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Finally. Like there was anyone left on the planet that didn’t know; but until any person actually makes a public statement saying “I’m gay” — all that exists is speculation. Anderson Cooper, who was socially out but professionally closeted, gave friend Andrew Sullivan permission to publish an email that kicks open the closet door. It’s a thoughtful missive that is worth the read. Here is the crux of this statement:
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.
The fact is that each gay person has to choose when and if they can come out (unless, of course, they are actively working to harm the LGBT community, thus the practice of “outing”). In the case of celebrities and public figures choosing to leave this air of mystery about them when they bare all in bios or to the media about other aspects of their lives, it’s not helpful to the teen in Podunk wrestling whether to come out to their parents. The kid sees a powerful, wealthy individual who sees the glass closet as a professionally self-protective device, not a matter of life or death — or being kicked out of the house, abused or beaten. That is why it’s important for high-profile people like Cooper to come out. He did, on his own timeline, and ceding that he was ready to share this slice of his personal space for the public good (my emphasis):
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.
…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.
It’s why I am out of the closet, as a black lesbian living in the South. I certainly don’t have the privilege or wealth or celebrity of Mr. Cooper, but it’s important to be visible and speak out for those who cannot, as well as for those who are on the edge of coming out but don’t know what lies on the other side. If living out didn’t mean anything, I wouldn’t have had readers coming up to me, or receiving emails or Facebook messages from people thanking me for being out and proud, particularly during the marriage amendment battle here in NC. I take it seriously. The need for visibility is particularly acute for LGBTs living in the South (or anywhere that’s not a gay metropolis). LGBTs of all stripes, particularly people of color in the closet, need to be able to see images of themselves, the possibility that they can live their lives out of hiding.
I expect that Anderson Cooper will hear from many young people thanking him for what he has done today. Good on him.
And this is precious: the reaction from professional anti-gay activist Peter LaBarbera:
More reactions from FDL’s Teddy Partridge and Lisa Derrick.
22 Comments
Anderson Cooper and his family have a complicated relationship with fame that isn’t any of their own doing, so I suppose he’s entitled to a zone of privacy. But that starts to break down when one realizes he has not, as Gloria Vanderbilt’s son and Gloria Whitney’s great-nephew, chosen a life out of the spotlight, but is, instead, on our televisions three hours a day.
I think he knew what he was getting into. Congrats to him, as his protestations about his private life always rang a little false. Hope he finds the joy Harvey Milk did in letters and phone calls from lonely, desperate heartland USA young people whom he’s inspired today.
I hope he hears from older folks, too. So many still remain closeted out of the same fear and pain. Its never too late to come out.
“That poor Kathy Griffin!”
– someone’s mom, right now.
Great tweet from the NYTimes Public Editor, in the wake of CNN’s SCOTUS blunder:
LOL. That’s just so funny. Thanks.
Good on him. Even if it was, as you say, the worst kept secret in the Western world, it is still important and valuable for him to come out publicly like this. It can be especially important to LGBT youth in places like here in Montana, which is largely rural and where there are often few if any out role models. I know talking to students that for many of them TV and movies were the only role models they had and, as depressing and narrow as those are, it really made a difference in their lives.
Ouch! That left a mark.
COOPER IS A JOURNALIST???? WHO KNEW?
Twice, I watched “Anderson Cooper’s 360″ and it was nothing but right wing, corporatist pablum. Really sickening stuff.
Now Cooper comes out – which is a good thing – however, he waited til it was safe(r). Didn’t want to stick his neck out.
Reminds me of Obama – who decided to leave oppression, discrimination, sexual harrassment and Slavery to the States To Decide.
Too Life!! Mr. Copper. I’m American! I’m straight! Your are great….
Pledge eternal vigilance against all forms of tyranny enabled by ignorant bigots. This is the American way…..
When will The Pope Come Out?
Hackworth: that makes you one of only 115,000 people.
Think he’s hoping for a coming out bounce?
The Pope’s not gay, he’s the head of the Italian branch of NAMBLA, which makes him a paedophile. Don’t confuse the two.
I find it to be unbelievable that anyone was surprised by this “revelation”.
Thought it was obvious, despite the fact that he never openly admitted it.
Cooper’s show will undergo a name change to reflect Anderson’s coming out.
The new show will be called Anderson Cooper’s 180.
I was always suspicious.
He was just too pretty.
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Not to me, understand. Not as pretty as John Stamos.
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I’m stopping typing now.
Indeed. As a “revelation”, it’s maybe a “4″. But for my gay friends, he’s a good guy to have “on the team”. No, really, I saw him play shortstop on a celeb softball game against MIchael Bolton.
I clicked on reading this post in its fullness, fully intending to comment how he was too late for redemption. But I could not do it. Who the hell has a right to judge him now. There’s enough meanness and he already suffered enough deserved judgement. I pulled a John Roberts at the last moment.
PeterLaBarbera should recuse himself from dumbass stories.
He’s still awful, and so is CNN. Where you put your pen*s is only an issue because a few savages still want to dictate when and where for you; it doesn’t make you anything, especially progressive. Gay and Black people are as lamentably shallow as the rest of us these days.
Turn off your set; tune in to the problems of the real world. CNN wouldn’t know it if they tripped over it on the way to headquarters.
You said Gay and “Black people are as lamentably shallow as the rest of us these days”
Are you Black because that seemed offensive and if I am reading into wrong. Please clarify?
Really, who cares what this 1% hack does or says? I agree, this entire spectacle is shallow and eventually self-defeating.