Australian pop star comes out
Australian pop-music star Anthony Callea, 24, came out in newspaper interviews and on his Web site March 27.
Callea's No. 1 hit The Prayer is the biggest-selling single in Australian chart history.
'Yes, I am gay,' Callea wrote on his Web site. 'But I want it clear that I am proud, happy, comfortable and confident in who I am. And I have no issue with my sexuality.
'Things now feel right for me to share this part of my life. I am content. I have been in a long-term relationship with my partner, Paul, who has been by my side for the past two and a half years. Together we have the love and support of our family, friends and peers.'
In a 2004 interview, Callea had denied being gay.
'I know some people may feel deceived or betrayed,' he said. 'I hope you can find it within to understand that 'coming out' can be a very troubling, confusing, and emotional time. ... For some, 'coming out' isn't a big issue. For me it was. ... I hated myself. ... I thought there was something wrong with me and I couldn't escape it or fix it. ... I lied, and for that, I'm sorry.'
'I have no issue with my sexuality now but it's taken time to become confident with who I am and happy with who I am,' Callea told local media. 'I'm looking forward to living a life with no holds barred and not worrying about having to say the right thing.'
Gay's The Word may close
The United Kingdom's last gay bookshop may close because of London's very high rents and loss of sales to the Internet.
Gay's The Word is hoping to ward off disaster by raising $40,000 before May 1 to pay bills and set up an online sales site itself.
Among other steps, it has launched a 'Sponsor a shelf' scheme.
'It costs £100 [ $196 ] and you can either send us a cheque ( payable to GTW ) , e-mail your card details or give us a bell ( 0207 278 7654 ) ,' says the store's Web site. 'Your name/organisation will be listed in-store as an official Friend of Gay's The Word and sponsor.'
Novelist Ali Smith told The Guardian, 'It'd be a political, cultural, communal and human loss if it went [ out of business ] .'
Author Edmund White said: 'It's a shop that keeps gay titles on the shelves for years in a way no regular bookshop, even one with a gay section, would ever do. The staff know the books and can give advice. It would be very sad to see it go.'
Author Sarah Waters commented: 'For me it's more than a bookshop. It was one of those places you went to when you first arrived in London. ... It felt very empowering that it was here and it is still important that there is a visible place for people to go.'
Assistant manager Uli Lenart told The Guardian that teenagers arrive at the store 'on the verge of tears. This is a place where you can feel less alone.'
