NEW YORK — Lance Bass, band member of 'N Sync, says he is gay and in a "very stable" relationship with a reality show star.Bass, pictured, who formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, told People magazine that he did not earlier disclose his sexuality because he did not want to affect the group's popularity.

"I knew that I was in this popular band and I had four other guys' careers in my hand, and I knew that if I ever acted on it or even said that I was gay, it would overpower everything," he told the magazine.

'N Sync is known for a string of hits including Bye Bye Bye <$>and It's Gonna Be Me<$>. The band went on hiatus in 2002. Bass has also found headlines for undertaking astronaut training and failing to raise money for a trip into space.

The singer says he is in a "very stable" relationship with 32-year-old actor Reichen Lehmkuhl, winner of season four of CBS' Amazing Race<$>.

"The thing is, I'm not ashamed — that's the one thing I want to say," Bass said. "I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."