Sat. November 10, 2012
New York, NY -
Well known gay CNN anchor and talk show host Anderson Cooper spoke candidly about coming out on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS Friday. With a beginning toast involving a bottle of Cutty Sark scotch and chat about the elections of last Tuesday, Cooper made the opening comment which evolved into an open discussion about his orientation.
As Letterman offered a "fist bump" to Cooper which Letterman comically tried to turn into some sort of a secret handshake, Cooper said "I'm gay, we don't do this kind of thing!"
Wearing a blue blazer, grey slacks, an open collared light blue shirt and highly shined black shoes, Cooper appeared relaxed and unabashed with his comments. Cooper, who has been rumored to be gay for quite some time, officially came out in early July of this year.
Letterman said we have a responsibility to help other humans and asked Cooper why at this point in his life would he come out as a "homosexual". Cooper quipped back "we call it light in the loafers".
Cooper went on the say: "... as a member of a community in this country who is concerned about the well being of this country and the well being of people in the community I didn't want to be sending in any way, I didn't want anybody interpreting my silence on the issue as being somehow that I was ashamed of something or was trying to hide something. I could not be any more happy, I could not be any more comfortable and any more proud of being gay than I am."
Cooper spoke about bigotry and concerns for the safety of himself and his crew when traveling to parts of the world where gay persons are hunted down and killed.
Letterman and Cooper also talked about bullying in our society today, as well as "gaydar". Cooper teased Letterman by saying he was "pinging off the hook about you David!"
Letterman complimented Cooper by offering that his temerity in coming out has and will help others who fear being out and open.
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