Gay Boy Bander About Coming Out

Mark Feehily of boy band group Westlife says he's happy to be a gay role model but that he's concerned that he may say the wrong things. The 25-year-old Irish singer came out last year and is currently dating Kevin McDaid of the now defunct boy band V band.

"If somebody does come out that is in the public eye then they are going to represent (all homosexuals)," he said. "I don't know that I necessarily like it too much because, knowing me, I would probably say the wrong thing. But in that sense all I can do is try and share what I have learnt through my experience."

Westlife is now doing their first tour in Australia since 1999 to promote their latest album Face to Face. The group has been extremely successful all over the world. In UK alone the group has had 13 number one singles. Some of the most popular ones being; You Raise Me Up, Flying Without Wings, Against All Odds, and Unbreakable.

Even though Westlife is a typical boy band with a mainly female fan base, Feehily claims there have been few negative reactions to his coming out.

"I am so much happier now and I think our fans can see that," he says. "Through the years of getting to the point where I wanted to come out, I had to go through every kind of emotion, but I can honestly say that the day before I came out, I didn't care what the reaction was going to be. That was the hardest point to get to."

Even though Feehily has no plans to get married any time soon, he says he's thrilled with the recent introduction of the Civil Partnership Act in the UK.

"I think it is fantastic that gay people can now get the same benefits as a straight couple," Feehily says. "(Even though) it is not something I am looking into at the moment.".