Martina Navratilova and Lance Bass

The former 'N SYNC star appeared on the cover of the publication last month (JUL06), and announced he is gay and in a committed relationship with reality TV star REICHEN LEHMKUHL.

In the letter to be published in the 28 August (06) issue of People, Navratilova writes, "Lance Bass is a courageous young man.

"Coming out to your family and friends is hard enough; to do so to the world is a lot harder. I know, as I took this step more than 25 years ago."

Bass told People he doesn't want to become a poster child for gay rights or an activist, but Navratilova urges him to make a stand for equal rights.

She ends the letter by saying, "So as our fight for equality continues, I will not be surprised to one day see Lance Bass marching with the rest of us, right there in the front row."