Annual AnderOuting

Annual ‘OUT Power 50′ Arrives With Annual Outing Of In Anderson Cooper

by David Badash on April 26, 2012


OUT Magazine’s annual OUT Power 50 list – the 50 supposed most powerful LGBT people to affect cultural and social attitudes – has just been published and as usual, OUT outs CNN’s Anderson Cooper and Fox News’ Shepard Smith, along with Apple CEO Tim Cook (is he “out”?), and (maybe?) Matt Drudge. Is it a coincidence that Perez Hilton, who made the list, has asked Anderson to come out?

As usual, the list is so white OUT had to include CNN anchor Don Lemon — who made the top 50 list at #58 (hmmm…) in their graphic (above.)

Other news about the list of whom OUT’s editors think are the 50 (actually, the list goes to 65 for some reason, not to mention, ties. Guilt, perhaps?) most powerful LGBT people in America?

OUT “forgot” that #7, Rich Ross, got fired from Disney, yet he is listed as “Chairman, The Walt Disney Studios.”

Apparently, some ladies don’t tell their ages. Houston Mayor Annise Parker, #29, is “ageless” (Wikipedia puts her at 55 until next month, I’ve met her, she looks great for 50!) along with Megan Smith of Google, actress Jane Lynch at #47 (again, Wikipedia puts her at 51,) and then, everyone past #50 is “ageless” as well…

Missing from this year’s list are former Bush strategist, Republican Ken Mehlman — despite having helped win marriage for New York — and despite the fact that this is an election year, and Adam Lambert. And someone named Nate Berkus.

Rachel Maddow dropped a spot to #5 (crazy — she just launched her first book), and Matt Drudge whimsically jumps from #39 to #16. Because that makes sense…

“8″ and “Milk” writer and man about town Dustin Lance Black is gone — which makes as much sense as including Rich Ross or dropping Ken Mehlman. GQ Editor Jim Nelson, Actress Jodie Foster, writer/director Lisa Cholodenko, film producer Christine Vachon and Sundance Film Festival head John Cooper are all gone too from last year’s list.

Can someone tell me again why they keep doing these lists?

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Why they keep doing these lists?

Because people read them and comment about them, right, Mr. Badash? Because people love them and hate them. Because these lists let us know who is out there who matters and how much it matters to some groups of people -- even if some of us disagree.