Jaguars' Kev Maxen First Male Coach to Come Out as Gay U.S. Sports

Contents:

• ANRSON COOPER SHAR WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS GAY: 'ONE OF THE GREAT BLSGS OF MY LIFE'
• THOMAS ROBERTS BE FIRST OPENLY GAY EVENG NEWS ANCHOR ON NETWORK TV
• GAY NEWSMEN – A CLEARER {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY KARMAN KREGLOEMAY 13, 2007/7:07 PMBY KARMAN KREGLOEMAY 13, 2007 / 7:07 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"GAY NEWSMEN – A CLEARER PICTURE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-05-13T23:07:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-05-13T23:07:47.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"KARMAN KREGLOE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JOURNALISM IS GROUND ZERO FOR TTH A EE SOCIETY. SO IF THE JOURNALIST IS GAY DO THIS OBLIGATN TO TTH CREATE A GREATER RPONSIBILY TO BE “OUT”? IN A CULTURE WHERE THE ACPLISHMENTS OF GAY PEOPLE OFTEN REMA VISIBLE, IS ANSWERG THE SIMPLE QUTN ON SEXUAL ORIENTATN PART OF A MMENT TO REVEAL THE WORLD AS IS – OR IS IRRELEVANT A PROFSN WHERE “YOU ARE NOT THE STORY”?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A TWO-PART SERI, EXPLOR THE REERS AND CHOIC OF GAY TELEVISN JOURNALISTS. FIRST, WE HIGHLIGHT THE WORK AND EXPERIENC OF NE OF THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE GAY ON-MERA NEWSMEN THE UNTRY – WH MORE JOURNALISTS FEATURED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON THE AE BLOG. PART II, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED ON ON MAY 21, VTIGAT THE ISSU SURROUNDG BEG OUT WH NEWS ANIZATNS AND PUBLIC, AND LOOKS AT THE IMPACT OF THOSE CHOIC ON THE DIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY. THAT DISCSN CLUS ALL THE NEWSMEN AS WELL AS WORK NEWS EXECUTIV – BOTH STRAIGHT AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS AFTERELTON NDUCTED EXTENSIVE TERVIEWS ON AND OFF THE RERD FOR THIS SERI. HERE, WE SPOKE WH FIVE NATNAL NEWS RRPONNTS AND FOUR ANCHORS ABOUT THEIR WORK AND THEIR CHOICE TO BE OUT — SOME OF THE JOURNALISTS DISCSG THIS PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY HAVE REPORTED ON WASHGTON POLICS, NATURAL DISASTERS AND OM THE IRAQ WAR ZONE, MANY RISKG THEIR LIV TO BRG FACTS ABOUT OUR WORLD TO THE AMERIN PEOPLE. BY SPEAKG OPENLY ABOUT THEIR REERS, THE REPORTERS CREATE A FULLER PICTURE OF WHO GAY PEOPLE ARE, AND A CLEARER IMAGE OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MIGUEL MARQUEZ: IT'S A WEIRDLY TIMATE BS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DURG HIS MANY TRIPS TO IRAQ SCE JOG ABC OM CNN OVER TWO YEARS AGO, MARQUEZ HAS TERVIEWED AMERIN ARY OFFICERS, IRANIAN DIPLOMATS AND SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE. HE HAS ALSO REPORTED ON THE ATHS OF TOO MANY AMERIN SOLDIERS AND IRAQI CIZENS A PLACE THAT HE SAYS HAS GOTTEN MORE AND MORE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARQUEZ SAID MANY OF THE TENSE SUATNS THAT RRPONNTS REPORT OM — WAR ZON, HURRIN, CALIFORNIA WILDFIR — MAKE NEWS "A WEIRDLY TIMATE BS." IN SOME OF THOSE SUATNS, MARQUEZ BELIEV, BEG ANK WH LLEAGU ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATN N BE PART OF WHAT ALLOWS YOU THE FORT LEVEL YOU {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT MAK A BIG DIFFERENCE," SAID MARQUEZ. "YOU'RE TRAVELG WH PRODUCERS AND PEOPLE RS, AND YOU'VE BEEN WH THEM FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS, YOU ALL STK, AND YOU'RE LLG LOVED ON ON THE PHONE, TRYG TO WHISPER 'I LOVE YOU' AND HAVG VERY TIMATE NVERSATNS. … THE MORE FORTABLE YOU ARE PERSONALLY, I THK THE BETTER THE EXPERIENCE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND MARQUEZ'S EXPERIENCE IS THAT UNIVERSALLY WH THE NEWS AGENCI, PEOPLE ARE OPEN AND ACCEPTG. IT'S THE NEXT LEVEL — BEG OPEN WH OUTSI PRS AND THEREBY THE PUBLIC — THAT SOME OF HIS LLEAGU WON'T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT ALSO DOWN TO A VERY PERSONAL CISN," SAID MARQUEZ OF THE CISN TO BE OUT. "IT'S HARD FOR ME TO JUDGE ANYONE ELSE." BUT HIS OWN CISN ON THE ISSUE DOWN TO THIS: "I'M A BS THAT'S ALL ABOUT TTH AND HONTY, AND TO SOME GREE I'M RPONSIBLE TO BE HONT AS WELL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JOHN YANG: WHY SHOULD I PASS AS BEG STRAIGHT? {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THIS, THE FIRST PROFILE WHERE HE MENTNS HIS SEXUALY, YANG SAID THAT TAKG ON THE VETED JOB OF JESALEM RRPONNT FOR ABC 2003 "WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELT LIKE AN ADULT." THIS SPE THE FACT YANG HAD REPORTED FOR YEARS OM THE WHE HOE AND CONGRS, AS WELL AS THE IRAQ WAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REGARDG THE JESALEM APPOTMENT, YANG ADMTED, "I WAS EXTREMELY FLATTERED BEE AT ABC NEWS, PETER JENNGS HAD VETO POWER OVER FOREIGN RRPONNTS. AND THIS WAS AN AREA THAT PETER RED EPLY ABOUT. AND ACTUALLY PETER GOT ON THE PHONE … AND SAID 'I'D REALLY LOVE FOR YOU TO DO THIS.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND BEG GAY MAY HAVE GIVEN YANG AN EDGE LANDG THE POST. "IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHG THAT PETER SAID TO ME," YANG RELLED. "IT'S THAT HE THOUGHT THAT — AND LOOKG BACK, YOU N TAKE WHAT HE SAID A UPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, WHETHER HE MEANT [ME] BEG ASIAN OR BEG GAY — BUT THAT HE THOUGHT THAT WHAT I WOULD BRG TO THAT REPORTG WAS AN UNRSTANDG OR AN SIGHT TO … PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGALIZED."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YANG HAS FOUND THAT AMONG THE POLILLY POWERFUL WASHGTON, BEG GAY IS ALSO ACCEPTED, SPE PUBLIC RHETORIC THAT MIGHT SUGGT OTHERWISE. IN A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL TO , YANG RELLED A 1992 PHONE LL OM A NSERVATIVE REPUBLIN SENATOR AFTER A WASHGTONIAN MAGAZE PIECE ON YANG'S EMPLOYER AT THE TIME, THE WASHGTON POST, ALLUD TO HIS SEXUAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"JOHN, I SAW THAT THG ABOUT YOU THE MAGAZE," THE SENATOR TOLD YANG. "I JT WANT TO TELL YOU DON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME. YOU'RE STILL THE BT DAMNED REPORTER I'VE EVER ALT WH." YANG THANKED THE LEGISLATOR, WHO AFTER A PSE ASKED, "I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHG WRONG, HAVE I?" YANG ASSURED HIM: "NO, SENATOR. YOU SAID JT THE RIGHT THG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHY IS YANG ONE OF THE FEW NATNAL TELEVISN JOURNALISTS CHOOSG TO BE NDID ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATN? HE NNECTS PART TO HIS EXPERIENCE OF BEG PERCEIVED AS A RACIAL MORY. "THERE ARE CERTA THGS ABOUT MYSELF THAT ARE IMMUTABLE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE OBV," YANG SAID. "I'M ASIAN. I MEAN, ANYONE WHO SE ME ON THE AIR OR HEARS MY LAST NAME KNOWS THAT. … AND A WAY, I FELT THAT I N'T PASS AS NOT BEG ASIAN, SO WHY SHOULD I PASS AS BEG STRAIGHT?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MANUEL GALLEG: IT HASN'T BEEN ANY ISSUE AT ALL. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“YOU ALWAYS THK ABOUT THAT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE A PUBLIC PERSON, YOU'RE ON-AIR TALENT. I THK EVERYBODY'S NCERNED WH THEIR OWN IMAGE.” BUT GALLEG SAID AS HE BEME MORE NFINT AND SATISFIED AT HIS JOB, MET OTHER GAY PEOPLE AT CBS, AND FOUND THE ENVIRONMENT WAS AN ACCEPTG ONE, “I REALIZED THAT I HAD NOTHG TO WORRY ABOUT. AND HASN'T BEEN ANY ISSUE AT ALL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GALLEG HAS HAD AN CREDIBLY DIVERSE REPORTG REER, TERVIEWG PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS AND ACTOR AND ACTIVIST LEONARDO DICAPR THE WEEK BEFORE THIS TERVIEW. HE HAS ALSO REPORTED OM THE 1999 COLUMBE SCHOOL SHOOTG, AND THE SCENE OF TWO OF THE MOST VASTATG NATURAL DISASTERS RECENT US HISTORY: THE 1989 SAN FRANCIS EARTHQUAKE AND NEW ORLEANS DURG HURRINE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GALLEG, WHO HAS MEXIN ANCTRY, IS GREETED ON THE STREET BY ENTHIASTIC LATO YOUTH WH “HEY BROWN MAN! IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ON TELEVISN!” AND GALLEG THKS BEG VISIBLE AS A SUCCSFUL GAY MAN IS IMPORTANT A SIAR WAY. BUT ULTIMATELY, GALLEG SAID HE CHOSE TO ANSWER THE QUTN ON SEXUAL ORIENTATN HERE BEE AS A JOURNALIST HE HIMSELF PENDS ON DIFFICULT ANSWERS; SOMETIM OM PEOPLE THE MOST TIMATE AND TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANC. “HOW HYPOCRIL IS FOR A JOURNALIST TO NOT WANT TO TALK, TO NOT GIVE AN TERVIEW?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JEFEY KOFMAN: I N BE HONT. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKE GALLEG, KOFMAN LKS HIS CISN TO BE OUT WH HIS MISSN AS JOURNALIST. "I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME ASKG PEOPLE TO BE HONT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WH . … WHILE I DON'T THK A REPORTER'S PUBLIC LIFE SHOULD BE THE CENTER OF HIS OR HER WORK, I THK AT SOME POT YOU N'T DODGE THE REALY OF YOUR LIFE AND PRETEND YOU'RE BEG HONT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2003, KOFMAN'S HONTY CREATED SOMETHG OF A MOR NATNAL CINT THE U.S. AFTER HIS WORLD NEWS TONIGHT REPORT OM IRAQ ON TROOP MORALE — WHICH CLUD ONE SOLDIER LLG FOR THE RIGNATN OF DONALD RUMSFELD — MATT DDGE BRIEFLY PRTED THE HEADLE, "ABC NEWS REPORTER WHO FILED TROOPS COMPLAT STORY — OPENLY GAY CANADIAN," LKED TO AN TERVIEW KOFMAN DID WH NATNAL GAY MAGAZE THE ADVOTE. DDGE LATER CLAIMED THE STORY WAS SLIPPED TO HIM BY AN OVEREAGER WHE HOE STAFFER, PRUMABLY A MISGUID ATTEMPT TO DISCRED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT KOFMAN N HANDLE A TSLE WH THE WHE HOE. HIS RUME READS LIKE A FN OF MACHISMO JOURNALISM. HE HAS REPORTED OM COLOMBIAN JUNGL, DONE FOUR TOURS IRAQ AND VERED THE AFGHAN WAR OM AN AIRCRAFT RRIER. IN HAI , KOFMAN WAS CHASED BY MOBS AND THREATENED AT GUNPOT BY GUERILLAS, AND WAS THE FIRST JOURNALIST TO REPORT OM THE SCENE OF THE 2004 OVERTHROW OF THEN-PRINT JEAN-BERTRAND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KOFMAN, WHO SPENT HIS LAST VATN TREKKG THE ANS WH HIS PARTNER, SAID HIS "OUTSI THE BOX" REER ALIGNS WELL WH HOW HE WANTS TO LIVE HIS LIFE. BUT 25 YEARS AGO HE WASN'T SURE HE'D BE HIS DREAM JOB TODAY AS A WORLD-TRAVELG WORK RRPONNT. "I THK THAT BEG GAY, MY OWN MD, MA ME WONR WHETHER WAS POSSIBLE," HE SAID. BUT NOW, "WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THE CISN I MA ABOUT BEG OPEN, I'M VERY HAPPY. I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE UP STORI; I N BE HONT. AND THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE. THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO DO MY WORK."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JASON BELLI: THAT'S NOT HONT. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WE WERE G TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS STILL UNPROVEN," BELLI RELLED. THAT CREATED SOME SURREAL MOMENTS BROADSTG ON CNN. "I REMEMBER BEG THE SAND DUN WHEN THERE WAS A SMALL BATTLE GOG ON. AND WE GOT OUR SATELLE UP, AND I WAS BROADSTG AND THKG TO MYSELF, THIS IS REALLY WEIRD. WE'RE GOG LIVE OM THE MIDDLE OF THE SERT, AND THERE'S NOTHG AROUND FOR HUNDREDS OF ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELLI CREATED HIS REER NEWS OUT OF SHEER DARG. IN 1999, WHEN THE KOSOVO WAR BROKE OUT AND THE U.S. BOMBG MPAIGN BEGAN, BELLI QU HIS JOB AND TRAVELED TO THE WAR ZONE ON HIS OWN, HOPG TO SEND BACK STORI ON SPEC THAT HE SHOT ON HIS DIGAL MERA AND EDED ON A LAPTOP. WHILE THERE, HE GOT TO THE SYSTEM AT CNN AND MA HIMSELF DISPENSABLE, QUICKLY WORKG HIS WAY UP TO CNN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELLI'S EARLY CISN TO BE OUT REFLECTS A SIAR BOLDNS. WHILE OTHER ON-MERA PEOPLE STILL HOLD ONTO A NTROLLG ATTU ABOUT THEIR IMAGE, FOR BELLI THE CHOICE WAS CLEAR-CUT: "SKIRTG THAT ISSUE, SAYG 'S NOBODY'S BS, I THK THAT'S DISGENUO. BEE IF PEOPLE ARE TERTED YOU OUTSI OF THE PARAMETERS OF YOUR JOB SELF, AND YOU IGNORE [BEG GAY], THEN YOU'RE IGNORG AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOURSELF. AND THAT'S NOT HONT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RANDY PRICE: A LTLE B OF LLN. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PRICE EXPERIENCED THAT LLN FIRSTHAND THE '80S, WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG ANCHOR WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN LIVG WH HIS PARTNER FOR ALMOST A . IN NEWSPAPER PROFIL OF HIMSELF OM THAT TIME, REARS ULD SEE HIM AT HOME WH HIS DOG, "ALL THE THGS ABOUT MY LIFE. AND NEVER ONE — NOT ONE MENTN — OF DO I LIVE WH ANYBODY, WHAT'S THE STORY OF MY PERSONAL SUATN. … THEY DIDN'T ASK ANY OF THOSE QUTNS BEE THEY KNEW THE ANSWERS." AND PRICE NFSED, "I PROBABLY DIDN'T PH THE POT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, 10 YEARS SCE PRICE BEGAN ANSWERG THOSE QUTNS, HE IS AMED THAT SOME STILL SEE THOSE ANSWERS AS IRRELEVANT. "PEOPLE ASK THAT QUTN," PRICE SAID. "LIKE, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, IS REALLY NECSARY FOR YOU TO DISCS YOUR SEXUAL LIFE WH EVERYBODY?' AND I GO, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT I WAS DISCSG MY SEX LIFE. … I SAID I'M A GAY PERSON, I LIVE WH ANOTHER GUY, AND I HAVE A LONG-TERM RELATNSHIP. IF I DON'T TELL YOU THAT, THEN THERE'S REALLY NO FOUNDATN FOR HAVG AN EXCHANGE ABOUT WHO WE ALL ARE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HANK PLANTE: BEG GAY HAS MA ME A BETTER REPORTER. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COVERG AIDS AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN HOTON THE EARLY '80S, THE HOSTILE FEEDBACK PLANTE RECEIVED WASN'T SOLELY OM VIEWERS. "THE GENERAL MANGER AT THE STATN AT THE TIME DIDN'T LIKE OUR VERAGE, DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I WAS GAY," HE RELLED. "AND I IGNORED HIM." COVERG AIDS SAN FRANCIS SOON AFTERWARD, PLANTE TOOK EVEN MORE FIRE — SOME OF OM UNLIKELY SOURC. "PEOPLE THE GAY MUNY SAID, 'YOU'RE MAKG LOOK BAD … THEY'LL THK WE'RE ALL AIDS RRIERS.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PLANTE WON TWO EMMYS AND A PEABODY FOR HIS SAN FRANCIS AIDS VERAGE, AND 2005 WAS PRENTED WH A GLAAD PNEER AWARD. PLANTE SE HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATN AS BOTH IRRELEVANT TO HIS JOB AND SOMETHG THAT RMS . "BEG GAY HAS MA ME A BETTER REPORTER, JT AS 'S MA ME A BETTER PERSON," HE SAID. "I DON'T JT SEE THE OUTSI. I KNOW THERE IS A WHOLE LIFE THERE THAT I NEED TO BE OPEN TO."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT SPE HIS OWN GROUNDBREAKG CHOIC, PLANTE PARTS WH SOME OF THE REPORTERS TERVIEWED HERE, NOT SEEG A NNECTN BETWEEN HIS MISSN AS JOURNALIST AND THE CHOICE TO BE OUT. HOWEVER, HE HAS FOUND HIS OWN OPENNS EARNS HIM RPECT TERTG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I'LL TELL YOU WHERE HELPS ME, THIS TRANSPARENCY," EXPLAED PLANTE, REVEALG THAT FOR A BIG TERVIEW — SUCH AS CALIFORNIA ERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER OR A U.S. SENATOR — HE ROUTELY OUT TO HIS SUBJECT BEFORE THE TERVIEW BEGS. "I JT KD OF SLIP . 'OH, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKG TO MY DOMTIC PARTNER LAST NIGHT, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.' … AND YOU KNOW WHAT I FD IS? IT RELAX THEM. IT CREAT A VERY HONT SPACE, AND THEY'RE MORE OPEN TO ME. … I N'T EXPLA . SOMETHG MAGIL HAPPENS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CRAIG STEVENS: I JT NEVER LET BE THAT BIG OF A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STEVENS THKS THE POSIVE REACTN HE HAS RECEIVED AS AN OUT ANCHOR PART OM HIS OWN ATTU. "IF 'S THIS BIG HAND-WRGG, SORT OF TORTURED CISN, I THK PEOPLE FEED OFF YOUR ENERGY," HE SAID. "I JT NEVER LET BE THAT BIG OF A AL." BUT STEVENS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY OUT THERE: "I HAVE IENDS WH THE DTRY WHO, REALLY, THERE'S THIS ANGUISH, THIS FEAR OF WHAT HAPPENS" IF THEY E {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RANDOL WHE: I ULD JT FEEL MY BLOOD N LD. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THE WORLD DIDN'T VE . AND SLOWLY WHE VENTURED OUT MORE, ALLOWG HIMSELF TO BE REGNIZED GAY BARS MILWKEE, THEN SI MADISON. EVENTUALLY WHE WAS OUT TO HIS EMPLOYERS, -WORKERS AND HIS DIENCE, SUALLY MENTNG IENDS AND EVENTS DURG MORNG-SHOW CHAT THAT INTIFIED HIM AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHE SAID HE EXPERIENCED NO NEGATIVE REACTN. BEG AN "OUT NEWSSTER," HE SAID, "HAS BEEN 100 PERCENT POSIVE." NOW AN ANCHOR ON THE MORNG SHOW AND THE NOON NEWSST FOR CBS AFFILIATE KCOY SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., WHE NNECTS HIS CHOICE TO BE OUT TO SOMETHG HE HEARD OPENLY GAY WISNS REPRENTATIVE TAMMY BALDW SAY: "IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A WORLD WHERE YOU N HOLD YOUR BOYIEND'S HAND WALKG DOWN THE STREET, THEN HOLD YOUR BOYIEND'S HAND WALKG DOWN THE STREET."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHE SAID: "I THK THAT'S SUCH A POWERFUL STATEMENT. BEE YOU HAVE TO DO , FOR TO EVER BE ACCEPTED."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} NTU PROFILG THE OUT JOURNALISTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON THE BLOG, HIGHLIGHTG FORMER CNN RRPONNT THOMAS ROBERTS ON TUDAY, REGNAL NEWS NETWORK ANCHOR PL MUELLER ON WEDNDAY, AND MORE OM MIGUEL MARQUEZ IRAQ ON THURSDAY. PART 2 OF THIS ARTICLE, A LIVELY DISCSN WH THE JOURNALISTS AND WORK NEWS EXECUTIV, WILL BE PUBLISHED ON MAY 21. IT CLUS A G-OUT TERVIEW WH ONE OF THOSE EXECUTIV. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• MSNBC HIR ANOTHER GAY ANCHOR (WHO JT CAME OUT 2 YEARS AGO)
• JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS' KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE COACH TO COME OUT AS GAY MAJOR U.S. SPORTS
• THOMAS ROBERTS, OTHER GAY ANCHORS, OPEN UP TO ‘THE ADVOTE’

ANRSON COOPER SHAR WHEN HE REALIZED HE WAS GAY: 'ONE OF THE GREAT BLSGS OF MY LIFE'

Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr and Queer televisn newssters have a proment profile many untri around the world. Amerin Charl Perez of ABC News is one to particularly note - he published his book 'Confsns of a Gay News Anchorman' (2011) after his oral of beg fired om a posn Florida when he was intified as beg gay.

THOMAS ROBERTS BE FIRST OPENLY GAY EVENG NEWS ANCHOR ON NETWORK TV

For example, France, there is L'associatn s journalist LGBT, and Ameri there is the Natnal Lbian & Gay Journalists Associatn.

"I'm not sure I knew the word 'gay' at the time, but I realized somethg was up, " Cooper said a Q&A ssn Monday on CNN's "Full Circle, " addg that he began to tell iends when he was high school but still stggled through llege wh fully lovg himself. "I thk I really, tly accepted – and not jt accepted , but fully embraced and me around to really lovg the fact that I was gay – would probably be right after llege, " he said.

"A lot of the thgs I wanted to do at the time, you uldn't be gay, " he said, cg an tert jog the U.

GAY NEWSMEN – A CLEARER {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY KARMAN KREGLOEMAY 13, 2007/7:07 PMBY KARMAN KREGLOEMAY 13, 2007 / 7:07 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"GAY NEWSMEN – A CLEARER PICTURE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-05-13T23:07:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-05-13T23:07:47.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"KARMAN KREGLOE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JOURNALISM IS GROUND ZERO FOR TTH A EE SOCIETY. SO IF THE JOURNALIST IS GAY DO THIS OBLIGATN TO TTH CREATE A GREATER RPONSIBILY TO BE “OUT”? IN A CULTURE WHERE THE ACPLISHMENTS OF GAY PEOPLE OFTEN REMA VISIBLE, IS ANSWERG THE SIMPLE QUTN ON SEXUAL ORIENTATN PART OF A MMENT TO REVEAL THE WORLD AS IS – OR IS IRRELEVANT A PROFSN WHERE “YOU ARE NOT THE STORY”?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN A TWO-PART SERI, EXPLOR THE REERS AND CHOIC OF GAY TELEVISN JOURNALISTS. FIRST, WE HIGHLIGHT THE WORK AND EXPERIENC OF NE OF THE MOST HIGH-PROFILE GAY ON-MERA NEWSMEN THE UNTRY – WH MORE JOURNALISTS FEATURED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON THE AE BLOG. PART II, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED ON ON MAY 21, VTIGAT THE ISSU SURROUNDG BEG OUT WH NEWS ANIZATNS AND PUBLIC, AND LOOKS AT THE IMPACT OF THOSE CHOIC ON THE DIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY. THAT DISCSN CLUS ALL THE NEWSMEN AS WELL AS WORK NEWS EXECUTIV – BOTH STRAIGHT AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OVER THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS AFTERELTON NDUCTED EXTENSIVE TERVIEWS ON AND OFF THE RERD FOR THIS SERI. HERE, WE SPOKE WH FIVE NATNAL NEWS RRPONNTS AND FOUR ANCHORS ABOUT THEIR WORK AND THEIR CHOICE TO BE OUT — SOME OF THE JOURNALISTS DISCSG THIS PUBLICLY FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY HAVE REPORTED ON WASHGTON POLICS, NATURAL DISASTERS AND OM THE IRAQ WAR ZONE, MANY RISKG THEIR LIV TO BRG FACTS ABOUT OUR WORLD TO THE AMERIN PEOPLE. BY SPEAKG OPENLY ABOUT THEIR REERS, THE REPORTERS CREATE A FULLER PICTURE OF WHO GAY PEOPLE ARE, AND A CLEARER IMAGE OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MIGUEL MARQUEZ: IT'S A WEIRDLY TIMATE BS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DURG HIS MANY TRIPS TO IRAQ SCE JOG ABC OM CNN OVER TWO YEARS AGO, MARQUEZ HAS TERVIEWED AMERIN ARY OFFICERS, IRANIAN DIPLOMATS AND SECRETARY OF STATE CONDOLEEZZA RICE. HE HAS ALSO REPORTED ON THE ATHS OF TOO MANY AMERIN SOLDIERS AND IRAQI CIZENS A PLACE THAT HE SAYS HAS GOTTEN MORE AND MORE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MARQUEZ SAID MANY OF THE TENSE SUATNS THAT RRPONNTS REPORT OM — WAR ZON, HURRIN, CALIFORNIA WILDFIR — MAKE NEWS "A WEIRDLY TIMATE BS." IN SOME OF THOSE SUATNS, MARQUEZ BELIEV, BEG ANK WH LLEAGU ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATN N BE PART OF WHAT ALLOWS YOU THE FORT LEVEL YOU {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT MAK A BIG DIFFERENCE," SAID MARQUEZ. "YOU'RE TRAVELG WH PRODUCERS AND PEOPLE RS, AND YOU'VE BEEN WH THEM FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS, YOU ALL STK, AND YOU'RE LLG LOVED ON ON THE PHONE, TRYG TO WHISPER 'I LOVE YOU' AND HAVG VERY TIMATE NVERSATNS. … THE MORE FORTABLE YOU ARE PERSONALLY, I THK THE BETTER THE EXPERIENCE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND MARQUEZ'S EXPERIENCE IS THAT UNIVERSALLY WH THE NEWS AGENCI, PEOPLE ARE OPEN AND ACCEPTG. IT'S THE NEXT LEVEL — BEG OPEN WH OUTSI PRS AND THEREBY THE PUBLIC — THAT SOME OF HIS LLEAGU WON'T {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"IT ALSO DOWN TO A VERY PERSONAL CISN," SAID MARQUEZ OF THE CISN TO BE OUT. "IT'S HARD FOR ME TO JUDGE ANYONE ELSE." BUT HIS OWN CISN ON THE ISSUE DOWN TO THIS: "I'M A BS THAT'S ALL ABOUT TTH AND HONTY, AND TO SOME GREE I'M RPONSIBLE TO BE HONT AS WELL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JOHN YANG: WHY SHOULD I PASS AS BEG STRAIGHT? {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THIS, THE FIRST PROFILE WHERE HE MENTNS HIS SEXUALY, YANG SAID THAT TAKG ON THE VETED JOB OF JESALEM RRPONNT FOR ABC 2003 "WAS THE FIRST TIME I FELT LIKE AN ADULT." THIS SPE THE FACT YANG HAD REPORTED FOR YEARS OM THE WHE HOE AND CONGRS, AS WELL AS THE IRAQ WAR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}REGARDG THE JESALEM APPOTMENT, YANG ADMTED, "I WAS EXTREMELY FLATTERED BEE AT ABC NEWS, PETER JENNGS HAD VETO POWER OVER FOREIGN RRPONNTS. AND THIS WAS AN AREA THAT PETER RED EPLY ABOUT. AND ACTUALLY PETER GOT ON THE PHONE … AND SAID 'I'D REALLY LOVE FOR YOU TO DO THIS.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND BEG GAY MAY HAVE GIVEN YANG AN EDGE LANDG THE POST. "IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHG THAT PETER SAID TO ME," YANG RELLED. "IT'S THAT HE THOUGHT THAT — AND LOOKG BACK, YOU N TAKE WHAT HE SAID A UPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, WHETHER HE MEANT [ME] BEG ASIAN OR BEG GAY — BUT THAT HE THOUGHT THAT WHAT I WOULD BRG TO THAT REPORTG WAS AN UNRSTANDG OR AN SIGHT TO … PEOPLE WHO ARE MARGALIZED."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YANG HAS FOUND THAT AMONG THE POLILLY POWERFUL WASHGTON, BEG GAY IS ALSO ACCEPTED, SPE PUBLIC RHETORIC THAT MIGHT SUGGT OTHERWISE. IN A FOLLOW-UP EMAIL TO , YANG RELLED A 1992 PHONE LL OM A NSERVATIVE REPUBLIN SENATOR AFTER A WASHGTONIAN MAGAZE PIECE ON YANG'S EMPLOYER AT THE TIME, THE WASHGTON POST, ALLUD TO HIS SEXUAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"JOHN, I SAW THAT THG ABOUT YOU THE MAGAZE," THE SENATOR TOLD YANG. "I JT WANT TO TELL YOU DON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME. YOU'RE STILL THE BT DAMNED REPORTER I'VE EVER ALT WH." YANG THANKED THE LEGISLATOR, WHO AFTER A PSE ASKED, "I HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHG WRONG, HAVE I?" YANG ASSURED HIM: "NO, SENATOR. YOU SAID JT THE RIGHT THG."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHY IS YANG ONE OF THE FEW NATNAL TELEVISN JOURNALISTS CHOOSG TO BE NDID ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATN? HE NNECTS PART TO HIS EXPERIENCE OF BEG PERCEIVED AS A RACIAL MORY. "THERE ARE CERTA THGS ABOUT MYSELF THAT ARE IMMUTABLE, AND SOME OF THEM ARE OBV," YANG SAID. "I'M ASIAN. I MEAN, ANYONE WHO SE ME ON THE AIR OR HEARS MY LAST NAME KNOWS THAT. … AND A WAY, I FELT THAT I N'T PASS AS NOT BEG ASIAN, SO WHY SHOULD I PASS AS BEG STRAIGHT?"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MANUEL GALLEG: IT HASN'T BEEN ANY ISSUE AT ALL. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}“YOU ALWAYS THK ABOUT THAT. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE A PUBLIC PERSON, YOU'RE ON-AIR TALENT. I THK EVERYBODY'S NCERNED WH THEIR OWN IMAGE.” BUT GALLEG SAID AS HE BEME MORE NFINT AND SATISFIED AT HIS JOB, MET OTHER GAY PEOPLE AT CBS, AND FOUND THE ENVIRONMENT WAS AN ACCEPTG ONE, “I REALIZED THAT I HAD NOTHG TO WORRY ABOUT. AND HASN'T BEEN ANY ISSUE AT ALL.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GALLEG HAS HAD AN CREDIBLY DIVERSE REPORTG REER, TERVIEWG PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS AND ACTOR AND ACTIVIST LEONARDO DICAPR THE WEEK BEFORE THIS TERVIEW. HE HAS ALSO REPORTED OM THE 1999 COLUMBE SCHOOL SHOOTG, AND THE SCENE OF TWO OF THE MOST VASTATG NATURAL DISASTERS RECENT US HISTORY: THE 1989 SAN FRANCIS EARTHQUAKE AND NEW ORLEANS DURG HURRINE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GALLEG, WHO HAS MEXIN ANCTRY, IS GREETED ON THE STREET BY ENTHIASTIC LATO YOUTH WH “HEY BROWN MAN! IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ON TELEVISN!” AND GALLEG THKS BEG VISIBLE AS A SUCCSFUL GAY MAN IS IMPORTANT A SIAR WAY. BUT ULTIMATELY, GALLEG SAID HE CHOSE TO ANSWER THE QUTN ON SEXUAL ORIENTATN HERE BEE AS A JOURNALIST HE HIMSELF PENDS ON DIFFICULT ANSWERS; SOMETIM OM PEOPLE THE MOST TIMATE AND TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANC. “HOW HYPOCRIL IS FOR A JOURNALIST TO NOT WANT TO TALK, TO NOT GIVE AN TERVIEW?”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JEFEY KOFMAN: I N BE HONT. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LIKE GALLEG, KOFMAN LKS HIS CISN TO BE OUT WH HIS MISSN AS JOURNALIST. "I DO BELIEVE THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME ASKG PEOPLE TO BE HONT AND STRAIGHTFORWARD WH . … WHILE I DON'T THK A REPORTER'S PUBLIC LIFE SHOULD BE THE CENTER OF HIS OR HER WORK, I THK AT SOME POT YOU N'T DODGE THE REALY OF YOUR LIFE AND PRETEND YOU'RE BEG HONT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN 2003, KOFMAN'S HONTY CREATED SOMETHG OF A MOR NATNAL CINT THE U.S. AFTER HIS WORLD NEWS TONIGHT REPORT OM IRAQ ON TROOP MORALE — WHICH CLUD ONE SOLDIER LLG FOR THE RIGNATN OF DONALD RUMSFELD — MATT DDGE BRIEFLY PRTED THE HEADLE, "ABC NEWS REPORTER WHO FILED TROOPS COMPLAT STORY — OPENLY GAY CANADIAN," LKED TO AN TERVIEW KOFMAN DID WH NATNAL GAY MAGAZE THE ADVOTE. DDGE LATER CLAIMED THE STORY WAS SLIPPED TO HIM BY AN OVEREAGER WHE HOE STAFFER, PRUMABLY A MISGUID ATTEMPT TO DISCRED {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT KOFMAN N HANDLE A TSLE WH THE WHE HOE. HIS RUME READS LIKE A FN OF MACHISMO JOURNALISM. HE HAS REPORTED OM COLOMBIAN JUNGL, DONE FOUR TOURS IRAQ AND VERED THE AFGHAN WAR OM AN AIRCRAFT RRIER. IN HAI , KOFMAN WAS CHASED BY MOBS AND THREATENED AT GUNPOT BY GUERILLAS, AND WAS THE FIRST JOURNALIST TO REPORT OM THE SCENE OF THE 2004 OVERTHROW OF THEN-PRINT JEAN-BERTRAND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}KOFMAN, WHO SPENT HIS LAST VATN TREKKG THE ANS WH HIS PARTNER, SAID HIS "OUTSI THE BOX" REER ALIGNS WELL WH HOW HE WANTS TO LIVE HIS LIFE. BUT 25 YEARS AGO HE WASN'T SURE HE'D BE HIS DREAM JOB TODAY AS A WORLD-TRAVELG WORK RRPONNT. "I THK THAT BEG GAY, MY OWN MD, MA ME WONR WHETHER WAS POSSIBLE," HE SAID. BUT NOW, "WHEN I LOOK BACK ON THE CISN I MA ABOUT BEG OPEN, I'M VERY HAPPY. I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE UP STORI; I N BE HONT. AND THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE. THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO DO MY WORK."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JASON BELLI: THAT'S NOT HONT. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"WE WERE G TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS STILL UNPROVEN," BELLI RELLED. THAT CREATED SOME SURREAL MOMENTS BROADSTG ON CNN. "I REMEMBER BEG THE SAND DUN WHEN THERE WAS A SMALL BATTLE GOG ON. AND WE GOT OUR SATELLE UP, AND I WAS BROADSTG AND THKG TO MYSELF, THIS IS REALLY WEIRD. WE'RE GOG LIVE OM THE MIDDLE OF THE SERT, AND THERE'S NOTHG AROUND FOR HUNDREDS OF ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELLI CREATED HIS REER NEWS OUT OF SHEER DARG. IN 1999, WHEN THE KOSOVO WAR BROKE OUT AND THE U.S. BOMBG MPAIGN BEGAN, BELLI QU HIS JOB AND TRAVELED TO THE WAR ZONE ON HIS OWN, HOPG TO SEND BACK STORI ON SPEC THAT HE SHOT ON HIS DIGAL MERA AND EDED ON A LAPTOP. WHILE THERE, HE GOT TO THE SYSTEM AT CNN AND MA HIMSELF DISPENSABLE, QUICKLY WORKG HIS WAY UP TO CNN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELLI'S EARLY CISN TO BE OUT REFLECTS A SIAR BOLDNS. WHILE OTHER ON-MERA PEOPLE STILL HOLD ONTO A NTROLLG ATTU ABOUT THEIR IMAGE, FOR BELLI THE CHOICE WAS CLEAR-CUT: "SKIRTG THAT ISSUE, SAYG 'S NOBODY'S BS, I THK THAT'S DISGENUO. BEE IF PEOPLE ARE TERTED YOU OUTSI OF THE PARAMETERS OF YOUR JOB SELF, AND YOU IGNORE [BEG GAY], THEN YOU'RE IGNORG AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOURSELF. AND THAT'S NOT HONT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RANDY PRICE: A LTLE B OF LLN. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PRICE EXPERIENCED THAT LLN FIRSTHAND THE '80S, WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG ANCHOR WHO HAD ALREADY BEEN LIVG WH HIS PARTNER FOR ALMOST A . IN NEWSPAPER PROFIL OF HIMSELF OM THAT TIME, REARS ULD SEE HIM AT HOME WH HIS DOG, "ALL THE THGS ABOUT MY LIFE. AND NEVER ONE — NOT ONE MENTN — OF DO I LIVE WH ANYBODY, WHAT'S THE STORY OF MY PERSONAL SUATN. … THEY DIDN'T ASK ANY OF THOSE QUTNS BEE THEY KNEW THE ANSWERS." AND PRICE NFSED, "I PROBABLY DIDN'T PH THE POT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, 10 YEARS SCE PRICE BEGAN ANSWERG THOSE QUTNS, HE IS AMED THAT SOME STILL SEE THOSE ANSWERS AS IRRELEVANT. "PEOPLE ASK THAT QUTN," PRICE SAID. "LIKE, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, IS REALLY NECSARY FOR YOU TO DISCS YOUR SEXUAL LIFE WH EVERYBODY?' AND I GO, 'WELL, YOU KNOW, I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT I WAS DISCSG MY SEX LIFE. … I SAID I'M A GAY PERSON, I LIVE WH ANOTHER GUY, AND I HAVE A LONG-TERM RELATNSHIP. IF I DON'T TELL YOU THAT, THEN THERE'S REALLY NO FOUNDATN FOR HAVG AN EXCHANGE ABOUT WHO WE ALL ARE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HANK PLANTE: BEG GAY HAS MA ME A BETTER REPORTER. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}COVERG AIDS AS AN OPENLY GAY MAN HOTON THE EARLY '80S, THE HOSTILE FEEDBACK PLANTE RECEIVED WASN'T SOLELY OM VIEWERS. "THE GENERAL MANGER AT THE STATN AT THE TIME DIDN'T LIKE OUR VERAGE, DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I WAS GAY," HE RELLED. "AND I IGNORED HIM." COVERG AIDS SAN FRANCIS SOON AFTERWARD, PLANTE TOOK EVEN MORE FIRE — SOME OF OM UNLIKELY SOURC. "PEOPLE THE GAY MUNY SAID, 'YOU'RE MAKG LOOK BAD … THEY'LL THK WE'RE ALL AIDS RRIERS.'"{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PLANTE WON TWO EMMYS AND A PEABODY FOR HIS SAN FRANCIS AIDS VERAGE, AND 2005 WAS PRENTED WH A GLAAD PNEER AWARD. PLANTE SE HIS SEXUAL ORIENTATN AS BOTH IRRELEVANT TO HIS JOB AND SOMETHG THAT RMS . "BEG GAY HAS MA ME A BETTER REPORTER, JT AS 'S MA ME A BETTER PERSON," HE SAID. "I DON'T JT SEE THE OUTSI. I KNOW THERE IS A WHOLE LIFE THERE THAT I NEED TO BE OPEN TO."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT SPE HIS OWN GROUNDBREAKG CHOIC, PLANTE PARTS WH SOME OF THE REPORTERS TERVIEWED HERE, NOT SEEG A NNECTN BETWEEN HIS MISSN AS JOURNALIST AND THE CHOICE TO BE OUT. HOWEVER, HE HAS FOUND HIS OWN OPENNS EARNS HIM RPECT TERTG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I'LL TELL YOU WHERE HELPS ME, THIS TRANSPARENCY," EXPLAED PLANTE, REVEALG THAT FOR A BIG TERVIEW — SUCH AS CALIFORNIA ERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER OR A U.S. SENATOR — HE ROUTELY OUT TO HIS SUBJECT BEFORE THE TERVIEW BEGS. "I JT KD OF SLIP . 'OH, YOU KNOW, I WAS TALKG TO MY DOMTIC PARTNER LAST NIGHT, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.' … AND YOU KNOW WHAT I FD IS? IT RELAX THEM. IT CREAT A VERY HONT SPACE, AND THEY'RE MORE OPEN TO ME. … I N'T EXPLA . SOMETHG MAGIL HAPPENS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CRAIG STEVENS: I JT NEVER LET BE THAT BIG OF A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STEVENS THKS THE POSIVE REACTN HE HAS RECEIVED AS AN OUT ANCHOR PART OM HIS OWN ATTU. "IF 'S THIS BIG HAND-WRGG, SORT OF TORTURED CISN, I THK PEOPLE FEED OFF YOUR ENERGY," HE SAID. "I JT NEVER LET BE THAT BIG OF A AL." BUT STEVENS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY OUT THERE: "I HAVE IENDS WH THE DTRY WHO, REALLY, THERE'S THIS ANGUISH, THIS FEAR OF WHAT HAPPENS" IF THEY E {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RANDOL WHE: I ULD JT FEEL MY BLOOD N LD. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THE WORLD DIDN'T VE . AND SLOWLY WHE VENTURED OUT MORE, ALLOWG HIMSELF TO BE REGNIZED GAY BARS MILWKEE, THEN SI MADISON. EVENTUALLY WHE WAS OUT TO HIS EMPLOYERS, -WORKERS AND HIS DIENCE, SUALLY MENTNG IENDS AND EVENTS DURG MORNG-SHOW CHAT THAT INTIFIED HIM AS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND WHE SAID HE EXPERIENCED NO NEGATIVE REACTN. BEG AN "OUT NEWSSTER," HE SAID, "HAS BEEN 100 PERCENT POSIVE." NOW AN ANCHOR ON THE MORNG SHOW AND THE NOON NEWSST FOR CBS AFFILIATE KCOY SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., WHE NNECTS HIS CHOICE TO BE OUT TO SOMETHG HE HEARD OPENLY GAY WISNS REPRENTATIVE TAMMY BALDW SAY: "IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A WORLD WHERE YOU N HOLD YOUR BOYIEND'S HAND WALKG DOWN THE STREET, THEN HOLD YOUR BOYIEND'S HAND WALKG DOWN THE STREET."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHE SAID: "I THK THAT'S SUCH A POWERFUL STATEMENT. BEE YOU HAVE TO DO , FOR TO EVER BE ACCEPTED."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} NTU PROFILG THE OUT JOURNALISTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK ON THE BLOG, HIGHLIGHTG FORMER CNN RRPONNT THOMAS ROBERTS ON TUDAY, REGNAL NEWS NETWORK ANCHOR PL MUELLER ON WEDNDAY, AND MORE OM MIGUEL MARQUEZ IRAQ ON THURSDAY. PART 2 OF THIS ARTICLE, A LIVELY DISCSN WH THE JOURNALISTS AND WORK NEWS EXECUTIV, WILL BE PUBLISHED ON MAY 21. IT CLUS A G-OUT TERVIEW WH ONE OF THOSE EXECUTIV. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Ary, though out members of the gay muny were not allowed to serve at the time. The ary's "don't ask, don't tell" policy which prohibed openly gay, lbian and bisexual Amerins om servg, was officially repealed 2011.

" He me out as gay to the public on July 2, 2012, allowg iend and wrer Andrew Sullivan to publish an email om him, sayg 'd bee clear that remag silent on the topic had given the false imprsn that he had somethg to hi.

"The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I uldn’t be any more happy, fortable wh myself, and proud, " he has sce weled a son, Wyatt Man Cooper, born April 27, 2020 via surrogate. "I thk beg gay is one of the great blsgs of my life, " Cooper add on "Full Circle.

MSNBC HIR ANOTHER GAY ANCHOR (WHO JT CAME OUT 2 YEARS AGO)

Frank BniColumnist, The New York Tim@FrankBniFormerly the chief rtrant cric for The New York Tim, Bni ma history 2011 by beg the Grey Lady's first out gay lumnist.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS' KEV MAXEN BE FIRST MALE COACH TO COME OUT AS GAY MAJOR U.S. SPORTS

The Emerson College assistant profsor is also a producer of the upg film Michael, based on his Tim Magaze piece about his "ex-gay" iend. Kate FaganWrer, ESPN@KateFagan3ESPN ntributor and lumnist Kate Fagan wr about basketball (and genr and sexism and homophobia) om a place of knowledge and ep, personal appreciatn. Thomas Roberts anchored NBC's "Nightly News" on Saturday, a huge tone for both the 42-year-old journalist's reer and gay rights history.

THOMAS ROBERTS, OTHER GAY ANCHORS, OPEN UP TO ‘THE ADVOTE’

Until the broadst, an openly gay person had never anchored the nightly news on work TV. " There are a few openly gay eveng news anchors on ble TV -- MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, CNN's Anrson Cooper and Don Lemon -- but Roberts is the first for one of the big three the historic broadst: Popular the CommunyYou May Like.