Westlife: Sing (badly) if you're glad to be gay

Newton is, by the way, milking the Westlife interview, which seems to be getting run over seventy-three pieces. One chunk - complete with a photo captioned "The Loife" (although even Newton's starting to look like she's regretting the whole meeting in this one) - is devoted to Mark Feehily's sexuality:

MARK FEEHILY says his decision to announce to the world that he is gay is the best thing he has ever done.

We've heard Westlife's music. Feehily coming out was the best thing any of them has ever done.

Coming out is an intensely personal choice, and different people choose to keep their sexualities secret for a range of reasons. However, it's amusing to see Feehily now suggesting 'rich man in showbusiness says he's gay' was like a Stonewall riot for the 21st century:

I think there’s still a long way to go until society accepts people’s sexuality but it has come a long way already.

Clearly, it had come far enough for Mark to feel comfortable joining the struggle after the hard work had been done.

“It’s so much better these days. Shows like Big Brother help and there are gay people in rock bands and pop groups and it’s no longer a big deal.

“There always was, of course, but it’s not a secret any more."

Yes, how Tom Robinson, Boy George and Elton John must curse their luck that they hadn't had Brian Dowling to act as a exemplar to them that you can be in entertainment, and out.

"It’s good that there are a variety of gay people in the public eye. It helps break down the stereotypes."

Yes. Having visible gay men singing in boybands really does prove to young gays that there's more routes open to them than simply going into stage musicals. Feehily is a powerful blow to stereotyping.

There is, of course, an interesting interview to be had with Feehily over his sexuality - why he felt unable to talk about himself for so long, why he chose to come out when he did - but Victoria Newton's not the person to do it:

ut Mark isn’t ready to do an ELTON JOHN and walk down the aisle with his partner just yet.

He explained: “Kevin and I haven’t thought about getting married. It’s good that gay couples can have the same legal rights as a straight couple.

“The idea that a person would be entitled to nothing if their gay partner died would enrage me, so it’s good that there is now legal protection.”

If you don't know that the question of gay marriage is quite separate from the issue of equal rights for gay partners, you're never likely to be in a position to ask the right questions, are you?