Westlife's Mark Feehily Happy As Gay Role Model

Westlife singer Mark Feehily says he doesn't mind being a gay role model but worries he may say the wrong thing.
Feehily came out as gay at the end of last year, and the 25-year-old Irish singer is now dating former V band member Kevin McDaid.
"If somebody does come out that is in the public eye then they are going to represent (all homosexuals)," he said.
"I don't know that I necessarily like it too much because, knowing me, I would probably say the wrong thing.
"But in that sense all I can do is try and share what I have learnt through my experience."
Westlife arrived in Australia last week, their first trip since 1999, to promote their latest album Face to Face.
The group - Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filan - has had 13 number one singles in the United Kingdom, with songs such as You Raise Me Up, Flying Without Wings, Against All Odds, and Unbreakable.
Despite being in a boy band with the majority of fans being women and young girls, Feehily said there had been no negative reaction to his coming out.
"I am so much happier now and I think our fans can see that," he said.
"Through the years of getting to the point where I wanted to come out, I had to go through every kind of emotion, but I can honestly say that the day before I came out, I didn't care what the reaction was going to be.
"That was the hardest point to get to."
Feehily said he did not intend on getting married any time soon but was happy to know he could in the UK with the recent introduction of the country's Civil Partnership Act.
"I think it is fantastic that gay people can now get the same benefits as a straight couple," said Feehily, whose partner is travelling with him in Australia.
"It is not something I am looking into at the moment."
Meanwhile, Nicky Byrne said the band was still friendly with ex-Westlife member Brian McFadden, who is dating Australia's Delta Goodrem.
This month marks the two year anniversary since McFadden left the group to pursue a solo career.
"With no disrespect to him (McFadden), we kind of got rid of the person who didn't want to be part of it," said Byrne.
"Brian was always the person who never really wanted to put the real workload into it and that was always going to be a problem."
from National Nine News