Stephen Gately ‘helped me and probably lots of other gay lads to understand their sexuality and come out’

SOUNDBITES — “Stephen was extremely brave. He was the first member of a boyband to come out, and, in hindsight, it helped me and probably lots of other gay lads to understand their sexuality and come out. Every time a celebrity who is admired by millions of people comes out, it’s one more blow to any negative stereotype out there.” —Westlife’s Mark Feehily on how the now-deceased Stephen Gately, the band Boyzone band, helped him come out publicly (via)