Rachel Maddow: I’m not saying Anderson Cooper is gay, but if he is he should come out

It’s a tale of ‘Will he or won’t he?’ that’s been delighting Americans for years now: When will beloved newsman Anderson Cooper, who is not gay but in any case it would be totally fine if he was because everyone likes him, open up about his sexuality?

 Now Rachel Maddow has thrown her glove into the ring, telling the Guardian that someone who is not Anderson Cooper but nevertheless has many things in common with him, should be open about his sexuality:

Maddow is one of the very few gay news anchors in America – well, one of the very few openly gay news anchors. Does she feel frustration towards an equally well-known news presenter who is widely assumed to be gay but has never come out? For the first time, Maddow pauses: ‘I’m sure other people in the business have considered reasons why they’re doing what they’re doing, but I do think that if you’re gay you have a responsibility to come out,’ she says carefully.

Putting jokes aside for some real talk now: Does a celebrity who belongs to an oppressed group have the responsibility to come out and serve as an example for that group? Or is a public figure’s private life allowed to be their private life? We’ll be honest: We’re not sure. What do you think? (via Mediabistro)