Anderson Cooper: “The Fact Is, I’m Gay.”
via THE DISH
Last week, Entertainment Weekly ran a story on an emerging trend: gay people in public life who come out in a much more restrained and matter-of-fact way than in the past. In many ways, it’s a great development: we’re evolved enough not to be gob-smacked when we find out someone’s gay. But it does matter nonetheless, it seems to me, that this is on the record. We still have pastors calling for the death of gay people, bullying incidents and suicides among gay kids, and one major political party dedicated to ending the basic civil right to marry the person you love. So these “non-events” are still also events of a kind; and they matter. The visibility of gay people is one of the core means for our equality.
All of which is a prelude to my saying that I’ve known Anderson Cooper as a friend for more than two decades. I asked him for his feedback on this subject, for reasons that are probably obvious to most. Here’s his email in response which he has given me permission to post here:
Andrew, as you know, the issue you raise is one that I’ve thought about for years. Even though my job puts me in the public eye, I have tried to maintain some level of privacy in my life. Part of that has been for purely personal reasons. I think most people want some privacy for themselves and the people they are close to.
But I’ve also wanted to retain some privacy for professional reasons. Since I started as a reporter in war zones 20 years ago, I’ve often found myself in some very dangerous places. For my safety and the safety of those I work with, I try to blend in as much as possible, and prefer to stick to my job of telling other people’s stories, and not my own. I have found that sometimes the less an interview subject knows about me, the better I can safely and effectively do my job as a journalist.
I’ve always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly. As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn’t matter. I’ve stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when I’ve been directly asked “the gay question,” which happens occasionally. I did not address my sexual orientation in the memoir I wrote several years ago because it was a book focused on war, disasters, loss and survival. I didn’t set out to write about other aspects of my life.
Recently, however, I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. It’s become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something – something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true.
I’ve also been reminded recently that while as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. There continue to be far too many incidences of bullying of young people, as well as discrimination and violence against people of all ages, based on their sexual orientation, and I believe there is value in making clear where I stand.
The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.
I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don’t give that up by being a journalist.
Since my early days as a reporter, I have worked hard to accurately and fairly portray gay and lesbian people in the media – and to fairly and accurately portray those who for whatever reason disapprove of them. It is not part of my job to push an agenda, but rather to be relentlessly honest in everything I see, say and do. I’ve never wanted to be any kind of reporter other than a good one, and I do not desire to promote any cause other than the truth.
Being a journalist, traveling to remote places, trying to understand people from all walks of life, telling their stories, has been the greatest joy of my professional career, and I hope to continue doing it for a long time to come. But while I feel very blessed to have had so many opportunities as a journalist, I am also blessed far beyond having a great career.
I love, and I am loved.
In my opinion, the ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life. I appreciate your asking me to weigh in on this, and I would be happy for you to share my thoughts with your readers. I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this doesn’t mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy.
The man is very nice guy and he lobve the men very much so he wanted to meet the other men in the bar,bathhouse,there houses,places.He really like to see the porn movies and see the men by naked.The man hope he will get a good man to have sex with him.
Deafblind smells like a troll to me. I’ve nothing against disabled people at all. I have Asperger’s Syndrome and my mother has been severaly hearing-impaired for most of my life, and I’ve been her ears and voice for that time.
That being said, I’ve not yet met a person deaf OR blind incapable of proper use of the English language, but I definitely have not seen a blind person who bothers commenting on websites where pictures are the typical format. Especially when you consider he has commented specifically on some of the ‘who would you choose’ things with only one picture.
Congratulations to Anderson for finally coming out, though I definitely agree that he shouldn’t NEED to. Of course, during this time, politically, I’d say there might be some need to ‘rally the troops’ – so to speak – to definitely stand up and fight for equality. Maybe in 20 years time, actors coming out will be about as much of a non-issue as who’s divorcing who.
I’M SHOCKED!!! LOL!!
Oh well
Sorry…I have no idea what deafblind is trying to say…sounds like a real judgment call to me…but…no matter…WTG Anderson…I luv ya even more (if that’s possible)!!!
Bravo, Anderson!! A very classy man.
I knew that years ago from a friend who worked at CNN. Good for him.
You don’t say; I’ve known this at least 5 years ago (thanks to perezhilton.com and other similarly sleazy websites :)) I didn’t know it was a secret (at least to some)!
It’s unfortunate that anyone has to “come out” at all, especially a class act like Anderson Cooper. Can’t wait for the day when these silly “anouncements” are totally unnecessary, as awkward as having to tell the world you’re left-handed. Still, Cooper handled the situation with grace and courage (no surprise there), and for that he’s to be admired even more than he already is.
In a somewhat related topic (“classy guys in the media”), those of us of a certain age are mourning the passing of Don Grady (aka “Robbie Douglas” of TV’s “My Three Sons”) last week at the age of 68, due to cancer. He was such a beautiful and talented man — as an actor, director, musician and producer. A true gentleman. Man, I had such a crush on him. Still do. He’ll be missed.
we love u 4 who u are .keep going and be proud of who u are
The world needs more gay people like Anderson – yes it does matter that you are gay, its showing the world that we are more than just hairdressers and fashion designers etc. Why is there the need to hide and pretend you are straight. I want to see more successful GAY football players, truck drivers, olympic athletes, doctors, movie stars etc. Why can’t we have gay heros???
Good for him with more men would stand up and be honest
As was already stated, no one should have to come out and a person should be looked at for his or her merits rather than their sexual, religious or any other preference, as long as it or they, do no harm. Anderson Cooper is a class act and I give him credit for wanting to make such a statement in order, for no other reason, than to relate to all the stories he had done supporting gay and lesbian rights. Good for him.
I thought Anderson Cooper was more educated and enlightened; I can’t believe he actually believes in God.
AYA, well done for voicing what I have been thinking for ages. Deafblind is a pain in the arse and his poorly written, repetative comments are really irritating.I wish I could hide his posts.
Congrats to Anderson for his statement but I was rather suprised to find that he was not already “out” after watching his show last time I was in the US.
to Captain_Swallow…
You’re hilarious. Too bad YOU”RE not more educated and enlightened–to pigeonhole someone of AC’s stature and forthrightness for his believing in God. This might come as a shock to you but quite a lot of gay and bi men do believe in God—faith is a personal choice, and so is one’s understanding of God. And to those who dis deafblind—way harsh dudes. I work with deaf and blind folks—they’re not always as good at sentence construction and grammar as the hearing—cut ’em some slack.
and now to see him naked
Who gives a shit? He looks like a damn albino ghost.
I am not one to usally comment on other peoples life or life styes. I applaude you for your openess and fairness in the way you brought the situation to closure if I may use that prase. I have always have seen you as a passionate man who has a thirst to bring good jouralism to the people around the world. As a Canadaina it is wonderful for you to be able to be seen as a jouralist a caring person and a man of high ideals and inegrity. The other side is a private side of ones own private life. As a former Prime Minster of Canda said : the government should have no bussines in the bedrooms of the nation: he was ridiculed for it, but yet openned a door for so many individuals to work live and love as a person should with ulitimate dignity of who there are. I applaude how you brought forth this message , it as presented as a true journalist , caring open and always trying to brng the people the open truth at all cost. Your belief in God is ridiculed by one reader. Strang that what you have tried to ersae here is one who is crtical and pointing fingers of less intellegant understanding of others. What you try to erase he brings about reversal discrimination. Happy 4th of July America….people like Anderson is what makes America great and allows humanity to go forth as we should. God continue to Bless you in your fute advetures and commitment to the good of all humanity