AfterElton Interivew: Lance Bass talks about being outed...

There is a new interview posted on AfterElton.com with Lance Bass. He talks about his "Dancing With the Stars" gig and dating life. But what I found most interesting was the part where editor Michael Jensen asks him about his very public coming out two years ago when he was more than nudged out by a gay blogger.

Here is the excerpt:

AE: Now that two years have passed since you officially came out, what are your thoughts about Perez Hilton and how those events transpired?
LB: I don't think anyone wants their public life exploited like that at such a time. I think it's very hard, especially on the subject of being gay. Everyone needs their own time to accept it, figure it out and to reveal it. So being forced out I think is an awful thing to do. I think it scares more people to stay in the closet than help come out.

I think it is, especially with people like Perez, kind of just entertaining. It's such a big thing and it's popular for a reason ... because people like to hear the crazy stuff. And even if it's not true, it makes you feel a little better about your life. But I think, as a gay man, Perez needs to take responsibility and be a little nicer about the subject of outing people.

AE: Would you have come out on your own?
LB: Oh, definitely. I mean I was already out to me and my friends. I was living my life the way I wanted to. I had a relationship. My friends knew. My inner circle knew. It was just something that we didn't think was such a big deal and I was living a nice, normal private life, but then when someone throws you into the public eye, that's when things get a little crazy and then you start having to either defend yourself or accept things. I always think it's so crazy that you have to confirm that your straight or gay.