Anderson's Critics...

I've caught Anderson Cooper doing a wonderful job on CNN this week. I think he is such a solid journalist who puts a lot of heart and a lot of interest in the stories he reports from around the world. But here in Miami, where I have been since Wednesday for the annual convention of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Assn., there has been a definite anti-Anderson Cooper sentiment. It came up during a panel discussion a few days ago during a lively session called "Off Camera: The Challenges for LGBT TV Anchors." CNN Headline News anchor Thomas Roberts (see previous post, below) talked at-length about his own career and life as a gay anchor but was too classy (or savvy) to address comments about the silver-haired Cooper who is probably the networks' biggest star if you don't count Larry King, and I really don't want to count Larry King.

"Anderson used to be more out, before they decided to make him THE GUY," one local anchor sniffed during the session.

Cooper has declined to discuss his private life in interviews, something that was often broached when he was doing publicity for his recent best-selling memoir. This is what has a lot of his fellow journalists peeved: that he would write such a deeply personal book and omit any reference to his sexuality. At the last official party last night at Miami's Loews Hotel, footage of Cooper anchoring New Year's Eve coverage a few years ago and making some comments about some drag queens was shown amid knowing snickers etc. At dinner later, some of my fellow attendees were bagging on him as well.

I am turned off by all of this Anderson-bashing because I think it's his damned business and he should handle it however he wants to handle it. He's focusing on his work and any journalist, gay or straight, should be proud. I spent more than a decade as a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and I never felt comfortable being out to my bosses and didn't want my sexuality to interfere with my work. Of course, now I feel differently about it all and have put it in the forefront of virtually everything I do professionally. But that is my choice and I came to it in my own time.

Maybe Anderson Cooper will too, maybe not. Either way, I wish him only the best.