Anderson Cooper Admits He’s Gay

CNN’s Anderson Cooper has come out as being gay today after keeping his sexuality private for several years.

“The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be,” Cooper wrote in an email that he allowed Andrew Sullivan to publish over at The Daily Beast. “And I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.”

Sullivan had apparently asked Cooper to comment on an Entertainment Weekly story about how gays in the public eye now tend to come out in a more reserved way.

Anderson Cooper responded by outing himself, and gave Sullivan permission to print the response.

Cooper said he had tried to maintain a certain level of privacy with regard to his personal life, despite the fact that he had a very public job and despite the fact that his mother is Gloria Vanderbilt.

“Since I started as a reporter in war zones 20 years ago, I’ve often found myself in some very dangerous places,” Cooper wrote. “For my safety and the safety of those I work with, I try to blend in as much as possible.”

But recent events reminded him that times are changing.

“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.”

Cooper added that bullying against homosexuals played a part in his announcement, saying, “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.”

What do you think?  Are you glad Anderson Cooper has come out?

Read his full email over at The Daily Beast here.

Related articles

• Anderson Cooper: ‘The Fact is, I’m Gay’ (fox8.com)
• Anderson Cooper’s Pride: ‘I’m Gay, Always Have Been, Always Will Be’ (theatlanticwire.com)
• Anderson Cooper comes out: ‘The fact is, I’m gay’ (insidetv.ew.com)