Outing Anderson Over And Over Again...

Out 'Power 50': Tim Cook, Ellen DeGeneres, Anderson Cooper Among Most Powerful Gay People In America

Posted: 04/27/2012 10:40 am Updated: 04/27/2012 4:53 pm


Being Steve Jobs' successor is no easy task -- but Tim Cook is off to a good start, having been named the most influential gay man in America.

After taking the reins from the late Jobs last year, the 51-year-old Apple CEO returns to the top spot of Out magazine's annual "Power" list of the nation's most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

"Last year, Cook was still the man-in-waiting, assuming control of Apple, but still in the shadow of Steve Jobs," Out's editors write. "More of a manager than an oracle, Cook is now fully in charge of the world’s most valuable company -- it surpassed ExxonMobil in 2012 -- which means it’s his show to run."

Cook's in good company, too: Ellen DeGeneres, Rachel Maddow and Andy Cohen also made the top ten.

In a move that will undoubtedly ruffle the feathers of some in the LGBT community, CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper and conservative blogger Matt Drudge also made the cut this year, at #6 and #16 respectively. Neither Cooper, 44, nor Drudge, 45, has ever publicly confirmed their sexuality.