(Photo by Robert E. Klein/Getty Images)

Billboard.com is reporting that [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Jonathan Knight[/lastfm] of  [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]New Kids On The Block[/lastfm] has confirmed to fans via the band’s members-only blog that he is indeed gay.

[photogallerylink id=19565 align=left] Knight, who had never directly addressed his sexuality with the public, recently had his sexuality inadvertently addressed by his friend and fellow 80′s pop icon [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Tiffany[/lastfm] in an interview on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live.

In his blog post titled “TO ALL MY FANS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN,” Knight said:

I have never been outed by anyone but myself! I did so almost twenty years ago, I never knew that I would have to do it all over again publicly just because I reunited with NKOTB!

Knight then added:

I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay! Apparently the pre requisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption ‘I am gay’. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected! My belief is that you live your life by example, and not by a caption on a magazine! If there ever has been any confusion about my sexuality, then you are someone that doesn’t even know me!

Compared to the publicity driven coming out sagas of [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Lance Bass[/lastfm] and [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Ricky Martin[/lastfm], Knight’s acknowledgment is a breath of fresh air!