Anderson Cooper : "The Fact Is , I'm Gay"

Anderson Cooper has officially come out as a gay man.

The CNN anchor and talk show host discusses his decision in a letter to political blogger and friend Andrew Sullivan, published on Monday.

He writes, "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."

While Cooper still believes his private life is just that, he acknowledges that by "remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something."

He makes it clear that that is simply not the case.

"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," says Cooper.

The CNN host emphasizes that his role as a journalist supersedes his public discussion of his sexuality.

He explains, "Since my early days as a reporter, I have worked hard to accurately and fairly portray gay and lesbian people in the media – and to fairly and accurately portray those who for whatever reason disapprove of them."

Cooper continues, "It is not part of my job to push an agenda, but rather to be relentlessly honest in everything I see, say and do. I’ve never wanted to be any kind of reporter other than a good one, and I do not desire to promote any cause other than the truth."

Here's Cooper’s entire note to Sullivan .

Anderson Cooper has revealed ... he's gay and he's proud.


Cooper made the announcement in a letter to Andrew Sullivan, who was doing a story for The Daily Beast,com about the social impact of famous people who come out as gay.


Sullivan reached out to Cooper for his thoughts, to which Anderson replied with a letter.


"There continue to be far too many incidences of bullying of young people, as well as discrimination and violence against people of all ages, based on their sexual orientation, and I believe there is value in making clear where I stand," Cooper wrote.


"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."
Congrats to Anderson Cooper for his coming out , now it will be difficult to keep the gays away . HeHe

Celebrities React To Anderson Cooper Coming Out

Celebrities are taking to Twitter to praise Anderson Cooper after he officially came out as a gay man in a thoughtful letter to political blogger and friend Andrew Sullivan on Monday.

Here are some of the thoughts from stars about Cooper’s decision to come out:

Neil Patrick Harris

: "Good for you, @AndersonCooper. You’re awesome."

Kristen Bell

: "A bold and beautiful statement by someone who is smarter than all of us, journalist @andersoncooper."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

: "One of the reasons I look up to my friend @andersoncooper is his amazing eloquence. Very proud of him!"

Ellen DeGeneres

: "I’m proud of you, @AndersonCooper."

Russell Simmons

: "Happy for Anderson Cooper…"

Marlee Matlin

: "Bravo @andersoncooper! xo M."

Kelly Ripa

: "So proud of you @andersoncooper. Always have been, always will be."

Mia Farrow

: "In a perfect world, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business – Anderson Cooper."

Kathy Griffin

posted a photo of her and Cooper, along with the tweet, "Here I am w/ my friend @andersoncooper who I’m so proud of."

NeNe Leakes

: "That did it…Now I really love @andersoncooper."

Lance Bass

: "What a classy guy."

Joan Rivers

: "@AndersonCooper came out! So, THAT’S why he never wanted to date me! I would’ve loved having Gloria Vanderbilt as my mother-in-law."

Michael McKean

: "Anderson Cooper helps us move ‘what shouldn’t matter’ closer to ‘what doesn’t matter. #someday.’"

Cissy Houston : 'I Refuse to Sleep in Whitney's Death Hotel'

Cissy Houston was not happy this weekend when she was booked at the same hotel where her daughter Whitney Houston died ... but she does want to visit her daughter's death room at some point ... TMZ has learned.


Whitney's mother is in Los Angeles this weekend for the BET Awards (where Whitney will be honored) and we're told she felt uncomfortable when she was set up at the Beverly Hilton -- the same hotel Whitney passed away in back in February.


Our sources say Cissy does want to visit room 434 for closure and is planning to contact the hotel this weekend ... but that she wants to do it on her own time.


According to our sources, Cissy's reservation was moved to the Regent Beverly Wilshire instead.

Whitney Houston's Family : Cissy is Explorting Whitney's Death for Cash "OMG"

Whitney Houston's mom is pulling a Joe Jackson -- cashing in on her child's tragic death ... that's what some family members think of Cissy Houston's plans to write a tell-all book.


Sources close to the Houston family tell TMZ ... Cissy's new publishing deal with Harper-Collins for a memoir is merely a lame attempt to make money -- since Whitney left everything to Bobbi Kristina -- and not at all about honoring the late singer.


One source said the book -- which is slated for release next year -- could also be a PR move for Cissy, claiming ... "She will try to come out looking like the world's greatest mom, when in actuality, she wasn't."
The Houstons' & Jacksons' : Maybe they are raleted ....HeHe

What's with these greedy sicko ugly parents that want to cash in on their own children immediately after their death? Do they think money will expedite their mourning? LOL, WHAT mourning !!!!

Now a word from the 'Truth.' HeHe

IT'S NO SECRET THE BROWN'S AND HOUSTON'S STILL DONT AND NEVER HAVE GOTTEN ALONG. BOTH FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ACCUSING EACH OTHER OF WHITNEY'S DEATH PUBLICALLY AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA. NO DOUBT ONE CAN ASSUME BOBBY BROWN AND FAM IS AT IT AGAIN SEEING THAT KRISSI IS NOT DOING BOBBY'S LAME REALITY SHOW BUT PAT HOUSTON'S. HATFIELD'S AND MCCOY'S, THE BLACK VERSION 2.0. #EPICFAIL #TRUTH!!

Thanxs ... Don't Silence The Truth

[Claim] Katie Homles Believes She's Being Followed by Scientology Memers "WHF"

Kate Holmes believes Scientology now views her as a threat to the organization and has put a team on her tail ... sources close to the actress tell TMZ.


We're told Katie believes in recent weeks -- as the discord between her and Tom Cruise grew -- Scientology has been following her moves, especially in New York City.


This does not appear to be the mind of a paranoid person. People who have photographed Katie multiple times tell TMZ there have been several "mysterious" men and vehicles around Katie's apartment and following her when she's out.


Specifically ... a white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV (see above) have been seen near Katie's NYC apartment for the past week.


FYI -- there is a publication that has put a tail on Katie, but the people doing that are separate from the people Katie believes have been dispatched from Scientology.


It is unclear if the two vehicles that have been constantly spotted near Holmes' pad are from Scientology or from the publication.


If Katie is able to keep the divorce in New York -- where courts generally like to award sole legal custody to one parent or the other when there is conflict -- proof that she's being tailed could help her case.


We put in a call to Scientology ... so far, no word back.

Katie & Tom Cruise Sleeping Apart Weeks Leading Up to Divorce

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise were both in New York City in the weeks leading up to her filing for divorce, but they did NOT stay under the same roof ... TMZ has learned.


According to our sources, Tom was in town for a few days around June 10 to film a movie. We're told Tom did not stay in the apartment the couple has in NYC ... but rather at The Greenwich Hotel ... and never once stepped in or near the apartment.


Our sources say Katie, meanwhile, was going back and forth between the apartment she and Tom shared, and a new apartment she recently got. The two were both photographed during their time in NYC (see above) but never together.


We're told Katie did bring Suri to visit Tom at the hotel on two occasions for a few hours and that the visits were unplanned -- Tom's own security didn't even know they were coming.


According to the people we spoke to in Tom and Katie's building ... they couldn't remember the last time they had seen Tom. Our sources say that while they were clearly having problems, Tom had no idea this was coming and his entire team was caught flat-footed by the filing.

Katie Holmes : Secertly Rented N.Y. Apartment Before Filing Divorce

Katie Holmes was getting her home in order prior to filing for divorce from Tom Cruise.

The actress, who already shares a place in New York with the actor, actually began secretly renting another apartment as she prepared to leave Cruise and seek sole custody of their daughter Suri.

Cruise was filming Oblivion in Iceland when Holmes left him.

A rep for Cruise told Gossip Cop shortly after the divorce news emerged that "Tom is deeply saddened."

News of the second apartment was first reported by Us Weekly