Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Luke 5 Dec 1999 at 17:25 GMT

Steo has just been voted Hero of the Year at the Smash Hits Awards. I say well done-- you deserve it matey.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 5 Dec 1999 at 17:30 GMT

Oh, Please!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Daniel 5 Dec 1999 at 17:50 GMT

I agree with Luke. If anyone's livlihood was likely to be put at risk by their coming out it was the member of a boyband. He's a brave guy and although a unlikely role model I admire and look to him. Have a good Y2K Stephen.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 5 Dec 1999 at 19:10 GMT

hero 's a bit over the top.. - but as well as this months's Attitude there was a supportive article in the Sat. Guardian magazine worth a read - presumbably his solo cd is out soon ?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Rentboylondon 5 Dec 1999 at 19:10 GMT

I am Proud of him, I wish I could tell my work mates that I am gay and that renting is what I do in my spare Time. Good on ya Steve, I Love you.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Roger M. 5 Dec 1999 at 19:30 GMT

Yes, and God bless him! Now if only some of the guys in boy bands on THIS side of the Atlantic would come out (esp. 98 Degrees), then we'd REALLY have something!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 5 Dec 1999 at 19:35 GMT

Oh! now PRETTY PLEASE does it really matter Mike J help stop this thing....

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
SG fan 5 Dec 1999 at 19:40 GMT

AP - your should remember how difficult it is for some us to come out to our parents let alone the whole world and you should respect him for this - it takes a lot of courage even if the media gave him little option.
Who's you hero then ?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Pluto 5 Dec 1999 at 19:45 GMT

This is all rubbish. Senator George Mitchell deserves to be the Hero of the Year. Anyone who can bring peace to Northern Ireland deserves not just the Smash Hits award but a Nobel Prize as well. Now Stephen Gately hardly deserves the Nobel Prize, does he?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 5 Dec 1999 at 19:50 GMT

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
SG fan 5 Dec 1999 at 19:50 GMT

Let's put this into perspective ...
The Smash Hit Awards are hardly a worldwide all age encompassing arena - most of the voters are most probably still younger than 20 and think as such and we are talking about Smash Hits and not the Nobel Prize.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul M 5 Dec 1999 at 20:15 GMT

Did he jump or was he pushed!!! Mirror group was going to run the story anyway, Thats why he came out to the Scum, So he was landed with it, he had already come out to the rest of the band and his family. So hero I think not. I may be wrong, but hero of the year is a new award... I wonder why?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Carlos 5 Dec 1999 at 20:15 GMT

SG Fan....at last someone who has put this back into perspective ! To the others that think this is on a comparison with the Nobel Prize (Yeah right !) :
Yes this is Smash Hits, not the members of a G8 conference or world leader summit.
Yes most of the people that voted in this category are probably pre-pubescent teenagers (They even had a best haircut award for God's sake !)
Yes Stephen Gateley was co-erced into coming out which could have seriously damaged his career and personal life.
Instead the readers of the Smash Hits magazine have voted him as their Hero of the Year. A lot could be learnt from these voters. He put a lot on the line, and he fully deserves the award ! Well done Steve !!!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 5 Dec 1999 at 20:15 GMT

Yeah - most of the voters don't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to music, fashion, haircuts or humour (they voted H from Steps the funniest pop star this year, for god's sakes) how can you expect the little blighters to understand what real heroism is?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul M 5 Dec 1999 at 20:20 GMT

Was that funny ha ha, or funny as in odd?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
john 5 Dec 1999 at 20:20 GMT

Stephen is smartly presented, appears to be an all round well balanced person, I'd say a positive role model.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Ro 5 Dec 1999 at 20:35 GMT

In fairness Bee is right about the Smash Hits voters and what Senator George Mitchell achieved in Northern Ireland is on a different scale but he is one of Irelands first openly gay males. Ireland can still be a homophobic environment and is still very church oriented. Now for the first time young Irish gay guys and girls can see that Stephen is a successful artist (although not to everyones taste) who just happens to be gay and not suffering for it. So I say to Stephen 'thanks' and good luck in the future. You are my hero.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 5 Dec 1999 at 20:40 GMT

But john, who's to say that being smartly presented and 'an all round well balanced person' (which I personally don't think he is, I mean he 'sings' with Boyzone, after all) makes for a positive role model? I spent my entire pubescence with James Hetfield, Axl Rose and Slash influencing me, and I turned out alright!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 5 Dec 1999 at 21:25 GMT

STOP !!!!!!!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Gary 5 Dec 1999 at 22:30 GMT

Stephen- did you ever know that youre my hero- yes you are the wind beneath my wings! Soppy I know but when I was near suicidal last June after been thrown out by my parents and rejected by one of my best friends, you gave me a reason to carry on . Also the related media exposure was a factor in the the reconciliation (of sorts) that I had with my parents. I love you mate !

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
apo 5 Dec 1999 at 22:30 GMT

dont stop yet--fact is everybody knew or guessed kindly that SG was queer, it was blatently obvious. But even more obvious was that his 'outing' was a bit of planned corporate publicity to move solo career(s)...shrewd corporate imaging. Forget the hero stuff---this was and I guess still is just a commercial.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Billynomates 5 Dec 1999 at 23:00 GMT

Are people not 4getting 1 thing here...... Smash Hits readers - ie. very young have as their hero a gay man - surely those who have suffered at the hands of Homophobia at school etc in the past (1 or 2 write in this very room) could only see it as positive... young people understanding someone is gay and not a monster or freak, but brave..... no 1 finks it'll change the world, but the next generation look 2 be that little bit more free-minded, in the same way ours took a great step from that of our parents. Stephen Gately pushed or jmped is actually not the point in my opinion it is the fact that gay is ok to a whole new generation. Everyon 4gets his equally young ex boyband bf who really had no choice, but he's a top looking geezer and to drop the seriousness of this... I'd love to....... well I doubt whether anything chancges dramatically, but I see it as cool, and I can't wait for the Hello! spread just so I can droul over the other half.......... Smacks on the lips, Breezerboy.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Mike J 5 Dec 1999 at 23:20 GMT

Sorry Anonymous Person, I didn't look at this thread until too late. I suppose because I had no idea who SG was/is.
Of course George Mitchell is the real hero of the year for his achievements in NI - and how nice that at the end of his efforts he has had the assistance of a gay S os S for NI
I also see the point about Kids having a gay hero but I doubt whether the Kids who voted for him either knew or even cared hwether he was gay or not, so he is not a gay hero or icon. He ius merely a teeny-bopper hero who happens to be gay.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 5 Dec 1999 at 23:20 GMT

I realise that he was brave to talk so honestly about it, and it'll help a lot of kids, and break down homophobic barriers, but I still don't consider him to be a hero.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
apo 5 Dec 1999 at 23:40 GMT

MJ--SG is probably a little long of tooth to be called a teeny bopper. He is a young fellow promoting his future on the fact that he is gay. Go for it, but he ain't no hero and neither was GM just because he was caught in the shitter by a cop though he should get a medal of some sort for in turn promoting his career ahead as gay which is probably where SG got the idea. Anyway this is corporate stuff.
I think hero of the year should be Monica Lewinsky, she at least didn't know what she was doing.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Mike J 5 Dec 1999 at 23:55 GMT

apo, perhaps due to the lateness of the hour and my overwhelming need for beauty sleep, I must havee been very obscure. My hero was Sen. George Mitchell of inter alia Northern Ireland fame. I was not aware that he had been caught in the shitter, but its an interesting thought! :-)
As for Sg, its his supporters I referred to as teeny boppers, not SG enen though at my great age he does seem young!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
apo 6 Dec 1999 at 00:05 GMT

LOL and choking on fruit cake (again)

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Mike J 6 Dec 1999 at 00:10 GMT

Fruit cake apo? Can I have some please!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 6 Dec 1999 at 00:15 GMT

*holding out hand*.....can I have a bit apo? Oh go on, please......

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
h 6 Dec 1999 at 00:20 GMT

Why, hi Bee. wouldn't mind a slice myself!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 6 Dec 1999 at 00:20 GMT

Hello there h, how are you this evening?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Billynomates 6 Dec 1999 at 00:40 GMT

Maybe it's becoz I'm a Londoner that I like ............... ohhhh this is becoming an old vs yung fred aint it? - let the patronising begin again? ...... No! ....... It's luv all day regardless of wrinkles winkles etc......... just a fort b4 I get into my bath and pop too bed with my snuggle pillow........... when i was sad i was very very sad, when I down I was very very down, when I was low I was very very low, when i was blue I was very very blue, when I was red I was............. absolutely out of my tree..... Stephen had so much too loose and no choice - I personally fink that is the crime! others may disagree - but without a solo career established I wold say he had a hell of a lot to loose and cheap publicity stunt it aint - George Michael - sad v. sad is my opinion... I will return 2mmorow all normal again, spewing angry thoughts and sarcasm - this feeling can't last.......... but I've always had a soft spot for Ste... yes H , I will confess....... ! ****! ** ** ****! **! you! (EDITED BY THE BREEZER GEEZ ASSOCIATION) ...... love and plenty of tugs 2night.... Breezerboy

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
h 6 Dec 1999 at 00:40 GMT

knackered! knocking off soon! How's you?

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 6 Dec 1999 at 00:50 GMT

tired and about to hit the sack, so ditto.......confused about job, tesco's are trying to muddle me, phone calls to make tomorrow.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
h 6 Dec 1999 at 00:55 GMT

hope it's ok bee, sounds like management there needs aboot up the ass!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 6 Dec 1999 at 01:00 GMT

Yes, they do, will sort it tomorrow.....maybe should have applied for a managerial pos....all the managers there seem to have their heads in the clouds......duh!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Gary S. 6 Dec 1999 at 11:25 GMT

Stephen is a hero in his own quiet way - we love and respect you Stephen.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Andy 6 Dec 1999 at 11:55 GMT

Stephen Gately? A hero? (sniggers to self) Okay, andom points, not ina ny particular order:
1) H is funny, but not so much a case of laughing *with*, as laughing *at*...
2) How can you call Stephen a hero? He didn't want to come out (and Im not saying that he should have wanted to come out), he was forced to by blackmail basically. He would have merrily continued in private if not for the actions of a 'friend'.
3) I think I'm the only person who didn't think it obvious that Stephen was gay. Do I need to get a new gay-dar from the shops?
4) Do you have any choccie cake pwease? : )

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 6 Dec 1999 at 13:45 GMT

But Gary loads of people are heroes in their own quiet way.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Gary S. 6 Dec 1999 at 14:05 GMT

At last Bee we are getting somewhere. Loads of people are heroes in their own quiet way and Stephen is JUST ONE of those people who stands out at the end of 1999.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Ryan_H 6 Dec 1999 at 14:15 GMT

Only coz he's famous. *humming M-people's 'Search For The Hero*

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
apo 6 Dec 1999 at 14:20 GMT

Ryan, now we know what a hummer is---see 'Do you want to be the first' Thread. Just to borrow the pun---here I thought he was the 'Backup Singer' to that song.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Tigger 6 Dec 1999 at 16:25 GMT

OK, since it's the season of goodwill I will reveal that 'Pluto' was me, and I introduced Senator George Mitchell into the discussion just to confuse the issue and see what would happen. Senator GM is of course a great hero and statesman, but we're talking about popular culture here and I too am happy to give the palm to Stephen Gately (whether he was forced or not) -- a palm shared equally with anyone else who has gone through the trauma of coming out in 1999. Respect!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 6 Dec 1999 at 16:55 GMT

Tigger-Why the interest in Irish politics? Are you Irish yourself if not your interest as an English person is welcomed.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
A Peoud Steo fan 7 Dec 1999 at 06:05 GMT

Okay, first of all I don't think it really matters a great deal whether Steo was forced to come out or he chose to do so. The fact is that he faced the music and put up a brave front. It must have been a real hard time for him. But he braved through. He never apologized for what he is and was accepted. We, his fans, and even those who aren't, respect him for that and he fully deserves the award. And in doing so he helped a lot of people, atleast quite a lot of his fans, to come out, if not to the world than atleast to their fellow fan-friends. People, can't you just admire a person for what he went through and give him his dues without making it a political issue, which it isn't.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Ryan 7 Dec 1999 at 09:20 GMT

Hmph.
All this coming out lark is a load of crap. If he was truly honest and 'brave' he would never have hidden the fact that he was.
If i was famous i wouldnt hide and pretend i fancied girls. What image does THAT sent out to everyone?
'Hmm, Stephan is gay but he didnt want to admit it he only came out cos he had to'.
Not a very posetive image in my opinion.
I think he's a bit of a twat that sings in a shite band and is now lapping up all the attention he's getting. Hero my ass.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 7 Dec 1999 at 09:25 GMT

Lets face it this is the Smash hits awards, it doesn't really mean much and it was no surprise to me that he won it! As people have said the people voting for this award are likely to be below 16 yrs and if they accept Stephen that the worlds looking a little brighter for equality!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 7 Dec 1999 at 13:40 GMT

Hang on, Steven did one thing not entirely voluntarily that has made everyone go 'OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!', but he was railroaded into it, really. What else has he done this year to make him a hero? Bugger all, in fact he should be locked up for premeditated damage to the nation's hearing.....

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 7 Dec 1999 at 15:30 GMT

Now, now handbag down! O.K no-one perfect but as far as role models go he not to bad!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
chinewrde 7 Dec 1999 at 15:30 GMT

did you see the article in the grauniad? his boyfriend looked like he'd just gone 12 rounds with tyson

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 7 Dec 1999 at 15:30 GMT

But that depends on what you think a role model should be. I personally rate James Hetfield a lot higher.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 7 Dec 1999 at 15:30 GMT

Call me thick id you want Bee but WHO????

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
A proud Steo fan 7 Dec 1999 at 15:40 GMT

About Smash hits being people under 16, look at it this way, If those people are opening up their minds and begining to accept people who mightn't fit into what their parents and environment told them are *normal*, then its all for the better. Steo's coming out made a lot of people rethink about their values and by the virtue of his being this big popstar, a popstar who had always come clean and been respected for what he is, made them be that much more accepting. He certainly deserves the award. Infact, for me, him having to hide it for years just made it crystal clear how even in the 90's homosexuality is not easilt tolerated.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul M 7 Dec 1999 at 16:20 GMT

I think he is a good role model for today, he seems clean living a steady bf, and it will always help gays when anyone in the public eye comes out. But hero never.... Shakes my head sadly

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Ryan 7 Dec 1999 at 18:05 GMT

I quote my little 10 year old step sister when she saw Smash Shits (um, i mean Hits):
'Ugggghhhh, Steven is GAY! Yuk!'
At which point my dad and step mum both went *bright* red and Karoline bless her was going on about how 'There's nothing wrong with that' and trying to educate the little cunt.
Don't assume that all the kids are up in arms and loving him.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 7 Dec 1999 at 18:10 GMT

She's just jealous!!:-)

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Ryan 7 Dec 1999 at 18:30 GMT

Nah, shes a bitch... Theres a difference

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 7 Dec 1999 at 18:35 GMT

O.K., by the way nice rant in 'scene' thread.

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Bee 7 Dec 1999 at 21:15 GMT

Paul, James Hetfield is the lead singer of Metallica, and a fine upstanding man.....:o)

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Theseus 7 Dec 1999 at 21:55 GMT

Re Chinewrde's comments on Stephen's bf, Eloy - the picture was less than flattering
Try http://spaceports.com/~bzpics/eloy.html

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 7 Dec 1999 at 22:25 GMT

Get a grip! everyone in Dublin has known about Stephen for years and no-one cares, As soon as he joined Cr**zone he decided to ignore anyone else he used to know, he had been completely out, but buried all of that for a few years so that he could make some money exploiting teenagers. Ironic that the award came from Smash Hits, where our hero Stephen once said that he would never kiss a guy because that was disgusting!
So if you want him as a hero over there, you're more than welcome to him

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul 8 Dec 1999 at 09:05 GMT

Eloy look alright to me!!

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Anonymous Person 25 Dec 1999 at 14:10 GMT

dead right

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
ethel's hat 28 Dec 1999 at 03:05 GMT

Wasn't his 'coming out' just an exercise in damage minimisation? He was going to be outed anyway, so to look as though he wanted to makes it seem that little bit less sordid to the Darrens and Sharons who read those bloody awful tabloids... It's all marketing...

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
apo 29 Dec 1999 at 01:10 GMT

Dear Ethel's hat
We already did that bit go back to beginning. this thread is worn out I think

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Taz 29 Dec 1999 at 22:50 GMT

Whether he was pushed or not isn't important, nor is his hiding it for so long (although he never hid it that well) what is important is that he took a risk, his fans, the public in general...everyone could have turned against him but they didn't they supported him, anything no matter how small that makes being gay more socially acceptable is a good thing and he has done that...in fact so well that he is all but ignored in the media now. The papers know loads more about individuals than they ever reveal and although it's never good to out somebody this whole thing has gone to show that there is an option now to be a straight acting, good looking young gay man...maybe the gp will realise we're not all boy george and julian clary

Re: Stephen Gately -Hero of 1999
Paul S 29 Dec 1999 at 22:55 GMT

Well said Taz - you have put into words exactly what I feel about the situation.
Paul S