Navratilova Urges Bass to Become An Activst

In a letter to People magazine, tennis legend and gay activist Martina Navratilova commends former N'Sync singer Lance Bass for coming out publicly with his sexuality.

In the letter to be published in the August 28 issue of People, Navratilova writes, "Lance Bass is a courageous young man.

"Coming out to your family and friends is hard enough; to do so to the world is a lot harder. I know, as I took this step more than 25 years ago."

Bass revealed his sexuality in an interview with People magazine last month, and also spoke about his relationship with his boyfriend, model and reality TV star Reichen Lehmkuhl. Bass then told the magazine that he didn't want to become a poster child for gay rights.

In her letter, Navratilova urges him to reconsider this decision and to make a stand for equal rights: "So as our fight for equality continues, I will not be surprised to one day see Lance Bass marching with the rest of us, right there in the front row."