: 'I'M NOT ASHAMED ... I DON'T THK IT'S WRONG''I SUPPORT HIM AND WISH HIM ALL THE HAPPS THE WORLD,' JT TIMBERLAKE {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 JENNIFER VEYARDJULY 26, 2006/12:53 {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 JENNIFER VEYARDJULY 26, 2006 / 12:53 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"'NSYNC'S LANCE BASS REVEALS HE'S GAY: 'I'M NOT ASHAMED ... I DON'T THK IT'S WRONG'","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2006-07-26T16:53:31.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2006-07-26T16:53:31.000+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":"JENNIFER VEYARD","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;}AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATN, LANCE BASS HAS NFIRMED THE MORS AND TOLD PEOPLE MAGAZE THAT HE IS {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 THG IS, I'M NOT ASHAMED -- THAT'S THE ONE THG I WANT TO SAY," THE 'NSYNC SGER TOLD THE MAG THE ISSUE THAT HS NEWSSTANDS FRIDAY. "I DON'T THK 'S WRONG. I'M NOT VASTATED GOG THROUGH THIS. I'M MORE LIBERATED AND HAPPY THAN I'VE BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE. I'M JT HAPPY."{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;}([ARTICLE ID="1537158"]CLICK TO SEE LANCE ON THE VER OF PEOPLE.[/ARTICLE]){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 MORS STARTED DURG 'NSYNC'S HEYDAY (THE GROUP IS CURRENTLY ON HIAT) BUT HEATED UP THE LAST FEW MONTHS AS HE WAS SPOTTED EQUENTLY WH GAY-RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND REALY-TV PERSONALY REICHEN LEHMKUHL, WHO WON THE $1 LN PRIZE ON "THE AMAZG RACE 4" WH HIS FORMER PARTNER CHIP ARNDT. LEHMKUHL HAS SCE APPEARED ON OTHER REALY SHOWS SUCH AS "FEAR FACTOR" AND HOSTED A TALK SHOW ON THE NOW-FUNCT Q {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 TABLOIDS AND GOSSIP S STARTED TRACKG BASS AND LEHMKUHL'S PUBLIC APPEARANC TOGETHER, LEHMKUHL RPOND MID-APRIL BY POSTG ON HIS WEB SE THAT HE LIK TO KEEP HIS PERSONAL LIFE PRIVATE. "AS FOR THE MORS ABOUT ME AND LANCE, PLEASE NTUE TO REMD PEOPLE THAT THGS THAT I DO NOT DISCS ANYMORE, SUCH AS THE PRIVATE AND PERSONAL RELATNSHIPS THAT I HAVE, ARE JT THAT -- PRIVATE -- UNLS I CHOOSE TO OPEN UP WH TAILS TO MY FAY AND CLOSE IENDS FOR REASONS OF SUPPORT AND LOVE," HE WROTE. "I WISH PEOPLE ULD ALLOW THAT PART OF ME FOR, WELL, JT ME AND WHO I CHOOSE TO SHARE MY LIFE WH AND LOVE ... AND TO LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE."{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;}DPE THIS WISH, BASS TOLD PEOPLE THAT THE MORS ABOUT THE TWO BEG A UPLE WERE "REALLY STARTG TO AFFECT MY DAILY LIFE," SO HE CID TO E FORWARD AND NFIRM THAT THEY'RE A "VERY STABLE" RELATNSHIP. "NOW FEELS LIKE 'S ON MY TERMS. I'M AT PEACE WH MY FAY, MY IENDS, MYSELF AND GOD, SO THERE'S NOTHG ELSE THAT I WORRY ABOUT."{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;}IT ALSO HELPS THAT BASS NO LONGER FEELS PELLED TO HI HIS PRIVATE LIFE TO PROTECT HIS BANDMAT, SCE THE BAND HAS BEEN ON HIAT FOR FOUR YEARS. WHEN 'NSYNC WERE FULL SWG, HE WORRIED THAT G OUT WOULD HURT THE BAND. "I DIDN'T KNOW: COULD THAT BE THE END OF 'NSYNC?" HE TOLD PEOPLE. "SO I HAD THAT WEIGHT ON ME OF, LIKE, 'WOW, IF I EVER LET ANYONE KNOW, 'S BAD.' SO I JT NEVER DID ... I HAD FOUR OTHER GUYS' REERS MY HAND, AND I KNEW THAT IF I EVER ACTED ON OR EVEN SAID [THAT I WAS GAY], WOULD OVERPOWER EVERYTHG."{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'S KNOWN THAT HE'S GAY FOR HIS "WHOLE LIFE ... OM CHILDHOOD ON," BUT STGGLED BEE HE KNEW WOULD BE "SOMETHG THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HI MY WHOLE LIFE." BASS HID OM HIS BANDMAT -- WHO SPECTED ANYWAY "BEE WE WERE LIKE BROTHERS," HE SAID, AND THEY WONRED, " 'WHY AREN'T YOU HTG ON WOMEN ALL THE TIME AND ACTG LIKE A ROCK STAR?' BEE I WAS A GOOD CHRISTIAN BOY, THAT'S WHY."{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;}THEIR SPICNS WERE ALSO PLITED BY THE FACT THAT BASS WAS DATG WOMEN UNTIL HE WAS 22 (HE'S NOW 27). "I'VE FELY, YOU KNOW, BEEN WH WOMEN," BASS SAID. "AND I'VE HAD GREAT RELATNSHIPS WH THEM WHERE I WAS FELY LOVE. IT'S JT I GREW TO A POT WHERE EP SI I KNEW THAT I ULD NEVER TLY HAVE A RELATNSHIP WH A WOMAN. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER SPECTED. IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP."{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 TOOK YEARS TO REALLY THK ABOUT HOW HE WAS GOG TO TELL EVERYONE," JOEY FATONE TOLD PEOPLE. "I BACK HIM UP 100 PERCENT."{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'VE KNOW LANCE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS," JC CHASEZ TOLD MTV NEWS. "WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER. HE IS FAY AND I SUPPORT HIM UNNDNALLY."{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;}FATONE WAS THE FIRST 'NSYNC BANDMATE BASS TOLD ABOUT BEG GAY, AFTER FATONE WALKED ON BASS AND A MALE DATE AT HIS HOE ORLANDO, FLORIDA. FATONE'S RPONSE AT THE TIME? "DU, I DON'T RE," BASS RELLED HIM SAYG. CHRIS KIRKPATRICK FOUND OUT LAST SUMMER AND JC CHASEZ THREE MONTHS {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;}"VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE THE GUTS TO E UP TO YOU AND SAY, 'HEY, ARE YOU GAY?' " BASS SAID. "I'M PRETTY SURE THEY ALL KNEW AND THEY PROBABLY ALL TALKED TO EACH OTHER, BUT THEY HAD THE RPECT TO LET ME TELL THEM. I HAVEN'T HAD THE NVERSATN WH JT [TIMBERLAKE] YET. I KNOW HE KNOWS, BUT I'VE NEVER REALLY SAT HIM DOWN AND SAID ." I WILL BE LLG 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;}"LANCE IS ONE OF MY GREAT IENDS," TIMBERLAKE TOLD MTV NEWS WEDNDAY (JULY 26). "I SUPPORT HIM AND WISH HIM ALL THE HAPPS THE WORLD."{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;}TELLG HIS BANDMAT HAS BEEN EASY, BUT TELLG HIS FAY WAS ANOTHER MATTER. HIS SISTER BEME PALE AND STARTED CRYG WHEN HE TOLD HER, WHILE HIS MOTHER "BROKE DOWN." "THE WORST PART ABOUT WAS MY MOM FOUND OUT NOT OM ME," BASS SAID. "SHE FOUND OUT ON THE INTER, AND THAT'S WHAT JT KILLED ME. ... IT STROYED HER FOR A LTLE B." HIS FATHER, THE MEANTIME, WAS NCERNED ABOUT DISEAS, TELLG LANCE THAT "IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR GAY PEOPLE TO GET AIDS," AND "STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE RELATNSHIPS DON'T LAST. YOU KNOW 'S NOT GOG TO LAST." "I WAS LIKE, 'DAD, WOW!' "{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 BASS' HOMETOWN OF CLTON, MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HIS MOTHER IS A MIDDLE-SCHOOL TEACHER AND HIS FATHER WORKS REAL TATE, BEG GAY IS "NOT LOOKED AT VERY HIGHLY," HE SAID. BUT AS WORRIED AS HE WAS THAT HIS GRANDPARENTS WOULD TAKE EVEN WORSE, HIS MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS TOLD LAST WEEK, HANDLED "SO WELL," HE SAYS. "SHE WAS LIKE, 'YOU KNOW WHAT? I MAY NOT AGREE WH , BUT I LOVE YOU JT THE SAME AND YOU'RE WELE MY HOE ANYTIME.' "{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 NOW, BASS AND LEHMKUHL ARE "TAKG ONE DAY AT A TIME," SCE THE RELATNSHIP IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD. THEY MET BEE LEHMKUHL WAS BASS' REAL-TATE AGENT, AND THE TWO BEME IENDS, THEN LOVERS. "THIS IS A HUGE TURNG POT MY LIFE AND ALSO HIS LIFE TOO," BASS SAID. EVENTUALLY, BASS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FAY AND HOP TO HAVE HIS OWN KIDS AS WELL AS {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 WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY OM THIS THAT BEG GAY IS A NORM," BASS SAID. "THAT THE STEREOTYP ARE OUT THE WDOW ... I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT 'S REALLY ENURAGED ME. I LL THEM THE SAGS -- THE STRAIGHT-ACTG GAYS. WE'RE JT NORMAL, TYPIL GUYS. I LOVE TO WATCH FOOTBALL AND DRK BEER."{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 IF PEOPLE ASK HIM NOW IF HE'S GAY, BASS SAID HE PLANS TO RPOND, "NO, I'M ALSO GAY." MEANG THAT WON'T FE HIM -- JT THE PART OF HIMSELF THAT HE DON'T 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;}[THIS STORY WAS ORIGALLY PUBLISHED AT 1:07 PM E.T. ON 07.26.2006]{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 WAS GAY

Lance Bass' plan on how he would e out as gay to his 'N Sync band members didn't exactly go acrdg to plan. I have so many gay iends — I don't re. 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. 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.

WHICH OF THE BOY BANRS NKOTB AND NSYNC ARE GAY?

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: I'M GAY

“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.

'NSYNC'S LANCE BASS REVEALS HE'S GAY: 'I'M NOT ASHAMED ... I DON'T THK IT'S WRONG''I SUPPORT HIM AND WISH HIM ALL THE HAPPS THE WORLD,' JT TIMBERLAKE {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 JENNIFER VEYARDJULY 26, 2006/12:53 {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 JENNIFER VEYARDJULY 26, 2006 / 12:53 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"'NSYNC'S LANCE BASS REVEALS HE'S GAY: 'I'M NOT ASHAMED ... I DON'T THK IT'S WRONG'","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2006-07-26T16:53:31.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2006-07-26T16:53:31.000+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":"JENNIFER VEYARD","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;}AFTER YEARS OF SPECULATN, LANCE BASS HAS NFIRMED THE MORS AND TOLD PEOPLE MAGAZE THAT HE IS {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 THG IS, I'M NOT ASHAMED -- THAT'S THE ONE THG I WANT TO SAY," THE 'NSYNC SGER TOLD THE MAG THE ISSUE THAT HS NEWSSTANDS FRIDAY. "I DON'T THK 'S WRONG. I'M NOT VASTATED GOG THROUGH THIS. I'M MORE LIBERATED AND HAPPY THAN I'VE BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE. I'M JT HAPPY."{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;}([ARTICLE ID="1537158"]CLICK TO SEE LANCE ON THE VER OF PEOPLE.[/ARTICLE]){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 MORS STARTED DURG 'NSYNC'S HEYDAY (THE GROUP IS CURRENTLY ON HIAT) BUT HEATED UP THE LAST FEW MONTHS AS HE WAS SPOTTED EQUENTLY WH GAY-RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND REALY-TV PERSONALY REICHEN LEHMKUHL, WHO WON THE $1 LN PRIZE ON "THE AMAZG RACE 4" WH HIS FORMER PARTNER CHIP ARNDT. LEHMKUHL HAS SCE APPEARED ON OTHER REALY SHOWS SUCH AS "FEAR FACTOR" AND HOSTED A TALK SHOW ON THE NOW-FUNCT Q {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 TABLOIDS AND GOSSIP S STARTED TRACKG BASS AND LEHMKUHL'S PUBLIC APPEARANC TOGETHER, LEHMKUHL RPOND MID-APRIL BY POSTG ON HIS WEB SE THAT HE LIK TO KEEP HIS PERSONAL LIFE PRIVATE. "AS FOR THE MORS ABOUT ME AND LANCE, PLEASE NTUE TO REMD PEOPLE THAT THGS THAT I DO NOT DISCS ANYMORE, SUCH AS THE PRIVATE AND PERSONAL RELATNSHIPS THAT I HAVE, ARE JT THAT -- PRIVATE -- UNLS I CHOOSE TO OPEN UP WH TAILS TO MY FAY AND CLOSE IENDS FOR REASONS OF SUPPORT AND LOVE," HE WROTE. "I WISH PEOPLE ULD ALLOW THAT PART OF ME FOR, WELL, JT ME AND WHO I CHOOSE TO SHARE MY LIFE WH AND LOVE ... AND TO LEAVE WELL ENOUGH ALONE."{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;}DPE THIS WISH, BASS TOLD PEOPLE THAT THE MORS ABOUT THE TWO BEG A UPLE WERE "REALLY STARTG TO AFFECT MY DAILY LIFE," SO HE CID TO E FORWARD AND NFIRM THAT THEY'RE A "VERY STABLE" RELATNSHIP. "NOW FEELS LIKE 'S ON MY TERMS. I'M AT PEACE WH MY FAY, MY IENDS, MYSELF AND GOD, SO THERE'S NOTHG ELSE THAT I WORRY ABOUT."{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;}IT ALSO HELPS THAT BASS NO LONGER FEELS PELLED TO HI HIS PRIVATE LIFE TO PROTECT HIS BANDMAT, SCE THE BAND HAS BEEN ON HIAT FOR FOUR YEARS. WHEN 'NSYNC WERE FULL SWG, HE WORRIED THAT G OUT WOULD HURT THE BAND. "I DIDN'T KNOW: COULD THAT BE THE END OF 'NSYNC?" HE TOLD PEOPLE. "SO I HAD THAT WEIGHT ON ME OF, LIKE, 'WOW, IF I EVER LET ANYONE KNOW, 'S BAD.' SO I JT NEVER DID ... I HAD FOUR OTHER GUYS' REERS MY HAND, AND I KNEW THAT IF I EVER ACTED ON OR EVEN SAID [THAT I WAS GAY], WOULD OVERPOWER EVERYTHG."{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'S KNOWN THAT HE'S GAY FOR HIS "WHOLE LIFE ... OM CHILDHOOD ON," BUT STGGLED BEE HE KNEW WOULD BE "SOMETHG THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HI MY WHOLE LIFE." BASS HID OM HIS BANDMAT -- WHO SPECTED ANYWAY "BEE WE WERE LIKE BROTHERS," HE SAID, AND THEY WONRED, " 'WHY AREN'T YOU HTG ON WOMEN ALL THE TIME AND ACTG LIKE A ROCK STAR?' BEE I WAS A GOOD CHRISTIAN BOY, THAT'S WHY."{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;}THEIR SPICNS WERE ALSO PLITED BY THE FACT THAT BASS WAS DATG WOMEN UNTIL HE WAS 22 (HE'S NOW 27). "I'VE FELY, YOU KNOW, BEEN WH WOMEN," BASS SAID. "AND I'VE HAD GREAT RELATNSHIPS WH THEM WHERE I WAS FELY LOVE. IT'S JT I GREW TO A POT WHERE EP SI I KNEW THAT I ULD NEVER TLY HAVE A RELATNSHIP WH A WOMAN. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER SPECTED. IT WAS NEVER BROUGHT UP."{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 TOOK YEARS TO REALLY THK ABOUT HOW HE WAS GOG TO TELL EVERYONE," JOEY FATONE TOLD PEOPLE. "I BACK HIM UP 100 PERCENT."{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'VE KNOW LANCE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS," JC CHASEZ TOLD MTV NEWS. "WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER. HE IS FAY AND I SUPPORT HIM UNNDNALLY."{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;}FATONE WAS THE FIRST 'NSYNC BANDMATE BASS TOLD ABOUT BEG GAY, AFTER FATONE WALKED ON BASS AND A MALE DATE AT HIS HOE ORLANDO, FLORIDA. FATONE'S RPONSE AT THE TIME? "DU, I DON'T RE," BASS RELLED HIM SAYG. CHRIS KIRKPATRICK FOUND OUT LAST SUMMER AND JC CHASEZ THREE MONTHS {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;}"VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE THE GUTS TO E UP TO YOU AND SAY, 'HEY, ARE YOU GAY?' " BASS SAID. "I'M PRETTY SURE THEY ALL KNEW AND THEY PROBABLY ALL TALKED TO EACH OTHER, BUT THEY HAD THE RPECT TO LET ME TELL THEM. I HAVEN'T HAD THE NVERSATN WH JT [TIMBERLAKE] YET. I KNOW HE KNOWS, BUT I'VE NEVER REALLY SAT HIM DOWN AND SAID ." I WILL BE LLG 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;}"LANCE IS ONE OF MY GREAT IENDS," TIMBERLAKE TOLD MTV NEWS WEDNDAY (JULY 26). "I SUPPORT HIM AND WISH HIM ALL THE HAPPS THE WORLD."{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;}TELLG HIS BANDMAT HAS BEEN EASY, BUT TELLG HIS FAY WAS ANOTHER MATTER. HIS SISTER BEME PALE AND STARTED CRYG WHEN HE TOLD HER, WHILE HIS MOTHER "BROKE DOWN." "THE WORST PART ABOUT WAS MY MOM FOUND OUT NOT OM ME," BASS SAID. "SHE FOUND OUT ON THE INTER, AND THAT'S WHAT JT KILLED ME. ... IT STROYED HER FOR A LTLE B." HIS FATHER, THE MEANTIME, WAS NCERNED ABOUT DISEAS, TELLG LANCE THAT "IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR GAY PEOPLE TO GET AIDS," AND "STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE RELATNSHIPS DON'T LAST. YOU KNOW 'S NOT GOG TO LAST." "I WAS LIKE, 'DAD, WOW!' "{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 BASS' HOMETOWN OF CLTON, MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HIS MOTHER IS A MIDDLE-SCHOOL TEACHER AND HIS FATHER WORKS REAL TATE, BEG GAY IS "NOT LOOKED AT VERY HIGHLY," HE SAID. BUT AS WORRIED AS HE WAS THAT HIS GRANDPARENTS WOULD TAKE EVEN WORSE, HIS MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS TOLD LAST WEEK, HANDLED "SO WELL," HE SAYS. "SHE WAS LIKE, 'YOU KNOW WHAT? I MAY NOT AGREE WH , BUT I LOVE YOU JT THE SAME AND YOU'RE WELE MY HOE ANYTIME.' "{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 NOW, BASS AND LEHMKUHL ARE "TAKG ONE DAY AT A TIME," SCE THE RELATNSHIP IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD. THEY MET BEE LEHMKUHL WAS BASS' REAL-TATE AGENT, AND THE TWO BEME IENDS, THEN LOVERS. "THIS IS A HUGE TURNG POT MY LIFE AND ALSO HIS LIFE TOO," BASS SAID. EVENTUALLY, BASS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FAY AND HOP TO HAVE HIS OWN KIDS AS WELL AS {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 WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY OM THIS THAT BEG GAY IS A NORM," BASS SAID. "THAT THE STEREOTYP ARE OUT THE WDOW ... I'VE MET SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT 'S REALLY ENURAGED ME. I LL THEM THE SAGS -- THE STRAIGHT-ACTG GAYS. WE'RE JT NORMAL, TYPIL GUYS. I LOVE TO WATCH FOOTBALL AND DRK BEER."{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 IF PEOPLE ASK HIM NOW IF HE'S GAY, BASS SAID HE PLANS TO RPOND, "NO, I'M ALSO GAY." MEANG THAT WON'T FE HIM -- JT THE PART OF HIMSELF THAT HE DON'T 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;}[THIS STORY WAS ORIGALLY PUBLISHED AT 1:07 PM E.T. ON 07.26.2006]{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

“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. Joey Fatone and Lance Bass brought their stunng athleticism to Battle of the Network Stars, and the two NSYNC stars relled the awkward moment that Fatone found out Bass was gay.

In the 90s was a lot ls easy to be openly gay, pecially while the public eye, but lookg back, Bass might have changed a thg or two sayg, "If I was givg advice to my 16-year-old self, I would say, 'Go ahead and be yourself right now. ' I wish I would have realized that I was gay at such a young age and been able to be fortable wh , to tell everyone, bee my experience wh NSYNC, I thk, would have been pletely different. He me out as gay 2006 as the ver story for People Magaze and won the Human Rights Campaign Visibily award that same year.