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In a lengthy letter written to Andrew Sullivan and intended to be shared with the public, Anderson Cooper confirms years of rumors with grace, elegance and, above all, Pride. Details follow.
In a post discussing the new trend of gay celebrities coming out in a much more subtle way than in the past, Andrew Sullivan writes:
All of which is a prelude to my saying that I've known Anderson Cooper as a friend for more than two decades. I asked him for his feedback on this subject, for reasons that are probably obvious to most. Here's his email in response which he has given me permission to post here.
Anderson's response (emphases are our own):
Andrew, as you know, the issue you raise is one that I've thought about for years. Even though my job puts me in the public eye, I have tried to maintain some level of privacy in my life. Part of that has been for purely personal reasons. I think most people want some privacy for themselves and the people they are close to.
But I've also wanted to retain some privacy for professional reasons. Since I started as a reporter in war zones 20 years ago, I've often found myself in some very dangerous places. For my safety and the safety of those I work with, I try to blend in as much as possible, and prefer to stick to my job of telling other people’s stories, and not my own. I have found that sometimes the less an interview subject knows about me, the better I can safely and effectively do my job as a journalist.
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.
We've had this muffin "Welcome!" basket ready for you for years, Anderson, and are happy to send it your way. Congratulations!
There's more! Read Anderson's incredible full letter at our source and image source, Andrew Sullivan at The Daily Beast.
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