Anderson Cooper and Julio Cesar Recio
So, is this the Julio thanked on page 212 of Dispatches from the Edge
"I’d like to thank Julio for his support and calm counsel without which this book would not have been possible."
Whatever their relationship, I'd say they make a pretty stunning couple.
Julio Cesar Recio is da man! [eff anderson cooper]
(via jossip)
Previously
Anderson Cooper's Guilty Pleasures [tr]
Posted Jun. 1,2006 at 1:35 PM EST by Andy Towle in Anderson Cooper, Books | Permalink
I would pay to watch them.
Why do I find this post creepier than any of the Jake G. stalkerazzi postings, I am not sure, but for some reason I do. Any clues as to why?
Posted by: Donald | Jun 1, 2006 1:58:10 PM
Darn! I'd pay, too. I find Anderson Cooper incredibly attractive. And maybe that creepy sensation is due to the fact that Anderson rings gay-er than Jakie Poo. And it's more tantalizing? Just a thought ;D
Posted by: xavier | Jun 1, 2006 2:04:28 PM
Donald: I share in the creeped-outitude. I think it's a result of the difference between Mr. Gyllenhaal's good natured acceptance of the questioning of his sexuality (the answer to which, by the way, is "yes, he's sexual") and Mr. Cooper's insistence on not discussing it. The photos of Mr. G. playing basketball or having fellatio with a buddy are photos of a guy who's "in" on the joke. Photos of Mr. C. with a "bf" are purely voyeuristic.
Posted by: JT | Jun 1, 2006 2:32:20 PM
The big difference 'tween any of the thousands of Jakey pics & an A.C. pic is that Jake has a "stalker"-azzi on his payrole.
Posted by: Hadassah Weinreb | Jun 1, 2006 3:12:39 PM
The focus on/stalking of AC is definitely creepy and perhaps a bit pathetic, but to each his own. Doesn't AC have the freedom to make his own choices? I am, however, in total agreement with those who are angry at the closet cases in DC who are involved in making public policy that threatens my rights. They are fair game.
But a news anchor at CNN who may be gay? I don't care.
Posted by: jon | Jun 1, 2006 4:00:37 PM
Too bad the last season of "Will & Grace" stop taping before AC began his book blitz. Who would have made a better finale guest star? A gay guy playing a straight guy playing a gay guy. How "Victor/Victoria." Too bad he can't sing. He could revive that role on Broadway. Setting aside one's reaction to his coward's closet, for a Yalie Bright Young Thing he's remarkably unimaginative in his many varied appearances and interviews. Whether in "Entertainment Weekly" or "TV Guide" or subbing for Regis, pull a string and out comes the same queening: "now I've moved on to Tiara Girls. My god, they should all be lined up and shot. It's fantastic! And these parents... I don't know if you saw the promo, with the mother encouraging her daughter to get liposuction?!" Though Kelly pointed out that he mispronounced it, rhyming with whip-osuction. And will crusty old Larry King have a brain fart tonight and forget the secret pact never to ask AC about his love life? [If you can call keeping your partner a faceless, nameless, sexless secret Love.] He'll be on for the whole hour. Clicking your heels together begins....NOW!
Posted by: Leland | Jun 1, 2006 4:08:35 PM
AC is, in reality, very much "out."
Believe not those who say otherwise.
One need only frequent the City's gay-scene to both know this via the (1) the gay-gossip-network (always a moral example) and (2) completely non-rare visual sightings at various gay-(oligarchy)-approved venues.
Older (oligarchical) gays have, for too long, dictated that a pink-triangle be tatooted to your forehead to achieve their increasingly non-important psuudo-moral certification. Sure, Anderson isn'tburning an American flag at the CDC every weekend... but he's in how many? str8's faces every evening at 10pm.
Which is more effective, never mind persuasive ?
rob@egoz.org
Posted by: rob adams | Jun 1, 2006 4:10:41 PM
"Increasingly non-important" Rob? Makes me think you have a lot to learn from those "older gays" you sniff at.
Posted by: tom | Jun 1, 2006 4:24:51 PM
I had never thought of myself being a fossil but, if Mr. Cooper--at not quite forty--is an older gay, then I--at forty-seven--am, in fact, a trilobite. Thanks, Mr. Adams, for ruining my day!
Posted by: JT | Jun 1, 2006 4:37:39 PM
Good point, Rob. We won't insist on a pink triangle tattoo on your forehead. How about one that says "Moron" instead?
Posted by: Tagg | Jun 1, 2006 4:41:31 PM
AC chooses his battles, and is winning the war. Forget the Kushner's in our fold -- they're old ways worked in old-times, and they're no longer persuasive.
Be positive.
Be gay.
Be non-bitter.
Be positive.
rob@egoz.org (the "moron")
Posted by: rob adams | Jun 1, 2006 4:54:47 PM
There exists three viable reasons for Mr. Cooper's refusal to admit that he's gay:
(i) He might fear he'd lose his job. Frankly, that's not very tenable in that CNN would catch all hell if he were fired for that.
(ii) He's afraid his ratings would suffer if he admitted to being gay. Of course, the only folks that would refuse to watch him because he is gay are the same ones who try to make the lives of gay folk as miserable as possible. The ones who block gay marriage and adoption by gays. The ones who block hate crimes laws and even block laws intended to protect high school students from being bullied and tormented because they are gay (or perceived to be so). I guess the premise of the last one is that if you allow bullying in schools the fewer gay folks you will have--like some kid in Bumfuck, Montana, will say, "Hey, I thought I wanted to be gay, but look how that poor kid got his ass kicked at school, so I guess I'll just be straight." Anyway, Mr. Cooper has decided to accomodate these hateful people by not admitting to being gay, which in one fell swoop (i) perpetuates the myth that there is something shameful about being gay and (ii) admits to the bigots that there hateful, ignorant opinions have merit.
(iii) He might actually be ashamed that he is gay.
I find neither of the three compelling in any way, so Mr. Cooper can kiss my ass. Of course, if he did, he'd never admit it in public.
I don't care if you are a politician or a school teacher or a midnight security guard, you can tell whomever you like and not tell whomever you like, but when your actions further the idea that being gay is shameful, you are hurting yourself and your brothers and sisters. And you earn every bit of scorn that I have for you.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Jun 1, 2006 4:59:23 PM
Ummm...
To quote:
--
Blogger Andy Towle referred to Cooper as "the most openly closeted gay man in America" after reading a New York magazine article which reported on the matter as follows:
There has been a lot of chatter on the Internet about the fact that Cooper may or may not be gay, and Village Voice columnist Michael Musto has taken pleasure in quoting the gay magazine Metrosource, which has referred to Cooper as "the openly gay news anchor." It has been assumed in certain circles in New York partly because he lives what looks to some to be a gay social life. He’s often seen at parties with Barry Diller, and he's friends with the lead singer from the outré gay rock band the Scissor Sisters. And then there was the tempest in a teapot regarding a slightly heated interview last fall with Jerry Falwell about gay marriage. Some Cooper-obsessed bloggers insist that the anchor outed himself on the air, taking the gay side of the debate and saying, "We pay taxes."
--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Cooper
Methods change over the generations.
Throwing Molotov's-cocktails and bricks whilst in high-heels and red-rouge only works so long, and only persuades so many ...
Joining a society, welcomed or not (with moral strength), is the best, long-term method for liberation -- not isolation, anger, and irrational bitterness.
rob@egoz.org
Posted by: rob adams | Jun 1, 2006 5:08:37 PM
But, Mr. Childress, can't it be argued that Mr. Cooper's refusal to announce his orientation is not a statement that being gay is shameful but is, rather, a total non-issue? I have to say that, whenever someone who is "probably gay" or who "rumor has it is gay" doesn't confirm or deny it, there comes to be a point when folks stop asking. They're not going to get their little bit of "scandal" or the "I told you so" moment. Then, when the focus of the attention shows up with a boyfriend or girlfriend and announces that this is the love of his or her life, then folks sort of look back and think "geez, I knew that. Big deal. Nice couple. Are you going to adopt?"
Posted by: JT | Jun 1, 2006 5:17:19 PM
Gee JT for an old guy you are pretty smart - Oh yeah were the same age.
I wonder if the handsome A C reads this site? I bet he does.
Posted by: Donald | Jun 1, 2006 5:46:04 PM
Of course, there WAS the possibility that it was a non-issue when no one knew Anderson Cooper. However, he now is on the cover of every magazine (seemingly) and no one gets on the cover of every magazine without trying. Of course, he's trying to sell his book and his TV shows, which is fine, but in doing so he has made himself a public figure, and with that comes responsibilities. In short, if it were a non-issue, we wouldn't be debating it here and in countless other places, would we?
Besides, he seems to hang with the gay folk quite a bit in NYC when he needs to make it spit, so it smacks of that I'll-come-play in-your-sandbox,-but-I-can't-ever-invite-over-to-my-place thing. If you want to be part of the gay community, the you damn well better support it.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Jun 1, 2006 5:55:27 PM
Very well-written, Kyle. Bravo. Mr. Adams: your defense of AC droops like a used condom.It's one argumentatum ad absurdum after another—from the groundless declaration that all of his straight viewers know they're watching a gay man [that they don't is the orginal point] to nonsense about mandatory tattoes, burning flags, and Molotov cocktails. In case you slept through that part of Life's Lessons, unless one is flaming one's self, and even sometimes despite that, the world assumes you're straight. AC went from passively going along with that, which many defend, to directly refusing to answer the question when asked—from Couch Potato to Certified Coward in 60 seconds. Churchill said, "The price of greatness is responsibility." And, I'm sure he meant greatness to encompass many things: great ability, great wealth, great influence, and, today, would have included great public access. AC has many of those characteristics, but has chosen to be a great moral eunuch over responsibility to put a positive, admired face on a group that has never been under such broad, venomous, well-funded attack than it is today. "FOF Launches Campaign To Defeat Lawmakers 'Soft' On Gay Issues
(Washington) Focus on the Family, a longtime opponent of LGBT civil rights, has launched an aggressive advertising campaign attacking senators in 13 states who have stated they will not support the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage."
While Andrew Sullivan is loathsome in many ways, by contrast AC would, indeed, seem to be self-loathing. Although lacking AC's Cute Factor and major marquee family name, Sullivan has been out and even self-identifed HIV positive for years. He certainly has written/commented extensively on gay-specific issues, but his greater career success is just as mainstream as Cooper's—more so, really, when one notes that he goes deep on subjects that AC only grazes. A published author, a recurring talking head on virtually every serious talk show; a senior editor at "The New Republic," and a columnist for "Time" magazine which also hosts his influential blog, Sullivan not only survived a bloody earlier departure from TNR, but a Net/print scandal, complete with nude pictures, of his since-removed online ad for gay bareback sex. Ironically, that ad was first publicly revealed by Michael Musto whose simple "Are you or aren't you?" little Anderson wouldn't even answer.
Posted by: Leland | Jun 1, 2006 6:10:58 PM
Someone said . . .
"...if it were a non-issue, we wouldn't be debating it here and in countless other places, would we?"
Since when is it the GayAgenda to have our sex-lives discussed publicly?!?! Debated? So, so passe.
Demand Normalcy . . .
Demand Normalcy by Practicing Normalcy -- without abandoning your identity.
AC has done just that, without the bitterness and community-isolation.
The contemporary Gay has entered, while the old, revolutionary gay has past.
Past.
rob@egoz.org
Posted by: rob adams | Jun 1, 2006 6:11:49 PM
What's up with the mr. so and so , and mr. so and so... (ridiculous)
I think that AC should come out whenever he's ready and feel comfortable to do so. If and when AC decided to come out, I'd say good for him, if not, then we as "family" should give continuously give support to him or anyone else who is in the process. (assuming that he is gay).
On the other hand I do not see a major public figure coming out is the same as "Throwing Molotov's-cocktails and bricks whilst in high-heels and red-rouge..." If this is a reference to Stonewall, then I'd like to turn it around and ask "How do you want your fellow gay men to react when you are being beaten simply for being gay ? How will you react if the fellow gay men next to you were being beaten simply for being queer?" Please realized that I am not condoning any act of violence, only a reminder and an appreciation.
I think we all have fight for the cause to the best of our ability given the circumstances, and if you have not, there's no better time to start then now!
Posted by: john | Jun 1, 2006 6:16:42 PM
Yeah, AC is sooooo in-the-closet.
Not.
Abandon maoist-gay revolutionary mis-ideals.
They no longer operate.
Posted by: rob adams | Jun 1, 2006 6:28:35 PM
Look, AC wrote a fucking autobiography. If he didn't and just anchored the news, I wouldn't mind (that much). But he wrote a fucking autobiography and left out what I would argue to be one of the most important aspects of his life!!!!! In the process of coming out or not, AC is a coward. If he had no desire to discuss his personal life, the he should not have written a FUCKING AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
Posted by: Will | Jun 1, 2006 6:43:45 PM
Apologies for the Mr. this and Mr. that. It's a holdover from law school classes, which sadly were some 20 years ago, so I should have gotten over it by now.
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Jun 1, 2006 6:45:52 PM
Now, just a pea-picking minute, Mr. Childress! Don't you take credit for the Mr. Shit. I started that back in December when I started posting comments on Towleroad. It's part of my fat, man-breasted androgyn in a moo-moo persona. I also hate the tendency of addressing people whom we don't know by their first names. Donald, however, and I go way back...by the way, did you know that Mr. Croce is our age, too? '59 was a good year.
Now, as far as writing an autobiography and leaving out the juicy bits...Mr. Cooper is still quite young. I'm sure his carpal tunnel is not yet so bad that he'll never type again. Incidentally, since when is a person's sexuality the most important part of his or her life? I read the late Lord Mountbatten's autobiography in high school and I do not recall him saying "Oh, blimey, I guess I should announce: I'm heterosexual! There, got that off my medal-bedecked chest." What's this fascination with whom a person sleeps with? Why does it matter? Is Mr. Cooper's love for his family, dependent on where he dips his stick? Is his ability to anchor a news program a function of his libido? The answers are NO.
Miss John is 100% correct about whose decision it is if and when to "come out." Have any of you thought that maybe Mr. Cooper is taking a brave stand and will not make the big announcement precisely as a form of witnessing to how gay people are fully integrated into society. Straights don't come out of the pantry (or the cedar chest or whatever).
Posted by: JT | Jun 1, 2006 7:58:07 PM
Why do I feel as though I am banging my head against the wall? I said one of the most important, not THE most important.
Give me a fucking break. What we are certainly has influence on who we are. Seeing the world though gay eyes is different than seeing the world through straight eyes. I find some of the opinions above to be both heterosexist (Mountbatten not having to mention his sexuality) and homophobic and/or self-loathing (assuming that you are all 'mos). It matters a great deal who you sleep with, i.e., being gay, not how you do the act. The former is important as it shapes you and your world view, the latter is nobody's business.
I agree that the decision to come out does belong to AC, but that does not mean that I don't have a legitimate complaint that he hasn't, and my calling him a coward is not an empty assessment. I repeat myself, he is selling his life story, but leaves an important part of who he is out of the book. That little girl in Indonesia can still make more clothes, but that doesn't mean that I should buy a shirt that isn't complete.
I suspect, that he does not come out for all the usual reasons, a la Gaykin; don't want to upset the hausfraus/bosses, etc. If that is the case, he is just a sell-out along the lines of someone denying his ethnicity in years gone by to make himself more palatable to the great unwashed masses.
Posted by: Will | Jun 1, 2006 8:18:35 PM
Just out of curiousity does Towle post pics of his bf on this site? Are all bf's/spouses/partners fair game regardless of wether or not they choose to lead public lives? I guess you could file it under it goes with the territory but how long before people now start making snide comments and spreading f'd up rumours about um... Julio ?
Posted by: giovanni | Jun 1, 2006 8:24:14 PM