GEORGE MICHAEL insists homosexual men "cruising" for sex late at night behave far more responsibly than heterosexual people on the prowl. The singer, who allegedly had an illicit sexual encounter with a stranger at London's notorious cruising nightspot Hampstead Heath last week (ends21 JUL 06), claims he has always enjoyed sexual freedom, despite planning to "marry" his long-term partner KENNY GOSS next month (AUG 06).
But he is fed up of being a target just because he is gay, and took particular exception to being quizzed on his lifestyle by British TV journalist NINA HOSSAIN. During an interview with Hossain on ITV news yesterday (27 JUL 06), he said, "I have been doing this on and off since I was a teenager and never once seen violence.
"If I want to see violence or what I call shameful behaviour, the idea that women in clubs these days have to hold their hand over their drink for fear of being drugged. "Please don't tell me as a member of the straight community that I am taking risks. I know what I do and I am sorry, but we should not be taking questions like this, from straight women in particular.
"I do not deserve the criticism. What I don't have respect for is some demand for answers from an openly gay man who is living his own life. "I have not cheated or lied about my sex life to anybody in my life, in my entire life. I hate not to be able to rise above it, but there is only so much you can take."