General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnderson Cooper: "The Fact Is, I'm Gay."
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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. Ive stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when Ive 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, Ive begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. Its 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.
Ive 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 couldnt be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.
more:
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/07/anderson-cooper-the-fact-is-im-gay.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+andrewsullivan%2FrApM+%28The+Daily+Dish%29
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
Figaro78
(37 posts)For god's sake, is this still considered news? Except for the graduating class at West Point coming out as completely gay, I can't see why
anyone should be astonished by such a "revelation".
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Last edited Mon Jul 2, 2012, 10:36 PM - Edit history (1)
There are 44 US states that do not accept marriage equality.
There are 19 states where LGBT people have absolutely no recognition at all. Never mind marriage.
Anderson Cooper, a 45 year old, has just felt comfortable enough to come out. Despite being an internationally known reporter who has been in the line of fire on multiple continents for over two decades. Who is decidedly secure in income, popularity, and success. Only now does he feel comfortable to do so.
What of the middle schooler who commits suicide because he or she doesn't think they will find acceptance in life, thinks they won't be happy, thinks that no one is there for them?
So yeah, it still fucking matters.
robinlynne
(15,481 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Figaro78
(37 posts)The tizzy we're in over Cooper's admission relates more to our worship of celebrity than anything else. If someone's cousin from Peoria came out nobody would give a damn but ANDERSON COOPER? WOW! What a catch! He's someone who really matters and will convince the homophobes that it's A-OK. to be gay. Yeah, sure.
Chorophyll
(5,179 posts)Find something else to be outraged about. There's plenty.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Come to terms with who they are. Anderson Cooper has shown himself to be a respectful, upstanding member of the LGBT community.
This has nothing to do with anti-gay people. This has to do with LGBT people and providing a positive role model for them.
Chemisse
(30,817 posts)robinlynne
(15,481 posts)loyalsister
(13,390 posts)An important aspect coming out is there is often not much heredity within families. People who are gay may have very supportive families but in some cases they are still the only minorities in their family.
Many youth particular are not fortunate enough to have positive role models who are gay. I think even people who are famous can have a positive impact.
Vanje
(9,766 posts)Where I live , most people think they dont know any gay people.
Certainly they do.
People who personally know gay people , tend to be for equal rights for gays.
Coming out publicly is an important political act.
I applaud Anderson Cooper.
GarroHorus
(1,055 posts)Firebrand Gary
(5,044 posts)Ian David
(69,059 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)LOL
valerief
(53,235 posts)rocktivity
(44,577 posts)rocktivity
xmas74
(29,676 posts)Supposedly his mom loves watching the two of them on New Years Eve.
Mira
(22,380 posts)and I can only stand about 37 seconds of it.
Liberal Veteran
(22,239 posts)Shocked I say!
xtraxritical
(3,576 posts)yardwork
(61,712 posts)He's recognized that anti-gay bullying - including the institutionalized kind that includes laws against equal marriage and workplace protections - won't stop until everybody realizes that being gay is no big deal. In order to reach people, we have to be out.
I'm out professionally even though it has the potential to detract from my professional success due to the possibility of people being biased against me. I maintain the "no big deal" approach and carry on. I take the risk because people are killed for being gay and that must stop.
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)in many ways it is more risky for a "regular joe" to out him/herself than it is for a celebrity. even without a job anderson will always have plenty.
valerief
(53,235 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)iemitsu
(3,888 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)LaurenG
(24,841 posts)goclark
(30,404 posts)Great news ~ his voice is important!
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)Good for you for speaking up.
And see, Kathy Griffith says she's a favorite with gay guys...figures she'd spend New Year's Eve with him!!
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)Iggo
(47,571 posts)Now, about your talk show...
Flatulo
(5,005 posts)morningfog
(18,115 posts)nolabear
(41,991 posts)Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)I read his book a few years back and he really impressed me.
tavalon
(27,985 posts)I don't intend to stop enjoying his tight black shirts. I could care less that he plays for the other team.
But then, that's not entirely true. It's good when famous people come out. I don't know what changed his mind and made him go public but it does help the cause.
Jodie, dear, take a page from Anderson's play book. No one is going to deny you roles. Heck, you might even get better roles.
bluedigger
(17,087 posts)I never picked up on it, not that I spent any great deal of time thinking on it, either.
tavalon
(27,985 posts)and told my hubby that it was too bad for me that he pitches for the other team. Because, you know, that takes my chances with him from zero to zero.
I never have to give it any thought.I think it's a side effect from my sixth sense. Other than as a cute party trick, it's pretty much a useless superpower. As superpowers go. I would have preferred to have a childhood that didn't force me to hone in on the tone of crazyland. Or even know that such a crazyland existed.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)But then again it didn't matter. I was a little surprised though.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)All you had to do was happen to read the tabloids anytime in the past 5 or 6 years. He was outed by them a long time ago.
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)will just care about what celebrities are seen in public without makeup, rather than all the catty "outing" that currently fills their pages. Anderson Cooper just took us one step in that direction.
I wish the people who buy this trash get lives, so they don't fund an army of paparazzi. I love to tell fans of those magazines that they contributed to the killing of Princess Diana, that really gets them pissed!
xmas74
(29,676 posts)He's finally comfortable with who he is and allowing everyone to know who he is.
Also, I thought he was rumored to be in a LTR. Maybe there will be wedding bells soon? Maybe even an adoption later?
Who knows.
As to Jodie-I've always heard that it's only in the US that her partner isn't mentioned or shown in photos.
joshcryer
(62,276 posts)Weird. It's like it was a fact.
teenagebambam
(1,592 posts)Little Star
(17,055 posts)nxylas
(6,440 posts)I always thought he was openly gay.
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)Puregonzo1188
(1,948 posts)nxylas
(6,440 posts)His personal life isn't really anybody's business, as long as it doesn't compromise his journalistic integrity.
Alcibiades
(5,061 posts)Who apparently were not paying attention. About as big a surprise as Nathan Lane.
MineralMan
(146,333 posts)He's a news guy and a commentator on events. I can't see where that has anything to do with his sexuality. I'm glad he made this statement, but it's pretty much irrelevant to me.
tavalon
(27,985 posts)and very relevant to the cause. And sometimes a cause trumps personal privacy. I'm proud of him and everyone else who chooses to stand up and out from the crowd.
MineralMan
(146,333 posts)So, his public statement provides reinforcement for the fact that who people love shouldn't matter to any of us. I'm in no way criticizing him.
CleanLucre
(284 posts)KIDDING love him, a real professional and well said!!
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)to ever state their sexual preferences to anyone. I've always found those that feel the need to stick their noses, so to say, into others sexual preferences to be perverted themselves, and certainly history will bear this out.
PDJane
(10,103 posts)I think it shows courage and honesty to say his bit in the US, but he doesn't ask me into his bedroom, or intrude on mine, so what he is is less important that who he is, y'ken?
There are more important things in this world, and tolerance for humanity is more important.
That sounds like a lecture, and it's not meant to be. I am nearly a hermit, because although I love humanity in the abstract, and know we're all capable of wonderful things, humanity itself is its own worst enemy. And yes, that prejudice and nastiness is why I am a partial hermit!!
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Gregorian
(23,867 posts)Thank you. I just knew this forum felt the way it does for reasons I couldn't explain. Now I know. There is a kinship of sorts.
You stated how I feel so well. I'll spare the story. But I could write a story here. My journey away from civilization. The hunt for solitude and quiet.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)He really is. And we've always known he's gay but I'm glad he said it.
RKP5637
(67,112 posts)Response to kpete (Original post)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)very ordinary and middle class when he was growing up, IIRC.
OTOH, Cooper is Gloria Vanderbilt's son, so he probably has never HAD to work a day in his life.
Response to kestrel91316 (Reply #44)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
eShirl
(18,504 posts)Fearless
(18,421 posts)And has put himself in mortal danger to do so.
Response to Fearless (Reply #75)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)He's a gay man. He's on my side.
Not knowing his personal beliefs is the mark of a good reporter.
Response to Fearless (Reply #98)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Who he sleeps with has nothing to do with his reporting.
nolabear
(41,991 posts)Many people like him. Including me.
Response to nolabear (Reply #104)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
Crunchy Frog
(26,647 posts)If anybody still remembers that.
1monster
(11,012 posts)time ago.
Ratty
(2,100 posts)Love his girlish giggle.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Skittles
(153,199 posts)he is fucking adorable; so genuine!
Raffi Ella
(4,465 posts)I often wondered why, when he spoke about the gay bullying, he never made a point of declaring proudly that he himself is gay; If for nothing else than to give those kids some hope.
I understand non public people staying closeted but people like Anderson have a huge platform to make a difference in the world. They should all take advantage of that.
malaise
(269,187 posts)but I'm glad Anderson has stated the obvious in a beautifully written statement.
Lost-in-FL
(7,093 posts)riverbendviewgal
(4,254 posts)K & R...I love Anderson cooper even more now....Glad he came out.
GoCubsGo
(32,095 posts)And, I don't care one way or another. It's sad that this is even an issue. But, at least he is not ashamed to hide who he is.
rocktivity
(44,577 posts)Last edited Thu Jan 22, 2015, 10:16 PM - Edit history (3)
...that I am trying to hide something...that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid..."
TRANSLATION: "It's become clear to me that so many people have known I'm gay for such a long time, my silence has begun to undermine my personal AND professional credibility."
But seriously, folks, I congratulate him and all who decide to stop living a lie and take that step out of the closet. Someone once told me, "I can't imagine why I thought being out would be harder than being in." And I've been advised that it gets better.
rocktivity
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)Pathwalker
(6,599 posts)Seeing Jerry get all flustered was hilarious. This was years ago.
rocktivity
(44,577 posts)Special Achievement Category.
rocktivity
IamK
(956 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)mzmolly
(51,006 posts)disndat
(1,887 posts)markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)rocktivity
(44,577 posts)rocktivity
Raster
(20,998 posts)...person comes out and publicly acknowledges their sexual identify, it makes it easier for those that cannot or will not acknowledge their sexual identity because of shame and fear, and it gives a bit of hope and another choice to the kid that may be thinking killing themselves is the only way out of the closet.
Closets are for clothes, not people. Thank you, Anderson Cooper!
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)My own flippant remark was made simply because the issue of Cooper's sexuality has been such an open (non) secret here in NYC, and for so long, that I was a little surprised that Cooper believed it WAS still a secret.
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)You said it better!
JI7
(89,276 posts)he lived as any openly gay person would. but i guess as a public person it does mean something to say it out to the public.
Scairp
(2,749 posts)And we are all shocked...not. No more war zones for him.
I really hope you're not trying to say what I think you're trying to say.
aquart
(69,014 posts)craigmatic
(4,510 posts)married.
eissa
(4,238 posts)Yeah, I know those days are over. The days when we knew little of a real journalist's personal life or political leanings. When the profession involved delivering news factually, without any insinuations or bias, and no reporter worth his salt would compromise his/her integrity by hosting a cheesy talk show.
I have nothing against AC, he seems like a decent fellow. I always thought it was common knowledge that he was gay so this news wasn't exactly earth-shattering. I just lament the loss of those early broadcast journalists.
lillypaddle
(9,581 posts)Anderson Cooper. We love you.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Kennah
(14,315 posts)Almost sounds like Anderson Cooper was concerned that if he were out then he would be viewed as less than objective.
Sadly, there are those who will treat him differently and consider him less than objective.
On him being out, I am happy for him and glad that is happy and comfortable with himself, as it should be.
Taverner
(55,476 posts)Skittles
(153,199 posts)he is awesome
sendero
(28,552 posts)... but who didn't know?
pink-o
(4,056 posts)How many gay men got to grow up with a mom who's a fashion designer and surrounded herself with cute-boy models?
But seriesly, People: the more folks see that "teh gays" are not some sort of abhorrent sub culture on the down low, the sooner one's sexual orientation is gonna be no BFD. And for famous people to be open about it is one of the best ways all my gifted friends can find acceptance.
BTW, just listen to any interview with Chely Wright. If that woman doesn't touch your heart, it must be made of stone!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)He said that he hopes his "coming out" might help some of those that are struggling for their own identity.
I really like A. Coop, but sad that he sold out with his "show". We need good journalists more than ever.
permatex
(1,299 posts)why hide what you really are. In this day and age, who cares anymore, except maybe the haters which are dwindling with each passing year.
Auntie Bush
(17,528 posts)just1voice
(1,362 posts)They can pretend they're for equal rights while telling everyone to forget about torture camps, drone attacks, the kill list, and a for-profit health industry.
leftstreet
(36,116 posts)Jamaal510
(10,893 posts)but I don't get how this is news.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)That will dominate the news cycles for months to come...
Rain Mcloud
(812 posts)need a role model,not that any Kids would be caught dead watching any newsy shows.
I'm proud of AC for having the guts to stand up for himself and for those in exile.
Kids should never,ever contemplate suicide for being who they are nor should they live a lie just to please their hard-hearted and conscienceless peer's.
What AC did was introduce a nether side of humanity to the truth,and high time.
I have a little more hope for humankind every day because of these small victories from which we,everyone of us wins,as sapient being's.
Thanks KP and AC.
DU Rec.
Iggy
(1,418 posts)what's next? Tom Cruise's 'BIG' announcement??
gimme a break