Video: Viral music video about unrequited gay love gets follow-up sequel with happy ending

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

Steve Grand, the US singer who received over two million YouTube hits when he posted a music video featuring the story of a gay man’s unrequited love for his straight friend, recently posted a follow-up video where his character finds romance.

Grand released “All-American Boy” in July, which portrays a gay man who misreads signals from a straight friend.

This time around, in the music video “STAY,” the openly gay singer finds romance.

Grand appears to be taking the same a similar marketing approach with his second song by communicating with fans mainly through social media.

On facebook he wrote: “I don’t do any promotion for my videos other than asking my friends to share my content. So go watch ‘STAY’ on youtube, and download the track … and tell all your friends!!”

On YouTube, he added: “I am so happy that, since the release of All-American Boy, I’ve been approached by many good and talented and capable people who have wanted to work with me…and my ‘team’ is coming together!”

Grand said he based the original music video on his own life experiences.

He said: ”I was a 13-year-old boy [at camp],” said the 23-year-old, speaking to Times Standard from his hometown Chicago. “One of my counselors was warm and strong and he took an interest in me —— not sexually, but as a friend, and it really moved me. I remember leaving with a horrible ache in my heart.”

He added he was touched by messages of appreciation sent via social media, and he said that he knew that, despite the story being told from the gay man’s perspective, it would resonate with people of all sexualities.

“I’m not a cryer,” he said. “But since this all began, since people have been reaching out, I’ve been beyond moved, because so many people have felt what I felt, been through what I’ve been through.”

Grand was sent to “gay conversion” therapy by his parents when they discovered he was gay when he was in eighth grade.

Following the internet success of this single, Grand said he did not know where it would take him, and that he was “more of a songwriter” than a singer, but that he could “die a happy man” after having spoken to people through his music.

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