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Last week, REM lead singer Michael Stipe revealed, to the surprise of no one on this planet, that he is gay.
The singer has never felt the need to publicly discuss his sexuality before, but thinks now is the right time to do so.
He said: “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.
“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.’
“Now I recognise that for public figures to be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere.”
I had an obsession with REM that bordered on unhealthy back in the 80s and early 90s and have always admired Stipe’s very dry sense of humor. This week, he took a very tongue-in-cheek approach to his coming out, and further stated, in a video posted on YouTube, the official sexual orientations of the rest of the band.
My name is Michael Stipe, I’m here to make an announcement on behalf of R.E.M., but I want to express any doubters that I’m here on my own volition. Um, I’m a little nervous, so I’m gonna read this to get it right.
R.E.M’s Peter Buck and Mike Mills announce today that, after years of awkward speculation, that they are heterosexual, or straight. I am happy for my bandmates and congratulate their candidness and their courage in making this whole statement. I stand beside them always and I am proud of their strength of character in this difficult but liberating decision to come forward. I can say on their behalf that they are here to finally acknowledge their themselves publicly.
[Transcript from YouTube video via ONTD]
Hilarious! Let’s hope that Peter Buck and Mike Mills’ bravery, after years of awkward speculation (ha ha), help straight kids all over the world come to terms with their orientation.
Michael Stipe is shown on 12/6/07 at The Lunchbox Auction Benefiting Food Bank for NYC, thanks to PRPhotos.
Written by MSat
Posted in Funny, Michael Stipe, REM
11 Responses to “REM’s Michael Stipe outs his bandmates…as straight”
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This is EXACTLY how someone should deal with their sexuality these days, and I applaud him for it!
Be whatever you are and don’t be ashamed to be it, but don’t make it the center of your entire existence either. It gets annoying when people feel the need to be ‘in your face’ all the time. Straight people don’t feel the need to go around telling people they’re straight all the time, just keep it to yourself.
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Scott F: I agree with the sentiment in your comment but more often than not, it’s other people - the media in the case of celebs - forcing the issue, not the individuals concerned. Until society moves away from a person’s sexuality being an issue and/or of interest, it will remain one of those things that generates salacious and unhelpful gossip.
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Agreed Geronimo & Scott. I can’t wait for the day when one’s sexuality isn’t an issue
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i always thought that he admitted to being gay years and years ago. i also thought that he was known to have AIDS. i’m confused!
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Yes he did and the AIDS rumours were just that, rumours.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1329994.stm -
When society quits marginalizing gays, it will cease to be an issue.
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thanks, geronimo..
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Trillion, ain’t that the truth.
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I’m happy when people like Michael come out (but don’t make it their entire identity) because I used to know someone who was under the impression that MTV and their “gay shows/agenda” was turning everyone gay. :cringe: And that people aren’t really gay, they’re just confused. (His basis was that no one used to be gay a couple decades ago, and now we have gays all over the place) :cring again:
Hopefully people like Michael can start to change these ignorant hillbilly misconceptions.
P.S. Did anyone used to watch Pete & Pete when they were little? Micheal Stipe was on an episode and that’s always what I think of when I see him.
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Michael came out in May 2001, around the same time as the release of their album, titled “Reveal”. As he has said in the past, “Labels are for canned food.”
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Admire the fact that he never felt the need to explain his sexuality and now admire even more the way he’s chosen to ‘out’ his fellow band members! Plus, he has the dreamiest blue eyes.
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