Pop singer Lance Bass and husband Michael Turchin are marking their 10th wedding anniversary ― and a decade since marriage equality became the law of the land in the U.S. ― on a bittersweet note.
The two men grace the cover of Love Inc. magazine’s latest issue, released this week ahead of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June. In the accompanying interview, the couple reflect on their December 2014 nuptials, which were televised in an E! special that aired about two months later. It was the first same-sex wedding to be televised on a major TV network.
“At first, we did not want to do it at all. We were like, reality TV ... it’s the kiss of death,” recalled Turchin, an actor and visual artist. “And then we realized there’s a bigger purpose. It’s not about us; it’s about showing this.”
Added Bass: “It has been a fight to have equality for everyone else, and being a public figure—a gay public figure—it was important for us to share our message of love. Usually, we’re pretty private people, but we knew that we wanted everyone to see our relationship. You really don’t change your opinion until you know a gay person.”
Though marriage equality was legalized nationwide just months after their wedding, both Bass and Turchin say they are deeply concerned about a rollback of LGBTQ+ rights under President Donald Trump. As a result, the couple have begun hiding the faces of their 3-year-old twins, Alexander and Violet, on social media.
“I did not think in 2025 we’d still be fighting. It’s ridiculous,” Bass told the outlet. “The pendulum swung forward, and now it’s swinging back. But the amount of hate we feel today? It’s worse than 10 years ago. This is the first time I’ve actually felt danger, and I didn’t feel that 10 years ago.”
Added Turchin: “[The LGBTQ+ community] is a very strong community. A community of fighters.”
Bass, who rose to fame as a member of the boy band *NSYNC, came out as gay in a 2006 People interview. He and Turchin were introduced at a friend’s birthday party in 2011 and began dating shortly thereafter. They became engaged in 2013.
“I think the evolution of our love, it’s become more of a partnership,” Bass told E! News in February. “I finally found someone that I can say is my partner in life. I love him dearly. But it goes beyond that.”
He also hinted at potentially expanding their family, noting: “I would start my own orphanage. I would love to have so many kids and bring in kids to help find them families.”
“I’m still trying to talk [Turchin] into it, if it’s having our own or I’ve always dreamt of adopting kids,” he said. “So it’s gonna be interesting to see in the next 10 years where my life goes.”
Read more about Lance Bass and Michael Turchin’s Love Inc. chat here.