Anderson Cooper comes out

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2 Jul 2012 11:01 AM
Anderson Cooper: "The Fact Is, I'm Gay."

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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 12039_084asked “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 19447_001_1563_CCgay 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.

Me too.

(Photos courtesy of Anderson Cooper and CNN.)

Meh, not really surprised.

[Darth Wong]

My wife has been saying that he's gay for years, and I'm sure she's not the only one. There were certainly a lot of signs.

In any case, good for him, coming out publicly.

[Block]

and no one was surprised at all. Honestly I thought he already had.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Just out of curiosity, what were the signs of his orientation?

I admittedly do not watch a lot of broadcast news, and have maybe seen Anderson Cooper a half dozen times, and was never really given an impression one way or the other. So I was just curious as to what he did or said that "tipped people off" that he was gay.

[Terralthra]

Yeah, he definitely tipped my gaydar as well. Nothing overt or obvious, but mannerisms and speech accents gave it away for me.

If this didn't give it away (the giggling especially):

[Mr Bean]

Just out of curiosity, what were the signs of his orientation?

Single attractive man who prefers skin tight clothing is highly successful in a well paying and secure position and is know to not have a wife or girlfriend for over five years? Either he's a eunuch or gay as I don't see a standard heterosexual guy going that long without an obvious relationship.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Just out of curiosity, what were the signs of his orientation?

Single attractive man who prefers skin tight clothing is highly successful in a well paying and secure position and is know to not have a wife or girlfriend for over five years? Either he's a eunuch or gay as I don't see a standard heterosexual guy going that long without an obvious relationship.

There is that, yes.

There is also his giggle, which makes my gaydar *ping* with the word "fabulous", instead of the usual pinging sound.

[JME2]

Good for him for coming out.

[Darth Wong]

Just out of curiosity, what were the signs of his orientation?

Single attractive man who prefers skin tight clothing is highly successful in a well paying and secure position and is know to not have a wife or girlfriend for over five years? Either he's a eunuch or gay as I don't see a standard heterosexual guy going that long without an obvious relationship.

There is that, yes.

There is also his giggle, which makes my gaydar *ping* with the word "fabulous", instead of the usual pinging sound.

The giggle was the thing that made Rebecca sure of his sexual orientation. She had suspected before, but that giggle ended any uncertainty for her.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Just out of curiosity, what were the signs of his orientation?

Single attractive man who prefers skin tight clothing is highly successful in a well paying and secure position and is know to not have a wife or girlfriend for over five years? Either he's a eunuch or gay as I don't see a standard heterosexual guy going that long without an obvious relationship.

Also he's a close, personal friend of Kathy Griffin. Gay men seem to love her and flock to her shows. He's appeared in several things she's done.

[Broomstick]

More proof I have either no or broken gaydar, just never occurred to me he was gay.

Then again, I really don't care about the sexual orientation of people I'm not in a relationship with. I care they aren't treated badly, of course, but who they date/mate with... ::::

[Block]

Just out of curiosity, what were the signs of his orientation?

Single attractive man who prefers skin tight clothing is highly successful in a well paying and secure position and is know to not have a wife or girlfriend for over five years? Either he's a eunuch or gay as I don't see a standard heterosexual guy going that long without an obvious relationship.

Also he's a close, personal friend of Kathy Griffin. Gay men seem to love her and flock to her shows. He's appeared in several things she's done.

Yeah I don't think I've EVER heard a straight man say they like Kathy Griffin.

[CaptainChewbacca]

I think her shows are funny, but VOLUNATRILY done multiple tv specials with her.

[Col. Crackpot]

More proof I have either no or broken gaydar, just never occurred to me he was gay.

Then again, I really don't care about the sexual orientation of people I'm not in a relationship with. I care they aren't treated badly, of course, but who they date/mate with... ::::

To ensure that your Gaydar is properly functioning and calibrated it is best to have family or at least friends that are themselves fabulous.

[blahface]

Generally I think it is good when people in the public view come up, but I'm not sure it is a good idea when you have to do on the scene reporting from countries that are very gay unfriendly.