Backstreet Boys' A.J. McLean Talks Gay Band Members, Beg A 'Fag Hag' | HuffPost Voic

Contents:

• BACKSTREET BOYS' A.J. MCLEAN TALKS GAY BAND MEMBERS, BEG A 'FAG HAG'
• MY GAY INTERVIEW WH A BACKSTREET BOY: ‘I’M THE FAG HAG’
• 20 YEARS AGO, THE BACKSTREET BOYS USHERED MY GAYNSJT WHEN I WAS STARTG TO FORM MY FIRST SAME-SEX CSH ON MY CLASSMATE JOSé, THEIR MSAGE WAS EXACTLY I NEED TO HEAR: LOVE IS ALL THAT {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;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/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;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;}LIFEBY XORJE OLIVARAUGT 14, 2017/3:46 {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;}BRENDA CHASE/STRGERBACKSTREET BOYSBY XORJE OLIVARAUGT 14, 2017 / 3:46 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"20 YEARS AGO, THE BACKSTREET BOYS USHERED MY GAYNS","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-08-14T19:46:36.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-08-14T19:46:36.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","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":"XORJE OLIVAR","ARTICLESECTN":"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;}LEANG EVER-SO SUALLY AGAST WHAT APPEARS TO BE A WHE-PATED WALL (ALTHOUGH LEAD SGER AND MY FIRST IMAGARY HBAND, BRIAN LTRELL, RTS AGAST A BRICK WALL), THE BACKSTREET BOYS ME TO MY LIFE 20 YEARS AGO, ON AUGT 12, 1997, BY WAY OF THEIR SELF-TLED BUT ALBUM. THE ALBUM VER FEATURED THE MOST ATTRACTIVE MEN THAT I HAD EVER SEEN ALL MY NE YEARS OF LIFE. IN THIRD GRA I BARELY KNEW WHAT POP MIC WAS, LET ALONE SEXUAL SIRE, BUT THE IMAGE GAVE ME URG THAT FIED {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 WAS SURE OF ONE THG: I HAD TO KEEP MY LOVE FOR KEV, HOWIE, BRIAN, A.J., AND NICK A SECRET. HOW WOULD I EXPLA TO MY CATHOLIC, MEXIN-AMERIN PARENTS THAT I WANTED MY OWN PY OF THE RERD THAT MY OLR SISTER PLAYED CSANTLY HER ANTI-SKIP PORTABLE CD PLAYER? THAT I WANTED TO GAWK AT THE Y PRETTY BOYS TRYG WAY TOO HARD TO LOOK TOUGH?{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;}THE BT PART ABOUT THAT ALBUM IS THAT WAS EVERYWHERE. DUE TO THE SIZE AND NVENIENCE OF CDS, I NEVER ULD PE THE PHOTO THAT SIGNALED MY EARLY SEXUAL ATTRACTN TO MEN. I SOON UNRSTOOD I SHARED THE SAME YEARNGS AS MY FEMALE IENDS, AND THOUGH THIS REALIZATN WAS UNSETTLG AT FIRST, MAND AN ANSWER: DID I LIKE BOYS?{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;}“AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME” REMAS ONE OF MY FAVORE BACKSTREET BOY SONGS. IN THE MIC VIO, BETIFUL FEMALE MOLS PE AFTER THE BOYS DURG A PHOTOSHOOT, WHILE EACH SGER GIV A HEARTFELT SOLO BEFORE JOG TOGETHER FOR THEIR INIC FOLDG CHAIR DANCE. IT WAS UNNIABLY CHEY, GRA-A ’90S MP, BUT I WAS SOLD, AND MY HEART PULSED WHEN THE CHOS ME: I DON’T RE WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU’RE OM, WHAT YOU DID, AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME. JT WHEN I WAS STARTG TO FORM MY FIRST SAME-SEX CSH ON MY CLASSMATE JOSé, THIS WAS THE MSAGE I NEED TO HEAR: LOVE IS ALL THAT {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:75%;} .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;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;}BUT WAS LOVE THAT I FELT FOR JOSé, THE KID WHO SAT ACROSS THE ROOM OM ME MY THIRD-GRA CLASS? THE ONE WHOSE HAND I MA SURE TO HOLD DURG A ROUND OF RED ROVER ON THE PLAYGROUND, EVEN AS HE REACHED FOR A GIRL’S? JOSé GAVE ME THE SAME SORT OF BUTTERFLI THAT BRIAN LTRELL DID, BUT JOSé WAS A TANGIBLE PRENCE MY LIFE, SOMEONE I ULD ENGAGE WH THE FLH—AND NOT MERELY OVER SOUND WAV. WHEN I’D GO HOME AFTER A LONG DAY AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I PICTURED JOSé WHILE I LISTENED TO BRIAN AND PANY CROON A SENSIVE BALLAD, PECIALLY “QU PLAYG GAM (WH MY HEART)” BEE, ULTIMATELY, I REALIZED THAT SPE HIS EAGERNS TO HANG OUT WH ME, HE WAS STILL JT ANOTHER STRAIGHT BOY OBLIV TO MY SCHOOLYARD FLIRTATN. “YOU WANT TO E OVER AND PLAY?” I ASKED, UGH, BUT YOU’RE NOT GOG TO SPEND THE NIGHT?, I’D THK, YOU’RE KILLG ME!{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;}LOOKG BACK, I CLEARLY MISREAD JOSé’S PLATONIC FEELGS, LIKE MANY GAY KIDS DO WHEN THEY’RE TRYG TO GET A HANDLE OF NEW AND STRANGE SEXUAL SIR. I’D OFTEN S MY ROOM BLARG "I’LL NEVER BREAK YOUR HEART" OM MY SISTER’S CD PLAYER, WHICH I BORROWED CLANSTELY, HOPG THAT ONE DAY I’D FD THE ONE I ULD EVENTUALLY SG TO. AND AT NE YEARS OLD, WHO KNEW WHEN THAT’D {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 RECENTLY REVISED THE ALBUM AFTER 18 YEARS, AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY REMD OF S POP GENI. BACKSTREET BOYS WILL ALWAYS BE THE CD THAT ALLOWED ME TO REGNIZE MY SAME-SEX ATTRACTNS, AND HOWEVER MOR, ACT UPON THEM. 1997 WILL FOREVER-REMA A PERD WHEN YOUTHFUL CURSY AND SELF-DISVERY FLOURISHED, WHEN MIC AND FANTASY AND SELF NVERGED. MY GAY JOURNEY BEGAN 20 YEARS AGO, AND I N ONLY THANK THE BLEACHED HAIR AND RGO PANTS OF THE BACKSTREET BOYS FOR SHOWG ME S {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 BRIAN, I’M STILL WAG FOR YOUR {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

BACKSTREET BOYS' A.J. MCLEAN TALKS GAY BAND MEMBERS, BEG A 'FAG HAG'

The Backstreet Boys were at a drag show when they first realized they had a gay followg. I was bi myself, and that was when we first knew that we had a big gay followg, " A. ' Thkg back on , I've been this bs sce I was 3 and I grew up mil theater, so I was raised and surround by gay men and gay women.

As for any sort of gay mors surroundg him or the pop group, he don't re.

MY GAY INTERVIEW WH A BACKSTREET BOY: ‘I’M THE FAG HAG’

"Everyone always says, 'When you look at a boy band, one of them has to be gay. Instead of me beg gay, I'm the fag hag, " he said. He's this olr gentleman om Tampa and he's gay, and he's been followg durg this whole tour om Cha to Japan and now through the U.

I thk he really hop that Nick might have a ltle b of gay. " The 35-year-old McLean, who married 2011 and is the father of a ltle girl, long supported equal rights and the band's gay fan base.

20 YEARS AGO, THE BACKSTREET BOYS USHERED MY GAYNSJT WHEN I WAS STARTG TO FORM MY FIRST SAME-SEX CSH ON MY CLASSMATE JOSé, THEIR MSAGE WAS EXACTLY I NEED TO HEAR: LOVE IS ALL THAT {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;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/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;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;}LIFEBY XORJE OLIVARAUGT 14, 2017/3:46 {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;}BRENDA CHASE/STRGERBACKSTREET BOYSBY XORJE OLIVARAUGT 14, 2017 / 3:46 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"20 YEARS AGO, THE BACKSTREET BOYS USHERED MY GAYNS","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-08-14T19:46:36.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-08-14T19:46:36.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","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":"XORJE OLIVAR","ARTICLESECTN":"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;}LEANG EVER-SO SUALLY AGAST WHAT APPEARS TO BE A WHE-PATED WALL (ALTHOUGH LEAD SGER AND MY FIRST IMAGARY HBAND, BRIAN LTRELL, RTS AGAST A BRICK WALL), THE BACKSTREET BOYS ME TO MY LIFE 20 YEARS AGO, ON AUGT 12, 1997, BY WAY OF THEIR SELF-TLED BUT ALBUM. THE ALBUM VER FEATURED THE MOST ATTRACTIVE MEN THAT I HAD EVER SEEN ALL MY NE YEARS OF LIFE. IN THIRD GRA I BARELY KNEW WHAT POP MIC WAS, LET ALONE SEXUAL SIRE, BUT THE IMAGE GAVE ME URG THAT FIED {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 WAS SURE OF ONE THG: I HAD TO KEEP MY LOVE FOR KEV, HOWIE, BRIAN, A.J., AND NICK A SECRET. HOW WOULD I EXPLA TO MY CATHOLIC, MEXIN-AMERIN PARENTS THAT I WANTED MY OWN PY OF THE RERD THAT MY OLR SISTER PLAYED CSANTLY HER ANTI-SKIP PORTABLE CD PLAYER? THAT I WANTED TO GAWK AT THE Y PRETTY BOYS TRYG WAY TOO HARD TO LOOK TOUGH?{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;}THE BT PART ABOUT THAT ALBUM IS THAT WAS EVERYWHERE. DUE TO THE SIZE AND NVENIENCE OF CDS, I NEVER ULD PE THE PHOTO THAT SIGNALED MY EARLY SEXUAL ATTRACTN TO MEN. I SOON UNRSTOOD I SHARED THE SAME YEARNGS AS MY FEMALE IENDS, AND THOUGH THIS REALIZATN WAS UNSETTLG AT FIRST, MAND AN ANSWER: DID I LIKE BOYS?{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;}“AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME” REMAS ONE OF MY FAVORE BACKSTREET BOY SONGS. IN THE MIC VIO, BETIFUL FEMALE MOLS PE AFTER THE BOYS DURG A PHOTOSHOOT, WHILE EACH SGER GIV A HEARTFELT SOLO BEFORE JOG TOGETHER FOR THEIR INIC FOLDG CHAIR DANCE. IT WAS UNNIABLY CHEY, GRA-A ’90S MP, BUT I WAS SOLD, AND MY HEART PULSED WHEN THE CHOS ME: I DON’T RE WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU’RE OM, WHAT YOU DID, AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME. JT WHEN I WAS STARTG TO FORM MY FIRST SAME-SEX CSH ON MY CLASSMATE JOSé, THIS WAS THE MSAGE I NEED TO HEAR: LOVE IS ALL THAT {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:75%;} .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;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;}BUT WAS LOVE THAT I FELT FOR JOSé, THE KID WHO SAT ACROSS THE ROOM OM ME MY THIRD-GRA CLASS? THE ONE WHOSE HAND I MA SURE TO HOLD DURG A ROUND OF RED ROVER ON THE PLAYGROUND, EVEN AS HE REACHED FOR A GIRL’S? JOSé GAVE ME THE SAME SORT OF BUTTERFLI THAT BRIAN LTRELL DID, BUT JOSé WAS A TANGIBLE PRENCE MY LIFE, SOMEONE I ULD ENGAGE WH THE FLH—AND NOT MERELY OVER SOUND WAV. WHEN I’D GO HOME AFTER A LONG DAY AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I PICTURED JOSé WHILE I LISTENED TO BRIAN AND PANY CROON A SENSIVE BALLAD, PECIALLY “QU PLAYG GAM (WH MY HEART)” BEE, ULTIMATELY, I REALIZED THAT SPE HIS EAGERNS TO HANG OUT WH ME, HE WAS STILL JT ANOTHER STRAIGHT BOY OBLIV TO MY SCHOOLYARD FLIRTATN. “YOU WANT TO E OVER AND PLAY?” I ASKED, UGH, BUT YOU’RE NOT GOG TO SPEND THE NIGHT?, I’D THK, YOU’RE KILLG ME!{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;}LOOKG BACK, I CLEARLY MISREAD JOSé’S PLATONIC FEELGS, LIKE MANY GAY KIDS DO WHEN THEY’RE TRYG TO GET A HANDLE OF NEW AND STRANGE SEXUAL SIR. I’D OFTEN S MY ROOM BLARG "I’LL NEVER BREAK YOUR HEART" OM MY SISTER’S CD PLAYER, WHICH I BORROWED CLANSTELY, HOPG THAT ONE DAY I’D FD THE ONE I ULD EVENTUALLY SG TO. AND AT NE YEARS OLD, WHO KNEW WHEN THAT’D {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 RECENTLY REVISED THE ALBUM AFTER 18 YEARS, AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY REMD OF S POP GENI. BACKSTREET BOYS WILL ALWAYS BE THE CD THAT ALLOWED ME TO REGNIZE MY SAME-SEX ATTRACTNS, AND HOWEVER MOR, ACT UPON THEM. 1997 WILL FOREVER-REMA A PERD WHEN YOUTHFUL CURSY AND SELF-DISVERY FLOURISHED, WHEN MIC AND FANTASY AND SELF NVERGED. MY GAY JOURNEY BEGAN 20 YEARS AGO, AND I N ONLY THANK THE BLEACHED HAIR AND RGO PANTS OF THE BACKSTREET BOYS FOR SHOWG ME S {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 BRIAN, I’M STILL WAG FOR YOUR {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

"We have a huge gay followg -- 's awome, " he told Out magaze back 2010. "I, personally, am tryg to get more and more volved wh the gay and lbian movement, very much so.

I've got que a lot of gay iends back L.