The gay thing has always been hard for me.
I married Stephen Gately off to so many people because Stephen didn't want anyone to know he was gay at the start. He was dreading all of his life that this was going to ruin his career.
Gay men can sometimes feel ashamed or chastised when the messaging is 'Be out and proud!' or 'Just come out.' It's not that easy. It certainly wasn't for me.
Dating in the closet is torture. It's one of the most difficult things, especially if you are completely closeted.
For some strange reason, my gay life didn't get easier when I came out. Quite the opposite happened, really.
I came out when I was 17 - coming out in middle or high school is one of the most difficult things that anyone could experience. I wouldn't wish it on my enemies.
I think a lot of gay kids in the midwest or in places not in New York have to overachieve in order to sort of get through the fear of what they're going through.
There are still times in my life where I pull back from being totally honest, and I can't imagine a single straight person who would understand that.
I know growing up as a young gay person how much you hate yourself, how much you already think you're different.
The hardest part about rollerblading is telling your parents you're gay.
It's hard being gay in Edwardian times.
I think it's interesting: What is the generational effect of the experience of being a gay person in America? For my generation, it was very difficult.
Being gay and coming up in New Orleans was not easy. At first I was very terrified and very timid.
I think that when you're queer, you grow up with these kinds of men who might have made you feel small because of who you are. They could be part of your family, or somebody on the street, or a teacher.
There are still parts of the country where it's hard: when you realize you're gay, it's like a death sentence.
I didn't come out for 21 years because I thought that everything I wanted to do with my life - have a family, get a great job, make a change in this world - that the moment I came out, that I would not be able to do any of those things.
People don't think the struggles gay people have are worth talking about because everyone's decided that we're all equals now. Those struggles are much more subtle now. But the weight of being different does carry on.
