08/19/2005
Closet Flies Open for Westlife Member
Westlife, the Irish boy band with 12 UK #1 singles under their belts, are just finishing up a 56-date World Tour in Bahrain, and singer Mark Feehily (second from left) has decided it's time to tell the world something else about himself:
"I want people to know the truth. I am gay and I'm very proud of who I am. I'm not asking for sympathy, or to be a role model for someone else. I simply felt it was the right time to tell the truth. In the past I haven't felt the need to say anything about my sexuality. But I want people to know I'm very comfortable with who I am. I'm not worried about how people react because I'm happy being who I am. I'm still the same person the day I was before. I'm sure Westlife fans will be pleased I'm happy. I don't think it changes anything. All the lads in Westlife have settled down and are in relationships, so why can't I be?"
The rest of his bandmates have known he's gay for a while. All it took for Feehily to decide to come out was for him to find Kevin McDaid, a singer from another boy band. The Sun tabloid decided to make an opinion piece out of their front page by creatively juxtaposing some headlines. "What a waste" they say. We certainly don't think so.
Westlife — Westlife
Westlife — World of Our Own
Westlife — Turnaround
Posted 9:09 AM EST by Andy Towle in Music | Permalink
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i think the bigger story here is that the boy band is still alive and well in the UK. That and the fact that only one of them is gay.
Posted by: robert | Aug 19, 2005 9:16:06 AM
Ooo, Robert. *SNAP*
Posted by: Rob | Aug 19, 2005 9:34:09 AM
Why is it the best singer of the band is (usually) the gay one?
Is there some deeper meaning in all this?
Posted by: Steven | Aug 19, 2005 9:45:41 AM
Lol steven i think its some dark secret the corporate executives want to keep all hush hush and stuff...
Good for him more hot gay intertainers...
Posted by: josh | Aug 19, 2005 10:18:47 AM
sorry, but Westlife are Irish, not British. As were Boyzone. I mean, I'd love to leave them to the British to claim, but honestly, all their members are from Sligo and Dublin, and their manager is also Irish, and was also the manager of Boyzone.
Posted by: ebby | Aug 19, 2005 10:51:59 AM
boyband? not-very-attractive-bloated-irish-bloke band is more like it
Posted by: carywd | Aug 19, 2005 11:07:31 AM
sorry - they're Irish - my apologies...my bad.
Posted by: andy | Aug 19, 2005 12:38:37 PM
How on earth does someone being gay get on the front of a newspaper (even if it is a tabloid)?
Posted by: Michael | Aug 19, 2005 12:41:55 PM
Michael
That's not a newspaper. It's the Sun!
And it wasn't a well kept secret either...
Posted by: Iscandar | Aug 19, 2005 1:08:59 PM
hey, every time i hear something like this, i shed my veneer of respectability and shout from the rooftops (ala Jared Leto) "Heil Gaydom!" now this bit of news is what real news is all about! Heil Visibility too!
and indeed, not such a waste after all :)
Posted by: Nik | Aug 19, 2005 1:18:23 PM
I don't the comment "What a Waste" was referring to Mark's being gay. It was about another news. Am I right?
In any case, I knew it all along! I have sensed him a mile away the way I did with Stephen Gately of Boyzone. The difference, though, is that I had a crush on Stephen and I loathe Mark! What is so obviouse about Mark's gayness? Oh, c'mon! Whose self-respecting straight man would have Mariah Carey's poster mounted on the wall of his room? Unless it shows a naked Mariah in it with all her two tons of breats in full glory! Aside from that, does a straight man singer belts out a tune everytime ala Mariah?!
Posted by: Jheck | Aug 19, 2005 2:22:20 PM
It was in reference to another story, but don't think for a second that the positioning of headlines was an accident.
Posted by: andy | Aug 19, 2005 2:40:40 PM
THANK YOU ANDY!!! My sentiments exactly! Jheck must be rather "green" lol; sorry dude.
Posted by: Kermit | Aug 20, 2005 2:02:12 PM
Hey
Well it wasn't much of a secret, but the reason it made the sun is because WestLife are very popular (albeit among 7 year old girls and their middle-aged mothers, but popular all the same).
I agree Andy, the headlines were a very deliberate pairing.
Posted by: graham | Aug 22, 2005 8:10:09 AM
well, they DID do a duet with Mariah Carey to a Phil Collins cover. altho, i have to admit when i was looking at the tabloid cover (without having finished reading what you typed above it, Andy) i was just staring at it thinking to myself "wait, so which one is gay? aren't they ALL gay?"
Posted by: Derrick | Aug 22, 2005 11:52:34 PM
well i must say all ur comments maid me laff and maybe i should even be in ere but hell who cares i like to read uva ppls opinions but no matter i agree it shoulsd of maid front page wow a lifer is gay big deal but i must admit he is fit
Posted by: memmie | Aug 23, 2005 9:12:37 AM
FYI waste refers to black boy who got axed for being black...
Posted by: milt | Aug 23, 2005 11:55:54 AM
Milt,
The "waste" may have referred to another story, but I don't have a doubt that the positioning of the headlines as such was a coincidence.
Posted by: hcblue | Aug 23, 2005 2:24:18 PM
Oh.... Mark is Proud to be a gay one... but it's okay... He's still my Idol... and I'm still going to sing like the way he does....
Posted by: Jed | Sep 15, 2005 4:48:19 AM
oh!!!
I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCHHH
MARK!!!
Posted by: ria cunan | Sep 16, 2005 10:31:05 PM
i can't believe that Mark is gay !!! He is such a good singer !!! Why izit that most of the good singers are gay !!! juz lucky Shane and Nicky isn't !!! If he is gay i will support him , as long as u r happy , it is OK with me !!! Juz a fright !!!
Posted by: katherine | Oct 11, 2005 2:53:07 AM
if he´s happy beggin´ gay
i really dont care , because mark is a exellent singer i´ll always be with the group no mather what
Posted by: vikki | Oct 12, 2005 7:06:21 PM
LOL....is Mark REALLY gay? How shocking! A shame Tom Cruise doesn't take a leaf out of his book (instead of getting male lovers to sign lengthy confidentiality agreements). No, seriously though, like some websites I just read, it does a great amount of good when a "normal" guy comes out just for the sake of it. Takes a lot of guts.
Posted by: BoyBand Wotcher | Oct 16, 2005 6:26:25 PM
I Love You So MUCH ...
Mark !!
:-X
Posted by: Benyamin | Oct 19, 2005 5:22:59 PM
i also think that the "waste" thing is a different news... so what if Mark's gay and i've loved westlife for like, ever since they started??!?! For as long as Mark's happy to be who he is, it doen't matter.. if you really love someone you should accept him.. and loving westlife means a lot to me and Mark being gay doesn't change a thing in my eyes that's for sure!! ktwlffrh!!!
Posted by: SiLaXe | Oct 28, 2005 3:35:39 AM