BOYZONE IS BREAKING NEW GROUND

Irish boy band Boyzone has become the first boy band to feature a gay couple in their new music video ‘Better’.
After reforming for a UK tour back in November last year, Boyzone have been looking to try something new and gain a new generation of fans. In their latest romantic video, each member is shown paired up with a female partner as part of the storyline. All apart from Stephen Gately, who became open about his sexuality in 1999 and is currently in a civil partnership, who is paired with a (fictional) male character.
Not only is this new video a big break through in changing societies attitudes towards different sexualities it was also almost unheard of before for a boy band. Previously any inclination that a teen idol was gay could potential see the end of their career but this is a clear sign that views are changing.
Previous gay stars such as George Michael were seen onscreen with women and made it very convincing that they were straight. Singers such as Elton John and Westlife’s Mark Feehily get around the issue by not showing themselves in romantic situations.
Gately told BBC Newsbeat “it’s just me being me and I don’t think there should be a real big issue about the whole thing anyway”.
They originally decided on their own partners being in the video but none would appear. The decision to include a gay couple in the video was a joint decision from the whole band.
He added “I’m hoping this video will have a good, positive, all-round reaction”.
The video is expected to attract controversy but it has also pleased many including gay student Adam, 18, who believes “this will show homosexual people who are worried about expressing their sexuality not to be afraid”.
In the 1990’s, ‘Bring Boring’ by the Pet Shop Boys very briefly featured two men kissing at a house party and this has been the only other time a boy band has shown a gay couple. Openly bisexual singer Christina Aguilera also featured a gay couple kissing in her video ‘Beautiful’ and also infamously kissed Madonna and Britney Spears onstage a few years ago.