Anderson Cooper: ‘The Fact Is, I’m Gay’

No longer closeted
Lifestyle • Views: 56,109

Andrew Sullivan has an email from CNN’s Anderson Cooper today that will come as a huge shock to … well, nobody, really: Anderson Cooper: ‘The Fact Is, I’m Gay.’

Congratulations to Cooper for taking this step; I believe this makes him the most high profile openly gay journalist in the US.

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.

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62 comments
1 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:03:58am

I'm more shocked that he associates with creeps like Andrew Sullivan.

2 erik_t  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:05:13am

Let's all celebrate the fact that Anderson Cooper's gayness increasingly doesn't mean a damned particular thing in our society, as it should not.

Good for him.

3 allegro  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:06:28am

I thought he came out some years ago. I'm only surprised by an "official" statement since it's nothing he's ever tried to hide as far as I know.

4 erik_t  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:06:30am

Also, Gawker is creepy. No props whatsoever to them.

5 bernielomax  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:07:21am

re: #2 erik_t

lol exactly, good for him...

6 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:08:34am

re: #2 erik_t

Let's all celebrate the fact that Anderson Cooper's gayness increasingly doesn't mean a damned particular thing in our society, as it should not.

Good for him.

Yes.

7 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:10:26am

re: #5 bernielomax

I don't think I have any more patience for this incredibly obvious troll today. Bye now.

8 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:14:17am

Took a lot of guts to come out nationally like that. Would figure it is hard enough to come out to your family, but nationally is a huge step. Hope the A-holes leave him alone.

9 Four More Tears  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:16:04am

re: #8 RayFerd

Took a lot of guts to come out nationally like that. Would figure it is hard enough to come out to your family, but nationally is a huge step. Hope the A-holes leave him alone.

That's like hoping the scorpion doesn't sting the frog.

10 blueraven  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:16:05am

The commenters at Fox Nation act predictably

Cooper, get back in the closet so we can nail it shut.

Read more: [Link: nation.foxnews.com...]

11 Bulworth  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:16:52am

re: #10 blueraven

The commenters at Fox Nation act predictably


Read more: [Link: nation.foxnews.com...]

Ah, just more bipartisan nonpartisan tea party patriots concerned only about the overspending and the economy. //

12 Simply Sarah  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:17:25am

re: #3 allegro

I thought he came out some years ago. I'm only surprised by an "official" statement since it's nothing he's ever tried to hide as far as I know.

As he states in the letter, he has been open with people he personally interacts with and really hasn't done anything to deny it. He just, before this time, hasn't seen the need to publicly state it. And hopefully we'll soon reach a time when people won't have any reason or need to do so, because it quite honestly isn't any of our business.

13 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:19:46am

meanwhile, female journalism groupies all over america are throwing themselves under busses...how could you, anderson?

/

14 erik_t  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:20:41am

re: #10 blueraven

The commenters at Fox Nation act predictably

Read more: [Link: nation.foxnews.com...]

They hate people because of who they want to spend their time with. I honestly just don't understand, and I never have. Nor does most of the rest of my generation.

It must be depressing watching a closely-held belief wither away generation-by-generation, but my pity meter is reading zero.

15 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:21:06am

re: #10 blueraven

The commenters at Fox Nation act predictably

Read more: [Link: nation.foxnews.com...]

I was expecting that. Why people care about something that has no affect on their lives whatsoever is amazing me. So Anderson Cooper is gay, that doesn't make him any less of a man.

16 blueraven  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:24:21am

re: #15 HappyWarrior

I was expecting that. Why people care about something that has no affect on their lives whatsoever is amazing me. So Anderson Cooper is gay, that doesn't make him any less of a man.

The fact is, Cooper has shown himself to be an incredibly courageous reporter, even in the face of violence directed at him.

He is more of a man than these assholes that hide behind an alias on some wingnut comment section.

17 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:26:21am
18 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:27:47am

re: #16 blueraven

The fact is, Cooper has shown himself to be an incredibly courageous reporter, even in the face of violence directed at him.

He is more of a man than these assholes that hide behind an alias on some wingnut comment section.

I always thought the idea that the haters have that gay man= soft and weak was unbelievably stupid. Anyhow, heard a cool story about Vince Lombardi standing up for a gay player he coached on the Redskins. Lombardi was a guy in many ways ahead of his time. Progressive minded not just on that but race issues too. Makes it all the more amusing that Nixon wanted Lombardi as a running mate- not sure how serious he really was.

19 GunstarGreen  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:28:58am

re: #15 HappyWarrior

I was expecting that. Why people care about something that has no affect on their lives whatsoever is amazing me. So Anderson Cooper is gay, that doesn't make him any less of a man.

They care because their religion tells them that if they allow people to be gay, the US will lose its status as God's favorite nation, which will bring about all sorts of doom.

It is important to understand, and to never forget, that the people that oppose equal treatment and rights for homosexual citizens are not simply misguided-but-well-meaning individuals, they are actively engaged in what they consider to be a holy war for God's favor. They may try to couch it in nicer terms because they have learned that outright calling it a holy war gets bad results, but the reality has not changed. They cannot be reasoned with. There is no argument that can be made that will ever convince them of the basic truth of equal treatment for all, because as far as they are concerned God does not want equal treatment for all.

The error in all of this is believing that you are arguing the same thing as they are. Pro-equality people form their argument around the concept of "this is why homosexual people are no different, and thus should be treated equally". Anti-equality people form their argument around the concept of "equal treatment should not be practiced for these reasons".

20 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:29:05am

re: #18 HappyWarrior

Nixon wanted Lombardi as a running mate- not sure how serious he really was.

he was an enormous football fan, that's all...

21 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:29:25am

Stay classy Brent Bozell:

22 erik_t  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:30:49am

re: #21 dragonfire1981

Stay classy Brent Bozell:

[Embedded content]

How very Center-Right.

23 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:31:43am

re: #21 dragonfire1981

Stay classy Brent Bozell:

[Embedded content]

Shocking, the guy who acts like he's Mr. Fucking morality when it comes to what's on TV acts like a middle school-er when someone announces they're gay.

24 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:31:58am

re: #19 GunstarGreen

They care because their religion tells them that if they allow people to be gay, to have access to contraception, abortion, universal health care, alternate energy sources, progressive taxation, state-funded education, etc. the US will lose its status as God's favorite nation, which will bring about all sorts of doom.

The list goes on and on...

25 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:34:36am

re: #20 Expand Your Ground

he was an enormous football fan, that's all...

Yeah I guess that's all there was to that. Though in hindsight, pretty much anyone would been better than Agnew.

26 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:37:36am

Interesting comment by one of the freepers:

If he is so proud, why did he wait until now to out himself?

If you have to proclaim you are proud, in a march, in a speech, in a festival, you are anything but proud.

Homosexual Pride? If they are so proud, why do most of them wear masks?

It's funny that they of all people ask such a question when they DAMNED well know the answer.

27 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:39:06am

re: #26 dragonfire1981

Interesting comment by one of the freepers:

It's funny that they of all people ask such a question when they DAMNED well know the answer.

Masks? I think he has the wrong group.

28 Bulworth  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:39:30am

re: #26 dragonfire1981

Interesting comment by one of the freepers:


It's funny that they of all people ask such a question when they DAMNED well know the answer.

These freepers sure love freedom. //

29 dragonfire1981  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:41:01am

Just poking around twitter here, some of the right wingers going crazy with glee at the reports of the market contracting in the last quarter.

30 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:41:13am

re: #28 Bulworth

These freepers sure love freedom. //

Freedom for me but not for thee.

31 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:42:47am

re: #29 dragonfire1981

Just poking around twitter here, some of the right wingers going crazy with glee at the reports of the market contracting in the last quarter.

shows that GOP election strategy is working

32 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:43:28am

re: #29 dragonfire1981

Just poking around twitter here, some of the right wingers going crazy with glee at the reports of the market contracting in the last quarter.

And yet these are the same people who cry when someone points out that Bush's economic policies that were cosigned by the GOPers in Congress have had a role in the economic troubles. Hypocrisy: You can explain it.

33 lawhawk  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:43:51am

That even the highest profile tv figures has to watch out for backlash and delayed until now announcing that he was gay tells you that we've come a great deal to the point that Cooper's announcement isn't as earthshaking as it once would have been, but the backlash shows that we've still got a long way to go on protecting civil rights of gays/lesbians.

34 A Mom Anon  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:45:40am

re: #29 dragonfire1981

For people who claim to love America sooooo much,they sure seem to generally hate Americans. Something has to be truly wrong with you to actually enjoy the suffering and hard times of other people. Happy,well adjusted people simply don't act like this.

35 bluecheese  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:52:12am
I believe this makes him the most high profile openly gay journalist in the US.

what about Maddow? Does she not qualify as "high profile"?

36 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 10:54:06am

re: #35 bluecheese

She's "high profile" too, sure - but I believe Cooper's audience is a lot larger.

37 bratwurst  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:00:22am

re: #36 Charles Johnson

She's "high profile" too, sure - but I believe Cooper's audience is a lot larger.

Actually, you'd be wrong. Last Wednesday, Maddow got nearly TRIPLE the audience of Cooper!

38 bratwurst  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:00:59am
39 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:01:48am

re: #38 bratwurst

[Embedded content]

I believe they are saying that he is got overturned on a private man-date...

40 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:03:52am

re: #35 bluecheese

what about Maddow? Does she not qualify as "high profile"?

There's a good article about her in this week's Rolling Stone. I like Rachel. Much more than I do Schultz say. Liked her better than Olbermann when Keith Olbermann was on MSNBC too.

41 bluecheese  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:06:26am

just something else I'll note, is that Maddow got big while she was out of the closet. Cooper came from a powerful and wealthy family that I can't help but think helped him get where he is.

Having said all that, I think that Cooper is a great journalist, and I am happy that he is happy.

Oh, and one other thing, Anderson Cooper is fucking sexy.

42 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:06:30am

re: #3 allegro

I thought he came out some years ago. I'm only surprised by an "official" statement since it's nothing he's ever tried to hide as far as I know.

It was an open secret, he never denied it but refused to bring it up either, even when it was relevant. I can see it both ways and often wished he'd forced certain bigots to deal acknowledge him as a gay person, however if he'd mentioned it in the following interview with a Pastor Worley supporter the woman probably would have cut the interview off before damaging her cause by demonstrating such an obscene level of pig ignorant dumbshittery:

43 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:08:59am

re: #37 bratwurst

Actually, you'd be wrong. Last Wednesday, Maddow got nearly TRIPLE the audience of Cooper!

CNN is hurting lately. They're attempts to triangulate center aren't working.

44 sffilk  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:09:36am

The simple question:

does it really matter?

45 recusancy  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:11:55am

re: #37 bratwurst

Actually, you'd be wrong. Last Wednesday, Maddow got nearly TRIPLE the audience of Cooper!

She doesn't have a daytime show. She isn't a war correspondent. She wasn't the host of a reality tv show. He is much much more widely known.

46 RadicalModerate  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:12:26am

re: #37 bratwurst

Actually, you'd be wrong. Last Wednesday, Maddow got nearly TRIPLE the audience of Cooper!

Looking at those rating charts is a bit disheartening to me.

MSNBC and FoxNews' shows are all distinctly left and right-leaning, respectively, and as such get significantly higher ratings than CNN, which for the most part is more of a news organization that at least tries to keep a level of non-bias. And the fact is, CNN is still the best of the three when it comes to feet-on-the-ground, actual reporting of news events.

47 bluecheese  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:12:31am

re: #40 HappyWarrior

There's a good article about her in this week's Rolling Stone.

thanks! (gets out of the boat, and trots off)

48 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:13:09am

re: #44 sffilk

The simple question:

does it really matter?

Not in the least bit to any of us it shouldn't. Maybe to him maybe it was a kind of weight taken off his shoulders. He should be able to be himself without worry so he can go on about his career and life.

49 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:13:16am

re: #42 goddamnedfrank

wow, that is sure some weapons-grade stupid he was dealing with...

50 HappyWarrior  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:14:34am

re: #47 bluecheese

thanks! (gets out of the boat, and trots off)

No prob. Also if you're a music buff, good interview and feature about Jimmy Cliff who is solely under-appreciated. I love Bob Marley but too many people think he was the only great reggae artist. Jimmy is awesome too and still with us today.

51 What, me worry?  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:14:40am

Gah! I just found out the Anderson is Gloria Vanderbilt's son, like last week! This is just too much to take.

Seriously, I think the President coming out (!!) for gay marriage, saying goodbye to DADT and DOMA had a tremendous impact on the gay community. I don't know if you guys know the Orthodox rapper, YLove (Yitz Jordan), but he too, came out a couple weeks ago. If you don't think it's huge for an Orthodox person to come out as gay... well, it's pretty huge.

I think it's awesome.

52 GunstarGreen  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:17:26am

re: #46 RadicalModerate

Looking at those rating charts is a bit disheartening to me.

MSNBC and FoxNews' shows are all distinctly left and right-leaning, respectively, and as such get significantly higher ratings than CNN, which for the most part is more of a news organization that at least tries to keep a level of non-bias. And the fact is, CNN is still the best of the three when it comes to feet-on-the-ground, actual reporting of news events.

News is a business, just like any other. Its business model is to sell ad space, and the way it sells ad space is by ratings -- we can reasonably assure that X people are going to see your ad in Y time slot. And the way it generates ratings is to pander to the viewers, to give them what they want. People, by and large, like to be vindicated. They don't like to think critically about things or come to their own conclusions. Simply put, they enjoy watching programs that confirm their existing beliefs more than they enjoy watching programs that challenge those beliefs, or simply do not espouse any particular belief over another. Thus centrist news suffers because it is not partisan enough to generate the level of ratings that hardline partisan news does.

Just one of the money problems with having a for-profit news media industry. The truth, that being presentation of facts, is not profitable. Editorializing with a slant is.

53 What, me worry?  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:18:52am

Maybe in the future, we can live as one race, one humanity, where religion, skin color and nationality don't matter, but today is not that day. So yes, it does matter. It matters because people are still persecuted for these things.

54 SpaceJesus  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:22:52am

Ill never look at my Anderson Cooper bookmark the same way again

55 What, me worry?  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:33:05am

re: #46 RadicalModerate

Looking at those rating charts is a bit disheartening to me.

MSNBC and FoxNews' shows are all distinctly left and right-leaning, respectively, and as such get significantly higher ratings than CNN, which for the most part is more of a news organization that at least tries to keep a level of non-bias. And the fact is, CNN is still the best of the three when it comes to feet-on-the-ground, actual reporting of news events.

OMG This morning I caught a snippett on CNN with, I think it was Carol Costello, who was interviewing Bill Nye. I don't know what happened to Soledad. The morning slot is usually hers, but maybe she's on vacation.

At any rate, I DO NOT like this Costello woman. Soledad is awesome. Bill Nye was talking about global warming and the increase in temps, the sporadic weather, etc. Carol Costello did everything but scream WHATEVAH at him. She rolled her eyes, smirked and at the end, tried cutting him off. I'm thinking if Bill was a hunk who looked more like an entertainer than a geek with a bowtie, she wouldn't have looked at him as if he had 3 heads. Total FOX news territory. I was quite surprised.

56 leftynyc  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:42:57am

re: #46 RadicalModerate

Looking at those rating charts is a bit disheartening to me.

MSNBC and FoxNews' shows are all distinctly left and right-leaning, respectively, and as such get significantly higher ratings than CNN, which for the most part is more of a news organization that at least tries to keep a level of non-bias. And the fact is, CNN is still the best of the three when it comes to feet-on-the-ground, actual reporting of news events.

Sorry - I disagree. They USED to be middle of the road - then they hired people like Eric Erickson and Dana Loesch - not intellectual conservatives - just flame throwers - THAT's when they started going downhill. They lost their moderates and their left leaning viewers and never had the right to begin with - hence their current woes.

57 Eventual Carrion  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 11:45:58am

re: #55 What, me worry?

OMG This morning I caught a snippett on CNN with, I think it was Carol Costello, who was interviewing Bill Nye. I don't know what happened to Soledad. The morning slot is usually hers, but maybe she's on vacation.

At any rate, I DO NOT like this Costello woman. Soledad is awesome. Bill Nye was talking about global warming and the increase in temps, the sporadic weather, etc. Carol Costello did everything but scream WHATEVAH at him. She rolled her eyes, smirked and at the end, tried cutting him off. I'm thinking if Bill was a hunk who looked more like an entertainer than a geek with a bowtie, she wouldn't have looked at him as if he had 3 heads. Total FOX news territory. I was quite surprised.

Bill should have said to her, "The more intelligent people will understand what I am saying, from your expression I can see you don't so I will try to state this without the big words and confusing points that need connected."

58 Ming  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 12:01:30pm

I've always liked Anderson Cooper. He's done a lot of idealistic reporting, including recently about Syria. Last year, he gave a lot of time and energy to reporting on Libya, discussing the options the United States and the world had in regard to intervention.

I always turn off his show when the Ridiculist comes on. Now that's a waste of time.

Anderson Cooper's case of the giggles, when reporting on that French actor who relieved himself in the middle of an aircraft passenger cabin, was a classic!

There's a lot I don't like about CNN, especially creeps like Piers Morgan and haters like Dana Loesch, but Anderson Cooper is definitely a plus.

59 What, me worry?  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 12:01:41pm

re: #57 RayFerd

Bill should have said to her, "The more intelligent people will understand what I am saying, from your expression I can see you don't so I will try to state this without the big words and confusing points that need connected."

lol She got visibly snide when he mentioned that a certain political party doesn't believe in evolution and basic science. That's when her eyebrows went up and she pursed her lips, like he was lying. She tried to cut him off. He went on to describe science as something factual and global warming was real. She wasn't pleased. WTF.

The Science Guy didn't flinch.

60 palomino  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 1:02:02pm

re: #40 HappyWarrior

There's a good article about her in this week's Rolling Stone. I like Rachel. Much more than I do Schultz say. Liked her better than Olbermann when Keith Olbermann was on MSNBC too.

She's an intellectual, not a populist demagogue screamer. She'd rather debate and win on points (as she's smarter than most of her guests, right or left) than win by turning up the volume and drowning out her guests, a la Hannity, O'Reilly, Ed, etc.

61 Patricia Kayden  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 2:12:09pm

Brave of Anderson to come out publicly, but this is probably something that we all knew but don't care about.

62 William of Orange  Mon, Jul 2, 2012 3:56:23pm

Henry Rollins and the rightwing fear of teh gay.

Score on all points.


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