‘I’m an open book’

While promoting his new book, Lance Bass has talked about his life as a closeted member of the boy band ‘N Sync on “The View,” “20/20” and “The Tyra Banks Show.”

And, sure, those interviews got personal when Bass was asked about being gay and his parents’ reaction to it.

Bass, who recently released his new book “Out of Sync” (Simon Spotlight Entertainment; $23.95) says he’s ready to open up.

“I’m an open book. I love it when people ask the most personal questions,” he said during a phone interview from New York the day after the release of his memoir.

Since last August when he declared “I’m gay” on the cover of People magazine, Bass has moved on from his days with Justin Timberlake and the rest on ‘N Sync. He has written his book and joined the cast of “Hairspray” on Broadway.

Q: After years of hiding some of your personal life, is it difficult to write about it, do a book tour and talk about it this much?

A: It’s got a lot easier. At first it was difficult because it’s only been a year since I shared my story. It was awkward to talk, since it was a private part of my life and I’m a really private person. But I’m getting used to talking about it. And the more that I see it helps influence people in a positive way and helps people become more themselves, the happier I am to share my story.

Q: Who did you come out to first, and what was that experience like?

A: The first guy I ever came out to was the first guy I ever dated.

Q: How far back does that go?

A: That was like five or six years ago.

Q: Was that while you were in the band?

A: That was right toward the end of the band, yeah.

Q: How did that go?

A: It sucks having a relationship that you have to hide. Relationships are going to suffer when you cannot be completely honest. So that one didn’t last long.

Q: Were you worried at all since you were still in the band, even though it wasn’t as bad back then with the paparazzi, TMZ and bloggers?

A: I never even thought about rumors getting out back then. I was just worried that if I told one person, they would tell another person and then another. And I felt responsible for other people’s careers, not just my own. If that story ever got out, my best friends’ careers would be ruined.

Q: You wrote about coming out to your family. Your parents are Southern Baptist, like yourself. That must have been one of the more difficult things to do.

A: Definitely. One of the reasons I wanted to write the book was to share a positive coming out story of someone that did come from the South and had that crazy conservative Christian upbringing. It’s very difficult. I know a lot of people in the South who cannot be themselves because they are protecting their family.

Q: I think I heard you say your mother found out you were gay through the Internet and rumors before you could tell her.

A: She used Google.

Q: They have Google down there?

A: They sure do. She basically Googled my ex when she first met him and found out he was gay, and it just clicked in her head. She was in denial for so long. She asked my sister if she knew he was gay and asked if that meant I was with him, and she said, “Yes, Mom.” That’s when it hit her.

Q: Was she angry with you?

A: No, not at all. She was really sad. She didn’t want to the world to hate her son, and she was scared about the life I was going to have to live now. There’s a lot of hatred in the world, and she didn’t want me to have a bad life.

Q: Do you have any regrets about deciding to announce that you’re gay on the cover of People, like Ellen DeGeneres did?

A: I don’t regret it at all. It was a positive thing, and I just wish I had done it earlier.