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20-Year Fox News veteran details coming out as gay while working at ‘craziest conservative network’
The Blaze ^ | May 7, 2017 | Sarah Taylor

Posted on 05/08/2017 12:06:28 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Shepard Smith, a Fox News anchor since 1996, revealed last week that he had no intention of opening up about his sexuality the way he did during an April speech at his alma mater.

Speaking at a conference, Smith was tapped to talk on a panel titled “It Starts With MEek,” one that was meant to promote inclusivity and diversity. According to a report made by the Clarion-Ledger, Smith changed his speech at the last minute to reflect the crux of the conversation and decided to tell his own story of inclusivity and diversity.

“It wasn’t until seven, or eight, or nine years ago, I started living my truth,” Smith told the crowd gathered to hear the panel. “I grew up in Holly Springs (Miss.). I went to the First Methodist Church. I went to Ole Miss. I was also trying to avoid what having a normal social life is. I didn’t need to go home and find my girlfriend or boyfriend.”

He revealed that he dropped out of college in 1987, just two credits short of graduating, and began working on television in Florida. Smith said that at that time, coming out wasn’t something he’d even considered. Married to Virginia Donald from 1987-1993, Smith didn’t really have the option.

“A. You’re going to hell for it,” Smith said about his internal battle over coming out as homosexual. “B. You’ll never have any friends again. C. What are you going to tell your family? And by the way, you’re on television on the craziest conservative network on Earth. That will probably put you in front of a brick wall. Of course none of that was true, but that’s how it felt.”

He continued, “I don’t think about it. It’s not a thing. I go to work. I manage a lot of people. I cover the news. I deal with holy hell around me. I go home to the man I’m in love with.”

Smith also took the time to stamp out old rumors that former Fox News chief Roger Ailes forbid him from coming out.

The Fox News reporter came out in October 2016 and noted that he never had a poor experience with Ailes.

“It’s such a wonderful place,” he told the Huffington Post in an interview about the Fox organization, “and it’s been home forever. [Ailes] was very fatherly and mentorish.”

About the reports that Ailes forced him to closet his sexuality, Smith denied it ever happened, but revealed that purported homophobic remarks made by Ailes in the past — but never around Smith — did hurt him.

“He was as nice as he could be to me. I loved him like a father,” Smith admitted. “I trusted him with my career and with ― I trusted him and trusts were betrayed. People outside this company can’t know [how painful that betrayal was]. This place has its enemies, but inside, it was very personal, and very scarring and horrifying.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine; Miscellaneous; Outdoors; Society; TV/Movies; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: comingout; foxnews; graduation; homosexualagenda; lgbt; mississippi; newyork; olemiss; rogerailes; shemp; shepardsmith; speech
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To: sappy

LOL!


21 posted on 05/08/2017 12:19:18 PM PDT by Carriage Hill ( Poor demoncrats haven't been this mad, since the Republicans took their slaves away.)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Somehow these stories are never about the women they marry and steal years from.


22 posted on 05/08/2017 12:20:43 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: quikdrw

Didn’t hear about that one from him. I do remember the Superdome photos after the masses left. It was trashed.


23 posted on 05/08/2017 12:21:46 PM PDT by ColdOne ((I miss my poochie... Tasha 2000~3/14/11~ Best Election Ever!)
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To: forgotten man

Merv was gay??


24 posted on 05/08/2017 12:21:50 PM PDT by georgiegirl (Count me in the half that's in the Deplorable Basket)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

They “come out as gay” not because they are so brave, but because they know a fawning media will love them for it.

It’s not brave to wander into a crowd that loves you.


25 posted on 05/08/2017 12:22:40 PM PDT by Mr. K (***THERE IS NO CONSEQUENCE OF REPEALING OBAMACARE THAT IS WORSE THAN OBAMACARE ITSELF***)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks


What?!


26 posted on 05/08/2017 12:24:38 PM PDT by Spruce
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To: MagUSNRET

Unfortunately, he could not figure out BamBam......


27 posted on 05/08/2017 12:24:50 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for ... some have unwittingly entertained angels)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Smith said that at that time, coming out wasn’t something he’d even considered. Married to Virginia Donald from 1987-1993, Smith didn’t really have the option.
As Jeff Dunham's pal Walter would say:

OOH, NICE COVER!!!
28 posted on 05/08/2017 12:25:48 PM PDT by Impala64ssa (Islamophobic? NO! IslamABHORic)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I go home to the man I’m in love with.

Ain't that sweet?!

29 posted on 05/08/2017 12:25:55 PM PDT by KevinB (Barack Obama: The best example in history of the dangers of affirmative action!)
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To: forgotten man
I miss guys like Merv Griffin and Johnny Mathis.

And like, Liberace, they all were friends of President and Mrs. Reagan.

30 posted on 05/08/2017 12:25:58 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

For those who don’t know, Shepard Smith married Virginia Donald, a University of Mississippi classmate, in 1987. They divorced in 1993 with no children.


31 posted on 05/08/2017 12:26:25 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: Williams

Left wing fruit. Gay as a purse full of kittens.


32 posted on 05/08/2017 12:26:36 PM PDT by Bonemaker
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Why is it that so many men with first names that sound like last names come out as “gay”?

Shepard Smith, Anderson Cooper, and some people I know who are not famous.

Parents—be careful what you name your chidden, especially your sons!!!!


33 posted on 05/08/2017 12:26:46 PM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Everyone knew Smith was a homosexual, why is this news?

He’s also a Democrat socialist liberal pos, but everyone knew that too.

5.56mm


34 posted on 05/08/2017 12:27:11 PM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: Artcore

.....”So tired of the queers having to make sure we know their sexual preferences, and then patting themselves on the back for it! “......

It’s just easier for them to admit they’re gay then that they are sexual deviants with mental issues ........now, as we knew would come, transgenders and the rest are on stage.

Next it will be people who’s sexual preference are children...once they’ve dumb downed society to accept that.


35 posted on 05/08/2017 12:27:15 PM PDT by caww
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

He should instead have sought treatment for his perversion


36 posted on 05/08/2017 12:27:40 PM PDT by Reno89519 (Drain the Swamp is not party specific. Lyn' Ted is still a liar, Good riddance to him.)
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To: DCBryan1

RE: Next you are going to tell me Barry Manalow and Richard Simmons are gay!

Barry Manilow “Married” his partner not too long ago.

SEE HERE: http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/95848-itv/


37 posted on 05/08/2017 12:28:50 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: PGR88
Huh??? So he was seven years old when he started engaging in sodomy?

You missed the "ago".

38 posted on 05/08/2017 12:28:54 PM PDT by KevinB (Barack Obama: The best example in history of the dangers of affirmative action!)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Fainting spell....
Oh dear, I have the vapors....


39 posted on 05/08/2017 12:28:58 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

There are better sources of news than Fox news. Shep is one of many reasons I haven’t watched the flashy leggy infotainment channel in a decade, and don’t miss it one bit. Even youtube offers 24/7 live news (sky, france24, the beeb...) that despite being european, actually broadcast news instead of televised cat fights. Even the low budget christian stations on an antenna have better news coverage. Fox News is running on fumes.


40 posted on 05/08/2017 12:29:02 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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