Lance Bass is 'not scared' of attending Pride events

Lance Bass will attend several Pride events in defiance of the mass shootings in Orlando, Florida.

The former NSYNC singer and LGBT rights advocate hosted a Pride party at the Spotted Pig in the West Village in New York this week, and plans to support as many events as possible to show people he is not scared in the wake of the tragic killings at Pulse nightclub.

Bass, who came out as gay in 2006 on the cover of People magazine, told PageSix.com: "People are living in fear right now, and I think it’s very important to show my face at as many Prides as I can. I was in Denver. I was in LA. I’m going to be going down to Orlando... I think it’s very important to show that we’re not scared.”

Bass made his comments at a dinner thrown by American Express and blog the Infatuation to launch the card’s #ExpressLove campaign, which encourages users to share how they “express love” on social media and offers support for local advocacy groups, such as the Stonewall Community Foundation in New York.

The 37-year-old former pop singer also added that he appreciates his celebrity status has proved to be a positive, especially with regards to his coming out.

“I’m so lucky to have been in the public eye since I was 16, and I feel like a lot of the straight community got to know me," he added. "And so, by being very vocal about this community, I’m hoping I am changing minds, because now they know a gay person, and until you know someone, you can’t really change your mind about that.”

Bass and his husband Turchin made history when they became the first real-life same-sex couple to tie the knot on an American television network. Their 2014 wedding was broadcast on the E! special, Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding in February 2015.