March 19, 2008 19:47

REM frontman discusses sexuality

'Public figures should be open about sexuality' says Michael Stipe

REM frontman Michael Stipe recently said that he believes it is important for public figures to be open about their sexuality.

The 48-year-old singer has long been candid about being gay, having been named in Out magazine's 'Out 100' list of gay celebrities in 1995, and describing himself as a queer artist in a 2001 interview with Time magazine.

In a recent interview with Spin, the singer revisited the topic, saying that he was always honest about his sexuality with those close to him, and now recognises that it is important for people in the public eye to be open about such matters.

"I was totally open with the band and my family and my friends and certainly the people I was sleeping with. I thought it was pretty obvious," Stipe said.

"Now I recognize that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there."

REM are due to release their 14th studio album, 'Accelerate', on April 1 in the US and a day earlier in the UK.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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