Stephen, 23, has been overwhelmed by support since coming out through The 
Sun - making him realise he made the right decision.  The millionaire singer 
says he has never been so happy after the move lifted enormous pressures 
from him and boyfriend Eloy de Jong.  And on the rare occasions he feels 
miserable, Stephen just delves into some of the unopened mail piled up in 
his living room - and gives himself an instant lift. 
Tens of thousands of letters of support have come flooding through Stephen's 
front door since he courageously told the world he was gay on June 16.  The 
star is still ploughing through the mountain of mail, but not one letter has 
been negative. 
Stephen was full of jokes and smiles as he told of his delight at being able 
to live a normal life and walk hand-in-hand down the street with Eloy, 26. 
He said: "Life just couldn't be better for me, I can do whatever I want now. 
Things like going to the cinema and eating out are as normal for us as any 
other couple.  I was always worried that someone would take a picture if me 
with Eloy because not everybody knew I was gay.  Now we do whatever we want 
and I can get on with my life, with being Stephen Gately. 
"We can go on the same flight when we go on holiday and even go to the duty 
free shop together.  It was a nightmare before, having to get separate 
flights to wherever we went.  All the pressures have gone, it's a wonderful 
feeling." 
Stephen also thanked his fans for their support, saying: "I love reading the 
fans' letters. - they really cheer me up.  Some days I feel a bit down, but 
I cheer myself up by reading a few of the letters.  It's been absolutely 
overwhelming and I know I've done the right thing.  After I've finished, I 
always feel full of life and get all this energy.  It's wonderful." 
Our exclusive photo opposite is the first time Stephen and Eloy have been 
pictured together.  The couple enjoyed a weekend shopping trip in 
fashionable Knightsbridge, West London, strolling down swanky Sloane Street 
and visiting designer shops Gucci and Cartier.  They went home empty-handed 
after nothing took their fancy. 
Stephen looked totally relaxed in public with his boyfriend, but it was a 
different story three months ao when he decided "the time was right" to come 
out in The Sun. 
Stephen recalled his feelings the night before our exclusive flashed around 
the world.  The star revealed he had been dating Eloy for eight months, 
saying he was happy and in love with the Dutch singer. 
Stephen admitted: "I was absolutely terrified the night before the story was 
about to break.  I remember sitting in a hotel in Amsterdam [Eh?  I thought 
he was in Milan that night? - Katherine] having a drink and hoping all my 
fans would support me.  It was very worrying because they could have gone 
either way.  I was so nervous.  The next morning when I woke up I put on TV 
on and it was everywhere.  It was really weird.  It even reached the New 
York Post.  That was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. 
I was so happy and relieved that all the fans were very supportive of my 
decisions.  I received boxes of cards and presents. 
"I just couldn't be happier, Eloy and I are just getting on with things." 
Stephen took time out from promoting the new animated film Watership Down to 
speak to The Sun and tell his fans about the past three months. 
He revealed: "I've been working on my solo project and have been in the 
recording studio laying down some tracks.  Things are getting really busy 
and I won't really get any time off until the beginning of next year.  I've 
recorded a version of Art Garfunkel's Bright Eyes for the Watership Down 
movie, but it's not coming out until January. [Told you! :-)  Katherine] 
The reason for that is simple - we're releasing another Boyzone single 
instead so everything got pushed back." 
Speaking in his dressing room at the New London Theatre before a promotional 
show for the film, Stephen admitted: "I'm about to go on stage and sing the 
song and I'm really nervous.  I still get nervous, regardless of who I'm 
singing in front of.  I've been with Boyzone for six years and every time 
we're about to go on stage my heart starts beating quicker and I start sweating." 
Even though he ws about to perform, Stephen still found time to talk to his 
fans waiting outside the theatre. [Did he??  He didn't speak to us! 
Katherine]  He may have been nervous on the inside, but on the outside he 
just kept smiling and chatting to the other cast members who have done 
voice-overs for the characters in Watership Down. 
Stephen is joined by Catatonia's Cerys Matthews, comedians Rik Mayall and 
Phil Jupitus and actress Jane Horrocks.  Stephen said: "I play the character 
Blackavar which has the same centre-parting floppy hair as mine.  It's 
really funny. 
"I've always loved the song - when I was six I went to a summer school camp 
and sang it on stage.  That's why I'm really chuffed that I'm involved in 
this new project because I grew up with it. 
"I would love to star in a film and play a real-life character.  I just love 
watching films, especially musicals - that would be the perfect film for me. 
"I just can't stop singing, wherever I am.  It could be in the bathroom, in 
the back of a car on the way to a signing or something - even when I've just 
nipped out to the shops." 
Stephen then took another sip of his water before giving a private 
performance of a few chorusses from Bright Eyes.  His voice is so good it 
sends shivers down the spine. 
Stephen clearly has the talent and personality to forge a successful solo 
career outside Boyzone, but he is quick to dismiss rumors that the 
chart-topping boy band are about to split.  He says: "Just because we're 
doing solo projects doesn't mean it's the end of the road for us.  We are 
contracted to do two more albums with our record label Polydor.  We've got 
another single coming out in a few months, then we've got our tour.  There 
is no way we're splitting up." 
Boyzone have scored seven No.1 singles, including their last hit You Needed 
Me.  Stephen and the boys [well there's a first! ;-) Katherine] prevented 
former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell from scoring her debut No.1 single with 
Look At Me. 
Stephen said: "That was brilliant.  It was being built up as this great 
showdown.  But we like Geri, there was no animosity at all.  The boys and I 
have worked long and hard and getting a No.1 single is still a great buzz." 
Stephen's cover version of Bright Eyes seems to have caused a stir with the 
original producer and composer, Mike Batt of Wombles fame.  One music 
industry insider said: "Mike's a bit miffed because he was asked to do a 
cover version but it seems the one he did isn't going to end up in the 
shops."  But Stephen is maintaining a dignified silence on the matter, 
saying only: "I was asked to do a cover version.  I'm not commenting on 
anything else." 
In the meantime, Stephen is trying to enjoy a normal life at his huge 
converted mill-house outside Dublin.  He has become a dab hand in the 
kitchen, and has just bought the dog he always longed for.  "It's a shih-tzu 
puppy called Joey and it's learning to walk at the moment," said Stephen. 
"I'm teaching it to go up the stairs, it's always getting stuck.  I've 
always wanted one but never really got round to getting one before.  But I 
promised myself I would and Eloy and I chose it." 

[Source: The Sun, September 14th 1999, Pages 6 and 7.] 
                                                                                       Copyright - The Sun 

This is Eloy's and Stephen's puppy Joey.   I got the pic from Tina, thus THANKS Tina for being so nice and sending it to me!  Gee, there are so many great CITA fans out there (and Boyzone fans too!!!).  The pic was published in the German BRAVO magazine so some of you might have seen it already...