Lance Bass, the former 'N Sync heartthrob, reveals that he is gay, in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE.

"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," says Bass, referring to bandmates Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake.

"I didn’t know: Could that be the end of ’N Sync? So I had that weight on me of like, ‘Wow, if I ever let anyone know, it's bad.' So I just never did," he says speaking about his sexual orientation for the first time with PEOPLE.

"The thing is, I’m not ashamed – that’s the one thing I want to say," he explains of his decision to come out. "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."

TMZ captured these videos of Lance with his boyfriend Reichen Lehmkuhl walking in a New York park together before the paparazzi cameras could get any more.

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Wow… who woulda thunkit?

He & Anderson Cooper (if the rumors are true) would make the cutest couple, aaaaawe!

I’m proud of him for having the courage to finally come out, but really, this has been common knowledge for quite some time.  Even way back when they were first getting started, everyone knew Lance was the gay one.  Nobody has a problem with it (nobody that I knew of, anyway).

im not surprised..it’s too obvious

I wonder how his family feels about it?  IIRC, he’s from the South, and a devout Southern Baptist family.  I hope they are taking this well.

He always seemed like a nice guy from what I’ve seen in interviews and stuff… a bit silly and flamboyant, but otherwise pretty cool.  He has one room of his mansion decorated in Dr. Seuss (read this in a decorating magazine - a “celebrity” issue).  If this wasn’t a tip-off, I don’t know what else would have done the trick.

ok - so when are the other members of N’Sync coming out???  JC - it’s your turn now!!!

WOW!! I didn’t think he was!That’s cool as long as he’s happy, and it probably sucked because he was hiding it for sooo long.Wish him the best!

That is one of the biggest “DUH!” confessions of all time.

Good for you, Lance! I’m proud of your courage for coming out and I hope that you have a long and beautiful life.

I knew it

Of course he is. How could he not be.

yeah its kinda obvious, but his boyfriend is kinda hot.

i didnt know he was gay

Never saw that one coming… yeah, right.

Well…DUH !

Lol i liked how him and bf was walking together but had that girl put her arms around him…so much for not being ashamed.

So sad that anyone would feel that they have to keep being gay secret….good for Lance (even though I think he’s really lame)

One question?? Who F***KING CARES???

Sorry…......put one too many *!!

I had no idea.  I always thought he was the cutest one of the bunch though.

Agent Hollywood…I think that was BEFORE he made the announcement and they were still trying to hide it. Now I’m sure they wouldn’t do that.

Good for him!  I’m glad he had the courage to come out.  That’s one hot gay couple!

Yea he could of come out a loong time ago, everybody already knew he was. No suprise there.

What a freakin shocker!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lance was paying to be shot into space last year, wasn’t he, in Russia? 

I do admire anyone who comes out admitting their sexual preferences..especially those in the entertainment field with careers at stake.  It actually seems so silly that being gay or lesbian could ruin someone’s career, but unfortunately, it still does.

Oh really, I figured they were all gay. Except Justin, I wasn’t sure. I hope the day comes when they can just come out—quit being on the downlow and screwing over woman with their mess. We should all be free to be who we are without societial criticism.

I thought the entire NSYNCH group was.  I think the beard-era should just end.

Well, I kind of saw this coming, can’t say that I’m surprised. I knew that he had tendencies especially when he was caught in a gay bar. But, whatever floats his boat. I agree with dillpickles, JC, it’s your turn next

Oh come on! He’s so late with his big announcement! We already knew.

“the end of n’synch?”

um, i think they ended about 4 years ago! little late to be worrying about that.

anywho, go one with your faggy self and have some putt pirate fun, lance. the fact that a member of a boy band is gay is sooooo not shocking.

I couldn’t agree more Gambitgirl, “the end of n’synch?”...yeesh!

I always figured him for gay, although my boyfriend said “i just thought he was funny- looking.” Glad he felt it was right for him to finally come out!

He is a dead ringer for Ellen DeGeneres if she decides to get a sex change

And he thought no one had figured this out already?  May be gay but he’s stupid.

Justin looks the gayest in that publicity poster.

the cute ones are always gay, although he looked a little too perfect

He was pretty much outed by the bloggers Pink and Perez. Couple’a a$$holes if you ask me. Why two gay men would ruthlessly out a gay man is beyond me.
Lance handled it very gracefully.

Oh my Godddddd!! there’s no way this is true!!...Seriously, who didn’t see this coming?

What a little fuckin fag he is. Did anyone else read that article in People? It was so gay! All he could talk about was his faggotness and how fucking gay he is. What a fag. Was anyone seriously surprised? The only surprise for me was that he came out by himself and that the other homos from N’Suck didn’t bring their queer asses out of the closet too. I have never seen such a gayer group of flamers in my life. Bass is the gayest—for now, but mark my words, his little faggot friends will come out or will be brought out. Fucking fags.

Yah he always looked gay!!! lmao!

LOL @ dillpickles !

Somebody needs to murder this guy…

I used to really respect Nsync’s catchy melodic pop hooks and innovative dance moves but now every time I see an Nsync video i just get sick to my stomach and puke everywhere.

Lance Bass is no better of a person than Hitler, in fact I think he is much worse. Thats just how I feel.

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