After years of speculation, Anderson Cooper has finally set the record straight: He's gay.

The surprising bit of news isn't so much that Anderson is a homosexual, but rather what he said in regard to his private life and why he decided to officially come out of the closet. It's all rather empowering!

Anderson wrote a letter to The Daily Beast, which he gave permission to famed columnist Andrew Sullivan to publish. In the letter, Anderson wrote, "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."

He continues, "I have always been very open and honest about this part of my life with my friends, my family, and my colleagues. 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."

So it's not exactly shocking that Anderson is gay. It's been a rumor, if not an unspoken understanding for many years now. But what is touching and powerful is why he wrote this, and the framework that Andrew gave to the letter. While Anderson has a right to keep his private life private, there is a level of responsibility to encourage and empower his fans who struggle with coming out and being accepted.

His last line really touched on this sentiment: "But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy."

And our favorite line of the whole letter is, "I love, and I am loved."

Because really, that's what it's all about, right? Way to go, Anderson. We salute your courage and class!

Do you think it was necessary for Anderson to come out of the closet? Are you at all surprised??

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