Country star Steve Grand: 'I realised I was gay at Boy Scouts camp'

Country singer Steve Grand has revealed he first realised he was gay while on a camping trip in the Boy Scouts.

The 25-year-old US star – shot to fame with the release of his gay-themed single All American Boy in 2013 – opens up about his journey towards accepting his sexuality in the new issue of aTEEN – out now – where he admits that a summer camp counselor was his first real crush.

“I went to summer camp with my Boy Scout troop in 2003,” Grand says “There was a camp counsellor there that I got to spend a lot of time with. When I left, I remember feeling this horrible, confusing ache in my gut. The whole way home I tried to figure out what it was.

“Somewhere along the way it dawned on me that what I was feeling was, from a 13-year-old’s perspective, love. It all clicked that day. It was overwhelming. I was terrified.”

Adding that he “first kissed a boy at 14”, he continued: “I always heard kids saying [the word gay] to each other and to me as an insult. But I had never given the idea any serious thought until I realised that I was attracted to men.”

Saying it was “amazing” to see openly gay stars like Sam Smith and Adam Lambert, Grand opined his lack of gay role models growing up: “I was very sheltered growing up, and we didn’t learn about any gay historical figures in school,” he explained.

“These last several years have been so amazing with so many people from so many different industries and walks of life coming out. I believe it is, and will continue to make a huge difference in the lives of young people growing up today.”

Following one of the most successful Kickstarter music campaigns in the crowdfunding site’s history, Grand released his eagerly-anticipated debut album back in March. If you’d like to see a few more, shall we say, candid shots of the Illinois native – take a look over here.

You can read the full interview with Steve, in which he discusses everything from getting naked to getting sent to a Christian therapist after coming out, in the new issue aTEEN, available to download NOW from Pocketmags.com/aTEEN.

As well as a 55-page Stereo Kicks bonus magazine, featuring eight exclusive interviews and 70 brand new pictures of the boys, the new issue features X Factor’s Jake Quickenden, Cucumber’s Dino Fetscher, YouTube star Conor Franta, a big gay farewell to TV’s Glee and a host of real life stories told and problems solved.

Country star Steve Grand: ‘I realised I was gay at Boy Scouts camp’

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