SINGER Barry Manilow has said publicly that he is gay after keeping his sexuality secret for decades for fear of “disappointing his fans.” The music veteran, whose hits include “Looks Like We Made It” and “Copacabana,” also confirmed that he has been in a relationship with a man for 39 years. It is the first time he has spoken openly about his sexuality.

    Manilow married Garry Kief at their home in Palm Springs in 2014, but never publicly confirmed the news because he was unsure how fans would react, he told People magazine. The 73-year-old told the publication: “I’m so private. I always have been.”

    Rumors of a marriage between Manilow and Kief surfaced two years ago, but the pair never commented on the reports. The singer said the speculation had been a “blessing and a curse.”

    The news has been welcomed by fans and celebrities, with Manilow trending on Twitter and Facebook as many made puns and wondered how their mums were coping.

    Manilow was briefly married to his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler, while he was studying at the New York College of Music. The singer has said he was in love with her but was “not ready for marriage.”

    He later described her as “adorable, small with great legs and a voluptuous figure.”

    Manilow did not explain why he had chosen this moment to come out publicly, but his 29th studio album, “This Is My Town,” is due to be released April 21.(SD-Agencies)