Quelle Surprise!

It may or may not surprise you that Lance Bass finally came out and said he is gay for Reichen from the Amazing Race. Here is the article (thanks to Jenni for passing it on);

NEW YORK (AP) — Lance Bass, band member of 'N Sync, says he's gay and in a "very stable" relationship with a reality show star.

Bass, who formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, tells People magazine that he didn't earlier disclose his sexuality because he didn't want to affect the group's popularity.

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said (that I was gay), it would overpower everything," he tells the magazine.

'N Sync is known for a string of hits including 'Bye Bye Bye' and 'It's Gonna Be Me'. The band went on hiatus in 2002. Bass has also found headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space.

Bass says he wondered if his coming out could prompt "the end of 'N Sync." He explains, "So I had that weight on me of like, `Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did." The singer says he's in a "very stable" relationship with 32-year-old actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, winner of season 4 of CBS's Amazing Race.

Bass and Fatone, 29, are developing a sitcom pilot inspired by the screwball comedy The Odd Couple, in which his character will be gay.

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed," Bass says. "I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."

Well it's about freakin' time! We all knew he was a big power bottom — he's not foolin' nobody! Now's the chance for all those other B-list minor celebs to revive their waning careers with gay book deals and inspirational speaking tours à la Mark Tewksbury. Hello, James Van Der Beek, Jake Gyllenhaal, are you listening!?