Posted on 07/02/2012 1:15:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Last week, Entertainment Weekly ran a story on an emerging trend: gay people in public life who come out in a much more restrained and matter-of-fact way than in the past. In many ways, it's a great development: we're evolved enough not to be gob-smacked when we find out someone's gay. But it does matter nonetheless, it seems to me, that this is on the record. We still have pastors calling for the death of gay people, bullying incidents and suicides among gay kids, and one major political party dedicated to ending the basic civil right to marry the person you love. So these "non-events" are still also events of a kind; and they matter. The visibility of gay people is one of the core means for our equality.
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:
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.
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. I’ve stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when I’ve 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, I’ve begun to consider whether the unintended outcomes of maintaining my privacy outweigh personal and professional principle. 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. 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 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.
Since my early days as a reporter, I have worked hard to accurately and fairly portray
gay and lesbian people in the media - and to fairly and accurately portray those who for whatever reason disapprove of them. It is not part of my job to push an agenda, but rather to be relentlessly honest in everything I see, say and do. I’ve never wanted to be any kind of reporter other than a good one, and I do not desire to promote any cause other than the truth.
Being a journalist, traveling to remote places, trying to understand people from all walks of life, telling their stories, has been the greatest joy of my professional career, and I hope to continue doing it for a long time to come. But while I feel very blessed to have had so many opportunities as a journalist, I am also blessed far beyond having a great career.
I love, and I am loved.
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.
Me too.
Update: The Beast created a video tribute to Anderson's work - watch it here.
(Photos courtesy of Anderson Cooper and CNN)
next thing you know, shep smith is going to step out of the closet.
Yeah. Ditto that.
Gay and STUPID. Did you watch this dummie on Jeopardy??
And they spoon-feed celebrities dumbed down questions. His “knowledge” of geography is ludicrous.
Gues if you have the right parents, are gay and liberal, you can go far in the mainstream media.
Hilarious....
CELEBRATE PERVERSITY MONTH!!
One political party that still recognises that marriage is the cornerstone of civilisation. The marriage is to have children and raise them in a good home, where they don’t have to watch two men or two women slobbering all over each other.Daddy an Daddy were sure moaning a lot last night weren’t they?
Give me a break.
Marriage is for a man and a woman. Not two of either gender.
You want to bend over and have your butt penetrated be my guest , but don’t call it marriage.
Proud??? WHY would anyone be PROUD of their sexuality, no matter what it is???
I hear Travolta needs a new masseuse.
Sure, to differentiate them from the Ingoats.
“oh please, call me Ben”
OK, typoed. Imam...happy? LOL Close enough for hand grenades and atomic bombs! LOL
Really? Wow! Nothing faggoty about you! /s
When my wife was in TV news, one old hand estimated the number of gay men in front of the camera at 90%.
“What other men pay that much attention to their appearance?” was how she put it....
Yeah, the Bobby Inman. Boy, he was a tough cookie...
Hang on a minute here! Do you know what the capital of Long Island is????
As though it's some great personal achievement.
Whoo Hoo! I'm gay! High fives all around!!!
What is this now...about the EIGHTH Anderson Cooper is gay thread?
The last desperate grab for ratings is for homosexual viewers.
“I hear Travolta needs a new masseuse.”
Travolta is like the town drunk in the bar trade when it comes to massage parlors. He has been cut off with the neck to ankle rule. Hands cannot go below one or above the other.
The fact is, Anderson, that neither member of your audience gives a damn.
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