Anderson Cooper Officially Comes Out: 'The Fact Is, I'm Gay

In an email to The Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan, CNN's lead anchor Anderson Cooper said he's gay.

Sullivan published the email this morning in which Cooper said the following:

I've always believed that who a reporter votes for, what religion they are, who they love, should not be something they have to discuss publicly. As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn't matter. I’ve stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when I’ve been directly asked “the gay question,” which happens occasionally. I did not address my sexual orientation in the memoir I wrote several years ago because it was a book focused on war, disasters, loss and survival. I didn't set out to write about other aspects of my life. ...

The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.

I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. In a perfect world, I don't think it's anyone else's business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted. I’m not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist.

Cooper's email was sent to Sullivan in response to a question regarding the manner in which famous figures deal with making their sexuality known to the public. It has been widely speculated in the past and present that Cooper is gay.

Sullivan, a British political commentator who describes himself as politically conservative, is also gay.