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Shiny, Happy, Gay People

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R.E.M. have a new album coming out. The boys old men grace the cover of the new issue of Spin magazine, and frontman Michael Stipe spends some time talking about his own coming out.

On His Sexuality:
“It was super complicated for me in the ’80s. 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.”

Going public was a little easier when he realized it might inspire people to change their views about homosexuality:
“I didn’t always see that. But I see now, of course that’s the case, of course that’s needed. I’d just never felt strongly enough about a particular relationship to say, ‘Yeah, he’s my boyfriend, that is what it is.’ Now I recognize that to have public figures be very open about their sexuality helps some kid somewhere out there.”

On his songwriting:
“There are songs I wrote in the past that were gender-specific. ‘7 Chinese Brothers’ was about me breaking up a couple—and then dating both of them, a man and a woman, which is a terrible thing to do, but I was young and stupid….At the time I was writing about what I knew, and what I knew was myself. I found out I’m not that kind of writer. I think I’m better when I write about things that are not me."

    Posted: Mar 17, 2008 at 12:54 pm / Email this  »
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    84 comments to “Shiny, Happy, Gay People”

    1. hgdf says – reply to this


      1

      uhh…ok??

    2. Shalynn says – reply to this


      2

      1st

    3. chris says – reply to this


      3

      1st

    4. Marlee says – reply to this


      4

      HEY! i was actually FIRST for once!!!
      [i was hgdf]
      YAY!

    5. hector says – reply to this


      5

      top ten

    6. NICHOLAS says – reply to this


      6

      worst

    7. barny says – reply to this


      7

      haha knew it

    8. ijsi says – reply to this


      8

      wtf, he's gay? oh :)

    9. Robin says – reply to this


      9

      possible first!

    10. Michelle says – reply to this


      10

      FIRST!

    11. Lola says – reply to this


      11

      first

    12. noneurbuziness says – reply to this


      12

      FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    13. mary kate says – reply to this


      13

      FIRST BITCHES!

    14. zooeli says – reply to this


      14

      is anyone really surprised by this….really?

    15. noneurbuziness says – reply to this


      15

      FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    16. holly says – reply to this


      16

      haw haw

    17. Carmen says – reply to this


      17

      30th?

    18. john says – reply to this


      18

      Michael Stipe is the opposite of what Perez is, a gay who's respected and succesful. Perez is gay but in general hated and despised, so single that you can even wonder if a masturbation-only gay has the right to call himself gay.

    19. meredith says – reply to this


      19

      interesting.
      why are the comments being deleted??

    20. biq says – reply to this


      20

      first? :P

    21. Dr. H says – reply to this


      21

      I think it is a good thing that he has elected to be more straightforward about his sexuality. He will help a lot of confused kids realize that being gay is not a stigma. Good for him.

    22. beeee says – reply to this


      22

      i love them!

    23. Everybody Hurtz says – reply to this


      23

      YES for a southern college band it probably did suck for Stipe!

    24. laura says – reply to this


      24

      good for him :D

    25. Spaniard Guy says – reply to this


      25

      FIRST! :)

    26. cambel says – reply to this


      26

      Oh Please, that coward used to say that he THOUGHT he was bisexual. What a tool.

    27. yuckie says – reply to this


      27

      yayyyy

    28. Erin says – reply to this


      28

      Who cares!!!!

    29. T Town Tommy says – reply to this


      29

      I dont care if he bends Rush Limbaugh over his couch in his own home. REM will never fail to disappoint

    30. Mona says – reply to this


      30

      Perez,
      For all of your amazing qualities you seem to have a problem with age. You constantly harp on about ageism. When you get older, it will probably be really hard on you. All I can say is that it, (growing older), happens to everyone and IS a part of life. Please do yourself a favor Perez and stop being so ageist! Why don't you try bolstering those people; artists, musicians, actors who are getting older and praise them for their longevity instead of deprecating them for their age. Not cool, Perez, not cool!

    31. Missouri2 says – reply to this


      31

      Well said, Mona! Jeez Mario. Lurves ya ass, but don't be mean.

    32. Reality says – reply to this


      32

      Homo says what?

    33. THEY LOOK GREAT says – reply to this


      33

      ESPECIALLY
      MICHAEL
      STIPE…
      (REALLY)…
      .
      .
      .
      .
      .
      ..
      …
      ….
      …..

    34. spontaneous combustion**.*.* says – reply to this


      34

      Re: Mona – YEAH

    35. LISA says – reply to this


      35

      …………………..Re: Mona – ………………………
      .
      .
      .
      .UH HUH

    36. Youre gay says – reply to this


      36

      Mike Stipe needing to "come out" is about as necesary as Clay Aiken needing to as well.

      Whats next Ryan Seacrest is going to admit he is gay too?

      NO KIDDING

    37. themilliondollarprofle says – reply to this


      37

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      themilliondollarprofile*com IS GIVING AWAY 1,000,000 DOLLARS! LOG ONTO themilliondollarprofile*com AND REGISTER IF YOU WANT TO WIN!!!!!! ITS FREE AND EASY SO DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!!!!!
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    38. elkie says – reply to this


      38

      If you've heard one REM song, you've heard them all.

    39. Jen says – reply to this


      39

      Yay! Michael Stipe ROCKS! (and so does REM). :D

    40. Matty says – reply to this


      40

      REM is one of the best bands ever…Losing my religion is an awesome song, but can anyone tell me what they are talking about in that song? lol….and i laughed when he said 'and of course people i was sleeping with knew i was gay'…obviously! lol..but Go Michael Stipe, your an awesome artist!

    41. CCP says – reply to this


      41

      I have been an R.E.M. fan for many, many years and I'm so excited about a new album! I must say, I'm sad to finally hear those words from Michael Stipe. I've always had a little crush :)

    42. me says – reply to this


      42

      I knew this for years. When I was in college we took a road trip to Athens, Ga. Late 80's and there was some drama about his girl friend finding out. It was before they really got big and we met them. Cool times.

    43. lou-lou says – reply to this


      43

      great freakin' band!! great freakin' picture too!!

    44. kendra kinsey says – reply to this


      44

      Wow didn't know he was gay. There were signs of course, but I didn't know. Too bad people are too afraid of these things that they feel the need to hide them.

    45. Veronica says – reply to this


      45

      Great band, and good people, no matter what Michael's sexuality is.
      I hope it helps other kids to know that they are important and they matter in this world

    46. Shelly says – reply to this


      46

      I love Michael and I love the band. I'd go straight or gay for him any day of the week! Can't hear the new album.

    47. Gaycause says – reply to this


      47

      No, he's straight.

    48. tr says – reply to this


      48

      yheah so i saw rem at langerado last weeks
      suckerrrsss

    49. cutie says – reply to this


      49

      I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    50. Who didn't know! suprise, NOT says – reply to this


      50

      What blind person on the planet didn't know???? they all look awful too.

    51. xxx says – reply to this


      51

      One of the most talented groups ever. Love their work.

    52. enak says – reply to this


      52

      I lived in athens for years and you would always see him around town with a teenage boy

    53. lynnf says – reply to this


      53

      Love, love LOVE REM!!!!

      I'll never tire of them. Can't wait for the next tour!

    54. Kay says – reply to this


      54

      I spy Panic at the disco :D

    55. jomamma says – reply to this


      55

      like duh. we always knew that his aids patient look was a slight giveaway.

    56. GAY MUCH? says – reply to this


      56

      It WAS SOOOOOOO obvious! My gaydar went off the charts whenever that dude was on tv!

    57. Teresa says – reply to this


      57

      Anybody who lived in Athens, Georgia, in the 80s & 90s knows Michael Stipe is not just gay, but an absolute flaming, promiscuous queen! EVERY gay man in Athens during that period of time who wasn't severely deformed slept with Michael Stipe! I knew this guy who was dating Stipe during the "Green" tour….Stipe flew him all over the world to see him on weekends. I used to see Stipe at this bar called The Globe just about every time I went there. He was a pompous ass. But, if you walked around the corner to another bar called the Georgia Bar, you would see the other three guys (Peter Buck, Bill Berry & Mike Mills) and they were the nicest, most normal guys you would ever meet. And from what I understand, they still are. I have also *heard* through the rumor mill that Stipe is HIV+. But I haven't heard anything official yet. I hope it's not true. I mean, the guy may be a prick, but he doesn't deserve that…nor do the hundreds of men he has slept with, either!

    58. Looks Like to Me! says – reply to this


      58

      Re: jomamma – Then that MUST mean your mother's a WHORE!

    59. Malinda says – reply to this


      59

      OMG- I thought the guy on the left was Clay Aiken!

    60. Jon says – reply to this


      60

      Stipe is 100% irrelevant. When he was famous he could have come out—but No!–he Stayed in The Fucking Closet with the rest of the Hollywood phonies. Michael, go away.
      P.S. We all knew when we heard you and Natalie Merchant rode on your own little bus together on tour. yuck! You Should Have Stood Up For Gay People When You Had The Chance. NOT NOW when you are nobody!!!
      And when the hell was SPIN relevant?? In the last century???

    61. j BLANK of FLATPOINT says – reply to this


      61

      duh…? didn't he come out like 10 years ago? now that they have a new record coming out he has to come out? WHY NOT 25 YEARS AGO WHEN PEOPLE WERE LISTENING? and of course he has to mention he was bi .REMEMBER WHEN ELTON WAS BI? HA.

    62. 4SKNFN says – reply to this


      62

      wow think of all the 50 year old sexually confused closet queens he'll be helping now.thanks mike

    63. Cecily says – reply to this


      63

      Its always been obvious that Michael is gay or bi altleast. So for anyone to bitch over the fact that he hasnt spelled it out is just idiotic. I`m straight and I havent spelled it out for anyone. I don`t have to come out as straight. So why the hell do gay people have to anounce, to an ignorant audience what their prefrence is? Gay/straight who cares!? Who he sleeps with is his bussiness. He doesnt have to be a activist. He doesnt represent the entire gay community, nor should he have to. As long as he is true to himself and those around him, the rest of us should STFU!
      I applaud the people who come out and make a statement. But I it shouldnt be a must. I think being gay is normal, therefore its not something that has to be made a big deal about.

    64. jimmyjazz says – reply to this


      64

      GAY? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. ANOTHER REASON TO LIKE THEM

    65. Darnell says – reply to this


      65

      Didn't even know he was gay. I'm not gay but Stipe is an interesting creature. If I were gay, I'd probably find him attractive.

    66. rita says – reply to this


      66

      greatest band ever!
      by the way, this isn't michael officially coming out, kids. hasn't he been candid about his sexuality for the last few decades? also, i'm pretty sure he doesn't like to be labeled as gay, straight, or bisexual. he has dated both men and women (but does prefer men).

    67. GEEZ LOUISE says – reply to this


      67

      Re: jimmyjazz – BABY! I KNOW I'M AN "OLDER" WOMAN BUT MIKEY'S BEEN OUT (AT LEAST PEEKING OUT) FOR YEARS! MY BROTHER WAS LICKING THE TV SCREEN WHEN R.E.M. HIT MTV IN THE 80'S! MAJOR TEEN CRUSH! NOT TO MENTION MANY, MANY OTHER INFLUENTIAL GROUPS THINK THEY'RE THE GREATEST BAND EVER. AHHHHHHHHH THE KNOWLEDGE OF AGE!

    68. mealuvstipe says – reply to this


      68

      I love Michael Stipe, gay or not. I am 80's gal and he was the coolest thing to come to college rock radio. If you are reading this, Michael, just know I adore you.

    69. Cracka says – reply to this


      69

      I knew he was gay after their first song…..

      does it matter that he smokes pole? no….

      The band makes good music…..

    70. fried chicken says – reply to this


      70

      I fuckin' loved "7 Chinese Brothers"! Does he think it was mundane or something? It's still very real, and great to croon along to. Now I know who the sweet short-haired boy and girl in the song were, and why he felt pain for them. It's from the Reckoning album, which also contained their first breakout hit," So.Central Rain(I'm Sorry)", another gorgeous tune. It's some of my favvorite REM stuff. Don't let him say it didn't work! From an early 80's fan from the South, please don't say you're not that kind of writer. Maybe not now, but then, there was no one better.

    71. jaydawg says – reply to this


      71

      Athens, GA, is not your typical little southern town. I lived
      there during the early 80's (probably saw REM, 100 times).
      I am sure Michael was very happy there.

    72. meg says – reply to this


      72

      R.E.M. = Rear Entry Men

    73. Athenslocal says – reply to this


      73

      Re: Teresa – You are wrong on so many levels. You know nothing

    74. 9-9 says – reply to this


      74

      FUCK YEAH, R.E.M.

    75. geeze wtf!! says – reply to this


      75

      what's with you, perez? you're always talking smack on artists that KNOW how to make music. instead u listen to ppl like RISKAY. seriously, clean yur ears. listen to R.E.M and RADIOHEAD [remember them? how u dissed them in a another blog]

    76. kitteh says – reply to this


      76

      YAAAYY r.e.m!!
      Nice.

    77. art says – reply to this


      77

      Why is it every fucking article that gets written about R.E.M. makes a big issue out of Stipe being gay. It's 2008 people! Why couldn't this have been about how great the new music is? It's an awesome release and they have been busting ass to put it together. They have given free shows like mad, performed at small venues and going out of their way to give people great music to listen to. R.E.M. will always be number one in my book, no matter who they're fucking! That point is moot! Peter Buck got a divorce last year, Mike is successfully raising his kid, and Bill Berry has a child now. There! You know all you need to know about their personal lives. Go buy the new release and just be happy that there's decent music to listen to without any cursing, dissing or hating bullshit on it!
      Shiny? Happy?
      You betcha!!!

    78. jenbunny says – reply to this


      78

      come on, everyone's known for 15 or 20 years that stipe is a big honking gaylord who's never apologized about it. years ago, he was on charlie rose and said what he really is in terms of his sexuality is a selfish control freak who's unable to have a meaningful relationship with anyone. he also said that that he wouldn't have spoken publicly if it hadn't been for his friendships with kurt cobain and courtney love. i like him, his mates, and their music to the extreme. oh yeah, and he's gaunt because he's a serious no-meat guy. hey michael, try the chicken salad!

    79. Kdog says – reply to this


      79

      Michael first came out in the press over ten years ago (and several other times since then). He's never hidden in the closet. He's awesome. This article is not him "finally" coming out. It's a reflection on how that old expereince was for him.

      Can only assume that people who didn't already know this weren't alive or literate in the 90's. Or are just plain stupid.

    80. Ura Cuntsucker says – reply to this


      80

      Re: meg –
      MEG=MIND EMPTY GIRL

    81. alex says – reply to this


      81

      All those times in Athens when used to see Stipe and Brad Pitt together, does it mean Brad will need to come out as well.

    82. UGADawgs says – reply to this


      82

      I wonder if they'll do a comeback show in Athens, I'd go. Although I'd be more excited if Dayroom did a comeback show at the GA Theatre!!

    83. diva says – reply to this


      83

      awsome, iv really missed these guys..

    84. Ddiggitydave says – reply to this


      84

      Way to go Stipey! Now I KNOW you were singing all those beautiful lyrics for me, after all…Now I am going to blast "Life's Rich Pageant" and shake my ass proudly for being a fellow gay man…fuck you, small minded haters!!!