Gay Drama

The folks at Queerty are probably right: Anderson is in the closet because CNN keeps him there. Just check what happened to this poor fellow from Miami; think of the horrors that happened to Thomas Roberts.

Anderson, as much as it hurts me to say this, but, please, stay in the closet -- until that time you think about quitting... And then, at that time, make a big deal out of it. Oh yes! Make a big sting about them keeping you in the obscurity of the hanging expensive, glittery gowns, five and six inch high pumps and fake fur stoles... Let them know the temptation was tooooo great, the solitude too sad and the silence too deafening to handle even by the strongest man.

That is.... if you are gay, if not... Never mind!

(As I said before, your secret, Anderson, is safe with me.)

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Was Miami Anchor Charles Perez Fired For Being Too Gay?

Maybe the reason Anderson Cooper isn't so forthcoming with his sexuality is he fears a fate similar to Charles Perez, the Miami anchor for ABC affiliate WPLG claiming he was fired for being gay.

Perez was last seen pulling anchor duty on July 22, but his descent began months ago, according to a discrimination claim filed with Miami-Dade's Equal Opportunity Board, alleging WPLG bosses ousted him "because of their discomfort over the increasingly high profile of my sexual orientation."

Not helping things? Perez is in the middle of a domestic violence dispute with ex-boyfriend Dennis Ricardo Peña, who stands accused of leaking a private email between Perez and his therapist to his work colleagues. (Peña filed his own complaint against Perez, alleging Perez is the one responsible for the threats.)

On March 16, Perez alleges in court papers, Peña hacked into his personal e-mail, intercepting a "confidential and sensitive" e-mail and then forwarding it to "every single person" on Perez's e-mail address book. Among those who received the e-mail was Perez's attorney, Milstein. Perez says Peña had enough personal info to obtain his password.

Peña tells The Miami Herald: "I did not hack into his e-mail."

The e-mail in question was sent Feb. 20 to a family therapist in Los Angeles. Perez's petition says the e-mail could cause ''substantial harm" to his "professional and personal reputation."

Perez also says Peña sent him threatening text messages late last month.

Peña filed a 12-page motion to dismiss Perez's petition. The motion mentions Perez's co-anchor Laurie Jennings and her contract negotiations; details of the Perez-Peña sexual relationship; and Perez's relationship with a new partner, accountant Keith Rinehard. In the motion, Peña claims that Perez reached out to the therapist 'for counsel with his `gender identity issues.' "

It seems to coincide with his removal at the network.

The filing summary details Perez's quick descent at Channel 10, which began weeks after a March 3 performance review, when Perez says that WPLG News Director Bill Pohovey told him he was "too anchor-like and too ‘Brian Williams' in my delivery."

On March 16, a private e-mail from Perez written to a family therapist was forwarded to everyone in the reporter's online address book. The e-mail said Perez told the therapist he needed to work through his "gender identity issues."

Three days later, Pohovey called Perez into his office for a "new" performance review, this time saying that Perez came across "too soft," didn't sound "main anchor-like" and smiled too much with co-anchor Laurie Jennings. "Like girlfriends."

On April 3, Perez went to court seeking a restraining order against his former partner, Dennis Ricardo Peña, whom he accused of leaking the private e-mail.

Later that month, Perez claims he "began to disappear" from station promotional spots. He lost the weeknight anchor seat July 22.