George Michael: Wham! singer praised for LGBT campaign work following news of his death
George Michael has been hailed for his work as a prominent gay rights campaigner and “inspiration” to the LGBT community.
The Wham! singer died from what is believed to be heart failure on Christmas day.
The 53-year-old was known for his steadfast support of LGBT issues, with some of his most famous pop hits referencing his own sexuality.
He came out as gay following his arrest in April 1998 for engaging in "a lewd act" in front of an undercover police officer in Beverly Hills.
He was handed a £500 fine and 80 hours' community service for the incident, which led to the Sun headline Zip Me Up Before You Go Go.
He later said: "I never had a moral problem with being gay.
"I thought I had fallen in love with a woman a couple of times. Then I fell in love with a man, and realised that none of those things had been love."
He admitted in an interview that his late 20s had been a very depressing time for him after he lost his partner, designer Anselmo Feleppa, to HIV.
He said: "I had my very first relationship at 27 because I really had not actually come to terms with my sexuality until I was 24.
"I lost my partner to HIV then it took about three years to grieve; then after that I lost my mother. I felt almost like I was cursed."
He fronted a documentary about HIV to coincide with World Aids Day the year he came out.
The film, Staying Alive, focused on the experiences of six young people from different countries who were either infected with or affected by the HIV virus.
He was also a passionate supporter of HIV charity the Terrence Higgins Trust.
LGBT charity Stonewall tweeted their sadness at the news of his death, writing: "R.I.P. George Michael. You inspired many and your music will live on in the hearts of the community.
“You will be sorely missed."
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Fellow campaigner, American singer Miley Cyrus, said: "Miss you already! Thank you for your radical activism in the LGBTQ community! Love you always!"
