Michael Stipe officially declares he is gay

R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has finally admitted what most of the music world already knew: he is gay.

The lyricist and singer with REM, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1980s and 90s, has been notoriously vague over the years about his sexuality but said he finally realized he could help other homosexuals by coming out.

Using conservative magazine Time as an unlikely platform, Stipe yesterday declared his sexual preference almost as an aside, buried in a lengthy interview.  His decision to “out” himself formally was welcomed by gay campaigners last night, while the music world waited to see whether his admission would affect sales of the band’s latest album (not likely), appropriately called Reveal, which was released yesterday.

Departing from his oft-delivered reply “I’m an equal opportunities lech” and saying simply that he has been in a relationship with “an amazing man” for three years, the 41-year-old singer explained: “I was being made to be a coward about it, rather than someone who felt like it really was a very private thing.”

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

Stipe’s homosexuality has been common knowledge among those who knew him. He has long denied rumors of a relationship with Morrissey, admits that his confusion over his sexuality has made it into his songs.

“The song ’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,” he says. “But I was young and stupid.”

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