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[[File:Stephen Gately.jpg|thumb|Gately performing with Boyzone, 2009]]'''Stephen Gately''' (1976–2009) was a pop singer, part of the Irish boy band Boyzone.

Gately was born in [[Dublin]]. He joined Boyzone on its formation in 1993.

Gately came out as gay in 1999 after discovering that an acquaintance was about to sell the details of his sexuality to the media. He was subsequently described as a "champion of gay rights, albeit a reluctant one".<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1220756/A-strange-lonely-troubling-death--.html "A strange, lonely and troubling death . . ." ''Daily Mail'' 16 November 2009</ref>

Gately started dating Andrew Cowles, an internet businessman,<ref name="Judge quizzes dead singer Stephen Gately's partner Andrew Cowles">http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26210611-26040,00.html David Brown "Judge quizzes dead singer Stephen Gately's partner Andrew Cowles" ''The Australian'' 15 October 2009</ref> who had been introduced to him by mutual friends [[Elton John]] and [[David Furnish]]. Gately and Cowles held a commitment ceremony in a wedding chapel while on holiday in Las Vegas in 2003. In 2006, they formed a civil partnership in a ceremony in London.<ref>http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-857.html  [[Benjamin Cohen]], "Boyzone star holds gay wedding in London" ''[[Pink News]]'' 19 March 2006</ref> The couple lived together in [[Highgate]], [[North London]]. Gately spoke of his love for the village, saying he "wouldn't move away for the world. It has a great vibe and the people here are brilliant".<ref name="Highgate community mourns Boyzone star">http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED15%20Oct%202009%2010%3A04%3A12%3A543 "Highgate community mourns Boyzone star", ''Ham and High'', 15 October 2009</ref>

Stephen Gately died at his home in Port d'Andratx, Majorca, early on 10 October 2009. His death was later determined to have been caused by a pulmonary edema resulting from an undiagnosed heart condition.<ref name="BBC NEWS">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8304419.stm "Gately 'died of natural causes'"  ''BBC News'' 13 October 2009</ref> An article in the ''Daily Mail'' by [[Jan Moir]] following his death was widely criticised as homophobic.

==References==
Based on a Wikipedia article.

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[[Category:Singers]]
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]