Anderson Cooper reveals reasons for coming out when and how he did

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Anderson Cooper, the CNN presenter, has spoken out about why he chose to come out this summer, and why he thinks it is important for gay people to be more “visible.”

Speaking on the premier of his new daytime show, Anderson Live, the reporter laughed with colleague Kristen Chenowith, and said that his family and friends had known he was gay, and he wanted to maintain his private life, but that eventually he felt like he had a responsibility to come out:

“It just got to the point where I’ve been torn for a long time between a desire as a reporter to just do my job and be known as a reporter and, at the same time, I do think visibility is important,” Mr Cooper said, according to MSNBC.

“I do think that the tide of history only moves forward when everyone is fully visible. … I didn’t want to send a message that there was anything I was ashamed about or unhappy about or not comfortable with.”

In July, Mr Cooper sent an email to blogger Andrew Sullivan, in which he allowed to be published online on The Daily Beast, he confirmed being gay.

In the letter, he said: “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.”

Despite coming out to huge support, some critics made claims that the broadcaster made his declaration when he did to boost CNN’s flagging ratings.