At NSYNC’s Walk of Fame ceremony, Lance Bass opened up about his fears of coming out…
Last week Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass reunited to accept their Hollywood Walk Of Fame star. While each of the members stepped up to the mic to speak during the cermeony, Bass took the opportunity to speak about his decision to wait to come out as gay in 2006, years after the group split up and went their separate ways.
“The other thing I want to say here today is something I’ve been trying to put into words maybe my whole life. Growing up in Mississippi and in a Southern Baptist church, in a town where everyone knows your business, I had a secret: I was gay,” Bass said.
“Yes guys, I’m gay! I am! And at the time, I thought that I would never be able to tell anyone because not only was I terrified of the lasting rejection—I was certain that that would happen —but more than that I didn’t want to jeopardize the careers of these guys up here, much less the hundreds of amazing people who worked tirelessly to bring *NSYNC to the world.”
He continued:
“I thought if I had come out, *NSYNC would be over. So I kept my secret. And our wildest dreams were coming true and we were so incredibly thankful — and I still am. But so many nights onstage, I’d see so many young, gay fans singing their hearts out and I wanted so badly to let you know, I was you. I just didn’t have the strength then,” he said. “But I do today and so let me say loud and proud to all my LGBT brothers and sisters, who embrace me and show me the way to be who I am, thank you so much.”
You can Lance Bass’ heartfelt speech, and the speeches from the other *NSYNC members below:
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