<p>I for one never chose to be straight, any more than I chose having freckles and green eyes.</p>
<p>^ exactly. I too never chose to be straight either, or to have curly hair, although I did decide to not straighten it and accept my curliness ;)</p>
<p>I need to say, I was glad to see the offensive post on this thread removed. I don’t know if that poster knows DonnaL, but I found it especially mean spirited and offensive as well, particularly on a thread where posters are commenting on Anderson Cooper coming out openly to provide support to others. Let’s follow his lead…</p>
<p>Xiggi, is your Life not defined by your sexual preference? I know mine is. Not my whole being, but a good chunk of it is -who i am in love with, who I have children with.</p>
<p>And many people have life experiences, born with certain differences who choose tomshare so that they can help others.</p>
<p>I have to wonder if he ever said to his mom, “It was the jeans that did it.”</p>
<p>^^^Love it!</p>
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<p>LOL…as in every employee at Fox, or just some who have opinion shows?</p>
<p>I guess some still can’t distinguish between news and opinion shows.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize until yesterday that Anderson Cooper’s mom was Gloria Vanderbilt. Looking up this bio, he worked his way up in the industry, when he could have gotten an in or could have lived on his trust fund. For these reasons, this guy jumps up on my list. </p>
<p>His being gay was old news…</p>
<p>Everybody is pretending that they don’t care? Really Parent1986…I really, truly do not care that he is gay. REALLY.TRULY.
I am however surprised that this is perceived to be noteworthy.</p>
<p>Had dinner with S and his boyfriend tonight and discussed Anderson Cooper. S swears that he knew, but he suspects all good looking men are gay. Just wishful thinking. </p>
<p>re: coming out. S was one of those kids who never had to “come out.” Everyone just knew. We’ve always had gay friends around, so S was surprised that it would be an issue for anyone (poor sheltered child of liberals) His bf, however, had a difficult time with his mother, who is a conservative Christian, and her family. It’s been a good learning experience for S, as bf’s family is slowly warming up to him. Sigh, why do people make these things so difficult? I do think that celebrities can make a difference in public opinion. The more LGBT are seen as “just people” the better it will be for everyone.</p>
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<p>I’m confused by this post. Are you thinking we’re privately shocked and disgusted, but for some reason are pretending that we’re not? Why would we do that? </p>
<p>Nobody cares? Actually, I do care about this; I think it’s a great thing when a well-known and respected person comes out. I think it gives hope and courage to others who are struggling. </p>
<p>Who is “RL”? And does “-----” mean “gay”? It’s perfectly OK to say “gay.” It’s not a cuss word.</p>
<p>The Cooper/Sullivan story is newsworthy to the global campaign to secure safety and human rights for gay people. What Fox News, or Hollywood, or any of us here on CC think, or ever thought, about Cooper’s sexual orientation is altogether beside the point.</p>
<p>Sullivan is one of the most highly visible, and internationally connected, English language writers/bloggers in the world. He covers an enormous range of topics. Two of his special passions are democracy activism in the Middle East, and gay issues around the world. Cooper’s letter will have a global audience, in countries that “have no homosexuals” (according to the president of one country) and countries that are a hair’s breadth from passing appalling legislation criminalizing gay sex and gay advocacy. It really matters that Cooper made his statement in the way he did.</p>
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<p>I agree with this. What I do not agree with is saying Fox News is anti-gay. There is no evidence that the network is anti-gay. What most conservatives object to is not someone being homosexual (they are born that way) but having a court re-write the federal constitution to compel the population to permit gay marriage. I would vote for gay marriage, but I would never support having a court impose gay marriage when it clearly is not contemplated by the authors of the federal constitution.</p>
<p>I know that people are not as enlightend as we think we are. I do not know the proper words to use and often ask my daughter for the perspective. She has a number of gay, lesbian , transgendered friends. Even now I am not sure I have used the proper words. I know if one of my children was gay, my H’s family would not be good about it. There would be snide remarks. My family would be fine. There are still a number of misconceptions (I believe) and beliefs. A friend once told me she didnt want her daughter to be in a dorm with a gay house mother as she thought it might influence her. A friend had a daughter who came out and she handled it poorly, saying things she wished she could take back. While talking about the catholic crisis, (I am catholic) someone said that they would be forgiven and told me there was only two things that could not be forgiven suicide and being gay. She was form the deep south. I was completely floored, a pedifile gets into heaven and not a gay or troubled person?. In each incidence I politely answered with my dissent. I have also tried to support my friend who is not happy with her daughter being gay, by trying to gently help her deal with it. We have come a long way, but we need to come furthur, so in rethinking this, I am glad he came out, because the more people can see people they admire in this light, the more people can see its ok to be what you are. it seem a non issue tomany of us to others it clearly isnt.</p>
<p>I said I was surprised that this was noteworthy for one reason.</p>
<p>I thought that everyone who has known who Anderson Cooper is has known that is is gay.</p>
<p>I am still distressed that being gay is shocking to much of America. I realize that there is a good chance that many posting here do not realize that one of their kids is gay. Your tittering over Anderson Cooper is going to make it tougher and tougher for them to be honest with you. Get over it.</p>
<p>I had no idea that Anderson Cooper is gay, though I did know he is a Vanderbilt.</p>
<p>I knew he was Gloria Vanderbilt’s son, that his brother, sadly, suicided, that he went to Yale and that he is gay. Do I win a kewpie doll?</p>
<p>I didn’t know that about his brother. :(</p>
<p>parent1986, who or what is “RL” which you referred to in post 79 ?</p>
<p>Am assuming Ralph Lauren (know this only because I’ve seen it in the “dressing young” thread :)</p>
<p>The incidents I have highlighted about came as quite a shock to me as well, as I come form a very liberal state. I think things are slowly getting better, at a snails pace. I didnt get the inkling that people were tittering about AC. i thought it was just a topic to generate comment.</p>