Anderson Cooper has, at long last, publicly stated that he is gay. It has to be noted that Cooper made the announcement in an email to writer Andrew Sullivan.
"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," Cooper wrote.
Cooper's sexuality has long been the subject of ample media speculation, but he has never publicly confirmed it.
"I just don’t talk about my personal life," he told New York magazine in 2005. "...The whole thing about being a reporter is that you’re supposed to be an observer and to be able to adapt with any group you’re in, and I don’t want to do anything that threatens that."
On Monday, though, Cooper quoted as saying:
"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."
Cooper also claimed that he ultimately decided that he was doing more harm than good by not speaking up:
"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."
What do you think? Are you surprised?
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