I’ve always known I was gay from the time I was a little kid—I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t aware of it, even before I knew what it was or the name of it…
If you feel like an outsider, you tend to observe things a lot more. Early on I felt very much like an observer, because I knew I was gay, I knew I was somehow different. If you learn the language of loss early, I think you seek out others who have experienced the same thing, who speak the same language of loss.
Being gay is a blessing—I couldn’t be more proud.”
CNN’s Anderson Cooper, speaking about his sexuality and how it informed his choice of career, in an interview with Huffington Post’s Michelangelo Signorile. Cooper will receive the Vito Russo award at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York on March 16.
Sohobod
Why does everyone get an award these days?
“And the award for denying you were gay until you were 47 goes to….”
Fuck off!
Cam
@Sohobod:
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
northwest
Glad to see another happy, out gay man, what’s to complain about?
MuscleModelBlog.com
It’s good to see that he can finally be open and honest…too bad it took him 47 years.
Dixie Rect
We all knew it too Andy.
stfallon1028
His professional life has nothing to do with his personal life, and that is what happened in this case. Anderson Cooper was a hero and voice to the oppressed before he came out officially, and he will remain that for many years to come. Because he didn’t share his sexuality with us personally while doing his JOB as a newscaster and a TV personality doesn’t affect his actions or his status as an advocate of the gay community and others not given a voice
Ottoman
Being rich, white, and male is also a blessing. Isn’t that right, Coop?
QJ201
@Ottoman: bitter much?
mada
Oh for…. reel in your claws. I don’t really care about this stuff, but just let him be out and proud. I’m sure he realizes the delay was ridiculous and was going to be scrutinized. Even a celebrity is not going to spend his life figuring out every nuance of coming out. Good for him. He’s out; he knew he was gay; it’s his path in life, professional or personal. It’s done. Good for him.
mada
I’m sure I’m going to get it for the “I don’t really care about this stuff” comment. I can comment freely: Just suck it.
MickeyP.
@mada: Thank you,my thoughts exactly.
rcs831
Did all of you Coop haters out there come out to everyone including your boss during your job interview?. Did you also tell them you were going to be talking about it all day long and being your usual gay selves infront of everyone no matter what effect it has on the business? No? I didn’t think so.
Sohobod
I wonder if he’ll adopt the same smug self-satisfied expression he has in the picture that accompanies this thread, when he picks up his award?
LaTeesha
So many bitter peeps. I don’t care when he came out. He never worked to actively harm people like so many closeted douchebags. He’s cute and I’d fuck him.
Billysees
@rcs831: 12
Good comment.
Get yourself established with whatever career you pursue.
Make as much money as you can.
Become secure, then come-out.
But on the other hand, “enormous praise” goes to all the LGBT guys and gals who, without security of job or income, come-out because they know it’s the right thing for them to do.
They’ll be respected and rewarded too.
Ottoman
@QJ201: Not at all, being well off enough, white and male myself. But you continue to praise someone with Vanderbuilt money who comes out in 2012 over the people who had no choice and few options but were forced out or came out on their own in the 80s and 90s and 00s. All the while Anderson Cooper was an adult and allegedly happy about being gay AND in the public eye but not willing to admit it.
There are girls getting acid thrown in their faces in the countries he reported from but he can’t come out as gay?
Sohobod
@ Ottoman
Exactly.
Cam
@stfallon1028: said….
“His professional life has nothing to do with his personal life, and that is what happened in this case. Anderson Cooper was a hero and voice to the oppressed before he came out officially..”
______________________
THESE are the statements I have a problem with. Congrats to Cooper for coming out and I am glad he is happy. But please don’t call somebody a hero when for years they were somewhat of an example of somebody too ashamed to be honest about who they were. I am glad beyond words that more famous people such as Cooper are coming out. But a Hero is some woman working in a Home Depot in Mississippi who comes out, some guy working in a car dealership in Topeka who comes out, Some transgender who is honest about who they are in Nebraska.
Those people have bravery and are heroes. Cooper came out partially it would seem because he started getting attacked for being closeted by enough gay publications that in the end it was better career wise to come out.
And if you think he was a great advocate for gays while he was closeted just watch the reports on George Reckers where Cooper was practically silent during the report.
Sohobod
@Cam
Exactly
northwest
He was doing his job and that is not to take sides or state an opinion. The main point is that Anderson has always featured stories that impact the LGBT community and that’s something that makes him deserving of this award.
Cam
@northwest:
No, actually the story on George Reckers, somebody whose writings and studies were used by anti-gay activists for years to fight against gay rights was busted because a young male prostitute reported him to the press. Cooper did the story because everybody did the story including the Daily Show and basically didn’t open his mouth.
The young hooker is more of a hero.