It's One Opinion

Come out already, Anderson Cooper

By Devin Quinn
Published October 26, 2011

Anderson Cooper you take my breath away. Not really, but you did inspire me to dye my hair grey. But that’s neither here nor there.

However, you do have me asking some questions.

I'm not in the business of outing people. I, in fact, find behavior such as that to be reprehensible. But I can't help but wonder…

You’re one of the biggest names in mainstream journalism with two nationally broadcast televisions shows, (“AC360” and “Anderson”) and a recent CNN special on the bullying epidemic entitled “Bullying, it Ends Here.” (I must say I was quite disappointed not to see you wearing some form of caped crusaders outfit with a title like that to be honest.)

You’re someone who consistently has taken a pretty hard line when it comes to gay rights issues.

And yet you haven't identified your own sexuality. Normally I'm not one to point this finger and play the “Is he or isn't he” game, but I do feel somewhat that coming out would really play to your strengths in this field, don't you? Being the son of the one and only Gloria Vanderbilt can't be easy; if you are indeed gay, you must have seen it coming from a mile a way with that mother.

This month “Heroes” and “Star Trek” star Zachary Quinto decided after the tragic suicide of yet another young teen that it was time to make his voice heard and step out of the closet (I was hoping I could say he read my column on National Coming Out Day but we can't all be so lucky).

Your entire special was inspired by the same tragic death and many others that have sparked a media surge into the instances of bullying. I'm not going to reveal my personal beliefs regarding the “It Gets Better Campaign,” I'll leave that rant for another issue.

Regardless, I don't truly believe Ted Turner would be out for your job if you happened to divulge to the world one of the most hotly contested rumors around national news broadcasters. (In fact, it might be the only hotly contested rumor around a national news broadcaster; well, now that Katie Couric has gone away from octogenarian news broadcasts on CBS anyway.) I mean, this is the same guy who put prostitute toting, former governor Eliot Spitzer on prime time. Surely, I think you'll be OK.

But I digress, you're personal opinion regarding the matter of your sexuality is that long before your career in journalism you created a clear personal boundary from your work life.

I, for one, applaud that stance. But to me, being gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual or transgender shouldn't be something you have to worry about in a dramatic personal life sense.

Yes, you work in the public eye, but if you're going to go as far as having the personal views regarding democratic ideology and bullying that you constantly espouse whilst supposedly being an unbiased journalist, don't you think you've already broken your goal to yourself about your personal life?

To me, being gay is no different than my skin color; it’s just something I was born with. I don't talk about it when I'm introduced to people, and if people don't ask, I don't see a reason to just announce it. But if they do ask, I answer their questions, whatever they may be. It just happens to be something about me that's inherently part of my personality.

So ... here's my thought: If you really want to take the anti-bullying stance and put yourself directly in this fight, you could do much better for yourself by either announcing your specific reasons for taking these positions (besides the obvious answer that bullying is awful) or discussing your own sexuality and journey with that.

You would instantly, regardless of orientation, become a much larger role model if you announced the truth behind what people are thinking. At least then we could put to rest all these senseless celebrity gossip columnists.

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As all the other major publications say: "The opinions expressed in this article are those of Mr. Cute Quinn" -- I just happen to think like him, but that's another story.