Michael Stipe wants us to know he's still gay

[mrs.v]

R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe: I'm Gay
Monday March 17, 2008

Michael Stipe at the Louis Vuitton Party of LOVE on May 3, 2007.
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com



R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has come out of the closet.
“It was super complicated for me in the ’80s," he tells Spin. "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.”
The singer, who had always deflected questions about his sexual orientation, says he "didn’t always see" how coming out could help others.
"But I see now, of course, that’s the case," he says. "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 recognize that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there.”
The band recently played the South by Southwest Music festival.
They release their next album, Accelerate, on April 1.



Usmagazine.com | R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe: I'm Gay

[Dixie Normos]

Was he ever IN the closet? I thought everyone knew this already, eff, I knew this over 10 years ago.

[Just Kill Me]

Well... maybe it would have been more helpful when REM was like still relevant. I shouldn't say that but he's like old and in my mind he sort of doesn't matter anymore.

[Grimmlok]

damn he got craggy fast

[Fabularosa]

^ Well, that's why he's telling you, dammit!

And he has a new album out ...

[WesCAdle]

Ha Ha Ha Mrs V - I thought he quit for awhile and is now back to being gay. WTF I thought everyone who knew who he is knew he was also gay and it never mattered. Well if he thinks it's helpful then good. I am curious to hear their new stuff and what direction its gone since their last release was so long ago.

[WhateverLolaWants]

I think he's saying this now because during the eighties and nineties he used to pointedly not talk about his sexuality, kinda like Nathan Lane, and many would complain he was closeted to the public though everyone knew the truth. For him to be talking about it openly more recently is mildly surprising. Nathan came out officially last year for the same reason. The closet isn't what it used to be, and for celebs who were in it in the highlight of their career, I imagine it must be a relief to be free of it now

[Bijoux]

^ Well said Lola

[sprynkles]

Nathan Lane is gay???

I was just wondering what happend to these guys
yesterday. Where is Smashing Pumpkins was also
on my mind, lol!










I know, I know!

[tkdgirl]

And I'm still straight. But I don't need a magazine article to profess it. Sheesh.

[MissVenus]

Originally Posted by Just Kill Me

Well... maybe it would have been more helpful when REM was like still relevant. I shouldn't say that but he's like old and in my mind he sort of doesn't matter anymore.

I have to resent this... REM are brilliant... still... they make the sort of albums that I buy before I've even heard them.

In a world of irrelevent artists and manufactured pop, REM are pillars.

[Honey]

Originally Posted by tkdgirl

And I'm still straight. But I don't need a magazine article to profess it. Sheesh.

I thought Stipe said he was Bi years ago, oh well.

[Laurent]

Didn't he date Courtney Love at one point, or did I make that up?

[tkdgirl]

Originally Posted by Laurent

Didn't he date Courtney Love at one point, or did I make that up?

I thought he dated Natalie Merchant for a while too.

[NicoleWasHere]

I had no idea he was gay. Oh well, it shouldn't change people's opinions about his music, anyway.