Michael Stipe, the frontman of legendary US band R.E.M., says he's ready to speak openly about the fact that he's gay – and believes other public figures should also speak honestly about their sexuality. R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe Stipe, 48, came out for the first time in media back in 2001 when he identified himself as a "queer artist" in an interview with Time magazine. The singer has never felt the need to publicly discuss his sexuality before, but thinks now is the right time to do so. He told Spin magazine: "Now I recognise that for public figures to be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere. "I didn't always see that. But I see now, of course that's the case, of course that's needed. I'd just never felt strongly enough about a particular relationship to say, 'Yeah, he's my boyfriend, that is what it is'," he added. "It was super complicated for me in the '80s. I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious." Stipe also revealed secrets behind past R.E.M. songs. "There are songs I wrote in the past that were gender-specific. 7 Chinese Brothers was about me breaking up a couple - and then dating both of them, a man and a woman, which is a terrible thing to do, but I was young and stupid."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 19th March 2008 - 3:24pm