Stephen Gately's dear life in Holland

" I want a child with Eloy! "

It has become very calm around Stephen Gately in the recent months, with the openly gay singer living in public again. Before the pending publication of his new single, the ex-Boyzone star tells of his lucky "married life" in Amsterdam. Gately and life companion Eloy de Jong want a child.

"I love Holland", says the former Boyzone singer, who's spectacular coming out in 1999 ensured massive headlines. "Here you can live a more relaxing life. If we are in Dublin, everyone detects us immediately, which makes life very hectic for us. In the Netherlands however people also know who we are, but are a lot more relaxed with it. They give us some space."

For two and a half years, ex-Boyzone-singer Stephen Gately and Dutchman Eloy de Jong, former member of the group Caught in The Act, have been a couple. After the public confession of their love, the couple moved in together in a common house outside Amsterdam. They exchanged symbolic golden rings, had each other's name tattooed on their arm, and announced that they would marry one day.

Cosy video evenings with Eloy

Privately, the couple lead a rather unspectacular life. Wild Parties or Disco nights do not interested the Gately/de Jong household. Instead, the spouses prefer to go to the cinema or have a cosy video evening with a bottle of wine. Afterwards they go to bed. Despite being gay, they both dream of having a fulfilled family life with children.

"It's probably more easy for us to have a child in Holland, because the legal situation is simpler now. I would gladly adopt a child." Gately expresses that he came to Amsterdam for personal reasons, rather than because of the more tolerant attitude towards gays: "Actually it is doesn't matter where I am. Also, at home in Dublin, people accept me the way I am too," says the 25 year old

Left Boyzone behind

Gately's Coming Out had been forced two years ago by British media, after rumours had started concerning his relationship with Eloy de Jong. Instead of waiting for the papers to print it, the

Boyzone Cutie then did the inconceiveable: He dared to reveal: "I am gay and I love a man ". This was expressed in large headlines throughout the whole world.

Last year, established Gately as a solo artist. His first album New Beginning appeared last summer. He sees the official end of Boyzone, which has been rejected by lead singer Ronan Keating, even if his own work is so far not as commercially successful as Boyzone.

New single Stay released at the end of of April

"I enjoy it that I now continue my career alone, but I sometimes miss the others. Five on stage makes it a little more fun," admits the singer, a little sadly. So far no new concert dates have been set for him as a solo act.

Now that Boyzone aren't touring, it has left a gap for Stephen in his schedule for the next 2 years. Apart from more spare time with his partner, Gately can concentrate completely on his own career: "I would be love to go on stage again." At present, Stephen Gately is writing songs for his second solo album, which he will produce in co-operation with the Swedish hit factory Cheiron company (producers of Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys).

"This 'N Sync sound is very successful and I really like the songs anyway," confessed the singer.

"I love Pop music and will continue to move in this direction". The first of this new style of music is the single Stay, which appears on 30th April in England.