Like Michael, I'm only openly gay to my close friends and my mother (all be it she's in complete denial). I'm 18, and first started listening to R.E.M. at the age of 12 - cracking music, intellectual lyrics and beautiful imagery.

The only reason I am not coming out the closet is because I value my personal security. I know I can walk into a pub and not fear being insulted or assaulted because of my sexuality. Most of my friends are guys (which may surprise you), because like Michael Stipe - I don't force my sexuality on to people like so many of the camp people on TV.

I admit it is partly R.E.M. that persuaded me to come out to my friends, you'll find it's the hardest thing you'll ever have to do.

I think michael stipes a very naughty boy,truth be knowen i think he likes to play games and has been doing so nicely for some considerable time.

Gay?!?!? Big shocker there! LOL! I have no problem with that at all, in fact I'm happy for anyone to be Loud & Proud!!! What worries me though is that he has looked sick for years. I really hope he's not pulling a Freddie on us

We all focus on what "seems" important to us. Pleasure in any form is fleeting; such is life.

I am glad for things like "Walk Unafraid" / Desiderata that have shaped my perception of this life.

And give thanks to you; for this data that I thankfully understood as information.

and as such; fook yaal. the strong will do as they please.(if it makes them happy without affecting others) and live knowing they have been true to themselves.

Trib.

To the guy who said "Considering the beauty of the female form...": you're an idiot. If that were true, why wouldn't all girls be lesbian? How would YOU be getting any??? Face the facts: there's gay people and straight people. Women are attractive to straight men, men are attractive to gay men, female centapedes are attractive to straight male centapedes -- this isn't rocket science. Yes the female form is beautiful, but so is everything else -- everyone and everything is just a reflection of God.
As for Stipe being gay, I also thought he came out officially at least a decade ago.
For people who don't like it, hate will only bite you in the ass. Look at the West Bapturo Church, who've gone so crazy they are now protesting military servicemen's funerals. LOVE IS THE ANSWER!!!

Meh. So what if it was obvious? I'm sure there were some anti-gay REM fans out there thinking "I don't care how it looks! he's not!". At least the fact that he's admitting it might help make some people be more open to the idea :]

I love REM. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world.

I don't see how anyone can laugh at or criticize Michael Stipe. He is a musical genius, and he was right, no one had any business talking about who he was sleeping with. But if he thinks this helps others who relate to him, let him broadcast it. It doesn't change the fact that he invented alternative music. Outdated? No way. Classic!
Love you, Michael!

Re: StipeFan since 82

Spot on! I'm in my 30s, a bisexual female who has fancied the arse of Stipey for years. My (male) partner has a physique much like Michael's and if I'm honest, I have had fantasies about the two of them together... Maybe I'm a bit wrong. ;-D

Michael Stipe came out a few years back. This is not news. It was in The Advocate and other gay and mainstream press. Is this an old item just brought up? Or maybe he thought he hadn't "officially" come out (as if you only come out once)-or did he only come out as bi back then? No, I think he's been openly gay for a while. Perhaps the general public just forgot. whatever...
But I'm glad it's in the press again. He joins the ranks of the B-52's, Pet Shop Boys, half of Erasure, most of Scissor Sisters, Elton, Melissa, George, k.d., Michael Feinstein, Dave Koz, and hundreds of other honest musicians. So, thanks.

Why does Michael Stipe always look so deathly sick and miserable?

LOL, I think we all knew this!

HONESTLY - he has looked very sick for a long time now, what gives???

Um... was there anyone who didn't know besides him? ; )

gee, what a shocker.