EXCLUSIVE: Boyzone star opens his heart about his new-found happiness since telling the world he is gay.
COMING OUT WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID Interview by Larrissa Nolan-NO, COPIED BY HER
Stephen tells of his love for hunky boyfriend Eloy
'He's absolutely perfect for me… and my family loves him'-GUARDIAN
>SUPPORT: Stephen Gately was bowled over with the level of support he received from his fellow band members (below) and the thousands of fans who stood by him when it was revealed he is gay. The Boyzone star says he would now love to adopt children with his lovely Eloy de Jong.-GUARDIAN
THIS time last year, Stephen Gately could have never have dreamed of the happiness that lay ahead for him.
To outsiders, the Boyzone heart-throb appeared to have everything in life - a great job, huge success and plenty of money. But for all his wealth and fame, Stephen Gately was miserable at heart. He had a dark secret that could ruin his career if it ever came out - and the strain of hiding it was killing him.-GUARDIAN While the other members of Boyzone were settling down and having babies, Stephen seemed to be the lonely odd-man out.-GUARDIAN But he too had found his special someone, a person he describes as "absolutely perfect for me ". The only problem was… that person was a man.-GUARDIAN
With millions of female fans all over the globe, Stephen thought he couldn't afford to admit he was gay. Boyzone would surely be finished if the world had found out that Stephen Gately was dating strapping hunk Eloy de Jong of the Dutch boy band Caught In The Act.
The 23-year-old Dubliner spent his days worrying about what would happen when his homosexuality finally became known.-GUARDIAN
He didn't have long to wait. Last June, Gately found himself on the front page of an English newspaper under the headline: 'Boyzone Stephen: I'm Gay And In Love.'-GUARDIAN
Warned
It certainly wasn't the way the star wanted to break the news but he'd had no choice, once the paper warned him that a former security guard was trying to sell the story to tabloids.-GUARDIAN
Gately gave the paper and interview and then sat back and waited for the storm to break.
It turned out to be the best move of his life. He's currently enjoying the new-found joy of no longer having to pretend and the freedom to singout about his love for Eloy.-GUARDIAN
It's Gately's first major relationship and he is in love. They moved in together in Amsterdam and have exchanged gold commitment rings.-GUARDIAN
"He's six-foot-three, brown eyes, brown hair, 26 and very kind. We've been going out for 15 months and he's absolutely perfect for me. My family loves him," says Stephen.-GUARDIAN
The couple would like to have kids. "If there was a way open to adopt, I'd do it. I'd love love to give a kid an opportunity," he >says.-GUARDIAN
The only downside to Steve's relationship with a man is the fact that he can never be a dad. > Backstage at a UK concert this week, Stephen told the Sunday World that his greatest wish is to be allowed to adopt children. "I feel I am good with them and I have great fun with my sister's child and my brother's child, so yes, I would like to have them in my own life.
"I've been very fortunate in my life that my career in pop has been so successful and I'm now financially secure. I would love to be allowed to give a child an opportunity."
Keith, who is sitting in the background, interrupts to champion Steve's ability to rear children. "You should see him with kids, he brilliant. My Jordan loves him."
Although the decision to "come out" was difficult at the time, Gately is now glad that everyone knows he's gay.
"I was really nervous because I didn't know which way it would go," he says. "It could have been really bad or really positive. The worst-case scenario was that the public wouldn't support me."-GUARDIAN
The worst-case scenario never happened. Boyzone fans are fiercely protective and they rallied around Gately in his hour of need.-GUARDIAN
"I couldn't believe the reaction. I got millions of e-mails and letters from people in all walks of life - young, old, gay, straight, some from gay people who hadn't come out and didn't know what to do.-GUARDIAN
"All these letters, I've got boxes of them. When I feel a bit down in the morning, I'll get up and have some toast and coffee and read a couple. That much support for an individual is incredible."-GUARDIAN
Even his celebrity friends sent words of comfort. "Graham Norton sent a beautiful letter, Elton sent flowers, George Michael rang and … um …even Billy Connolly said 'Who gives a shit?'-GUARDIAN
"There's been no homophobia at all except from the odd slagging from the lads in the street, but let them."-GUARDAIN
Gately, who is the second youngest of a family of five from Sheriff Street, says he was "quiet and reflective" as a youngster.-GUARDIAN
"I was into life and scenery and snowfalls. I would sit wrapped up in a duvet, watching the rain. I still like to. It costs nothing to walk around the park or read a book," he says.-GUARDIAN
Dating
Although he tried dating girls, he know by the age of 16 that there was something different about himself.-GUARDIAN
"I wasn't quite sure, but there were tell-tale signs. I'd think: 'That guy is good-looking' or I'd notice someone on television. It's very difficult for a young person. I didn't really know any gay people as a kid."-GUARDIAN
Around this time, he answered an ad for five boys to perform in a pop group. He had taken singing and dancing lessons since the age of 12 but he clinched the audition with his rendition of George Michael's Careless Whisper.-GUARDIAN
He says he was never troubled by guilt. "I never thought of it. I never thought God would come down and say that I can't do this or that. I went to church and sang at Christmas mass, but I stopped going because I couldn't sit there bored out of my head for an hour.-GUARDIAN
"God forgives everything. This is the only life I have and in a hundred years time, who'll give a shit?"-GUARDIAN
Gately confided in his sister about his sexuality. She wasn't surprised, saying : "I always thought you were."-GUARDIAN
However, he kept the secret from the rest of Boyzone for the first five months, afraid that outing himself "would mean good-bye to any chance of fame".-GUARDIAN
When he finally told them, he was relieved at their reaction - the four other Boyz assured him that it made no difference.-GUARDIAN
Feared
But they decided to keep the matter within the group as they feared it might affect their popularity.-GUARDIAN(BUT IT WAS HIS DECISION TO KEEP IT IN THE GROUP, NO-ONE ELSES.)
So Stephen was forced into a life of pretence. Wary of starting a relationship, he had "a few romances" but avoided involvement because "people would have found out".-GUARDIAN (BUT THE GUARDIAN DIDNT SAY "FORCED")
He says he thought about his sexuality every day but just tried to get on with things.-GUARDIAN
"The first couple of years were mad anyway. We were constantly working in Japan, Europe, everywhere," he recalls.-GUARDIAN
It was during this time that he met Eloy from Caught In The Act, who can boast the status of being big in Germany.
They ran into each other at awards ceremonies and parties and became friends, although it took a few years before love blossomed.-GUARDIAN
But while he was falling in love. Gately had to put up with the constant stress of hiding his sexuality.
"Sometimes I'd be grouchy and friends would say 'Are you OK Stephen?' and I'd be thinking 'no, there's a problem but I can't tell you'," he says.-GUARDIAN
"For the first few years it wasn't so much of a problem but in the last few, when we got bigger with more attention, it got harder."-GUARDIAN
To cover for Stephen's lack of girlfriends, his name was often linked with high-profile women.-GUARDIAN
"There were so-called links between myself and Emma Bunton and one of the girls from Eternal and Mandy Smith," he says. "We were just mates, but when you're seen going for a drink with somebody, you get seen as a couple.-GUARDIAN
"When a story would break with Mandy or Emma, it would certainly take the pressure off for a while."-GUARDIAN
Steve points out proudly that he never actually lied to the public when questioned about his love life.-GUARDIAN "People would ask about my favourite girls and I'd describe a man I fancied - blue eyes, brown hair, whatever," he says.-GUARDIAN
"I always said 'the right person' never 'the girl'. But I used to be paranoid that people would know. I'd be down in the dumps, being in the public for six years and always having to explain why I didn't have a girlfriend."-GUARDIAN
The newspaper story revealing his sexuality changed all that though. But since the subterfuge ended, he says he's never been happier.-GUARDAIN
"The story breaks and I couldn't believe it - little me from Sheriff Street on the cover of four papers," Stephen recalls.-GUARDAIN
> "There are earthquakes in the world and bad things everywhere, and instead they put me on the cover. But people love to read about famous people."-GUARDAIN
Stephen Gately's next project is his new album, aptly titled New Beginning. He says it won't be a radical change from the Boyzone sound, but he promises "a few surprises".-GUARDIAN (ACTUALLY, HE HAS SAID THERE MIGHT BE A DUET WITH ELOY...)
