Anderson Cooper is one of the most elegant, ethical, wise, brave, and hottest, men in America. Today in an email to Andrew Sullivan published on the Daily Beast, Cooper who has reported from disaster and war zones around the world, as well as joining Kathy Griffin for CNN’s New Years Eve in Times Square, comes out gracefully, expressing his reasons for coming out now and not making a big deal out of being gay in the past (And let’s face it, who somebody boinks and/or loves is really the least interesting thing about them. Or should be).

Cooper’s main point is that while he values his privacy and feels it is necessary for his job as a reporter, he also realizes that homophobia from the pulpit and in the schoolyard must end, and the more visible LGBT are, the quicker, one hopes, the equality and acceptance will be. Here are some select quotes from his email to Sullivan:

Since I started as a reporter in war zones 20 years ago, I’ve often found myself in some very dangerous places. For my safety and the safety of those I work with, I try to blend in as much as possible, and prefer to stick to my job of telling other people’s stories, and not my own.I have found that sometimes the less an interview subject knows about me, the better I can safely and effectively do my job as a journalist…

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…

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.

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…

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…

But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy.

Thank you, Anderson Copper for starting off the Fourth of July the right way, by demonstrating a true love of your country and belief in its innate goodness (and in the power of celebrity to help open hearts and minds, a true American value, which is better served by you and your thoughtful words and deeds than by the entire Kardashian clan in their desperate clatter for fame as spokesholes for whatever).

Now if only Shepard Smith would follow Anderson’s lead….

Today Fox-TV’s award-winning series Glee begins shooting an episode featuring comedian Kathy Griffin as

a character named Tammy Jean, a middle-aged “recent Tea Party candidate and home schooler — a Sarah Palin type.”

according to MovieLine.

I guess Michele Bachmann and Christine O’Donnell aren’t famous–or ambitious–enough to reference  in a casting breakdown.

Last year Glee’s creator Ryan Murphy told TV Guide that the show would be adding a Christian character to the glee club:

We’ve taken a couple jabs at the right wing this year, so what I want to do with this character is have someone who Christian kids and parents can recognize and say, ‘Oh, look—I’m represented there, too!’ If we’re trying to form a world of inclusiveness, we’ve got to include that point of view as well.

However, Griffin’s character is definitely not going to be joining the singing students of New Directions. I wonder if she’ll go up against Sue Sylvester or bond with the maniacal cheerleading coach.

[photo: i heart him, creative commons]

It’s about time! Finally there’s large scale national benefit for the Gulf region. The spill may not have injured orphans and displaced families like earlier telethons, but the BP spill’s impact  affects hundreds of thousands of people–oil workers, fishermen, shrimpers, support workers, the tourism industry–in at least four states, as well as millions of non-human life forms: Coral, crabs, fish, dolphins, manatees,  sea birds, plants. And all our oceans are connected…this could flow across the globe. Buh bye, world.

So Larry King is devoting two hours tonight, beginning at 8pm Eastern time for a telethon/concert/fundraiser for humans and the environment devastated by the BP Deepwater Horizon spill. Sting has signed on, along with teen sensation Justin Beiber, Cameron Diaz, Ryan Seacrest, and Robert Redford, Deepak Chopra, Philippe Cousteau, Ted Danson, Kathy Griffin, Chelsea Handler, Randy Jackson, Kerry Kennedy, Lenny Kravitz, Jenny McCarthy, Tim McGraw, Alyssa Milano, Aaron Neville, Edward James Olmos, Victoria Principal, Gloria Reuben, Tyson Ritter, Richard Simmons, Ian Somerhalder, Sam Trammell, Melania and Ivanka Trump, Pete Wentz, Herbie Hancock and India.Arie.

CNN states that the event will benefit

United Way, The National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy, organizations working directly with the families, individuals and wildlife affected by the Gulf oil spill.

The Nature Conservancy lists BP as a member of its International Leadership Council.

(shoop: commentary/fair use/creative commons by K.Baird)

Lt Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo both of whom campaigned againt Dont Ask Don’t Tell were arrested–in uniform–as they were chained to the White House’s north fence. Also arrest was Robin McGehee, co-chair of GetEqual.org.

Towelroad reports:

According to Tweets from Robin McGehee at GetEqual reporting from the Kathy Griffin – Human Rights Campaign “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rally, McGehee, who is traveling with Lt. Dan Choi, asked Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese if Choi could speak at the rally and he rebuffed her, telling her it was Kathy Griffin’s rally. Choi took the stage anyway, told Griffin DADT is not a joke, and announced that he was marching to the White House. Choi then began leading hundreds on a march to the White House.

DC Agenda takes up the story from there

Choi encouraged Griffin and Joe Solmonese, HRC’s president, to join him as he and others walked to the White House to protest the law against open service. Neither Griffin nor Solmonese joined him, but part of the rally crowd followed Choi to the White House.

Shortly after Choi and Pietrangelo arrived at the White House, they chained themselves to the fence, an action that drew a fast response from Secret Service personnel. Some agents quickly pushed the crowd of about 50 protesters away from the White House fence and into the street, and others erected yellow police tape around the area. About seven agents stayed behind the tape with Choi and Pietrangelo.

At around this time, McGehee was arrested near the White House fence. The basis for her arrest was not immediately clear.

The agents cut Choi and Pietrangelo free after an hour and arrested them.

I wish Kathy Griffin had the guts to chain herself to the White House fence…

There’s more at Pam’s Houseblend.