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In a lengthy e-mail message to the Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan that was posted to the site on Monday, CNN's Anderson Cooper comes out publicly as gay.

Sullivan, who writes that he has counted Cooper as a friend for more than two decades, says in the article that he asked Cooper to weigh in on a recent Entertainment Weekly piece that examined the trend of gay people coming out in a "more ... matter-of-fact way" than in the past. Sullivan, who is openly gay and an advocate of same-sex marriage, says he asked for Cooper's opinion "for reasons that are probably obvious to most."

And in an e-mailed response, which Sullivan writes the "Anderson Cooper 360" anchor gave him permission to post, Cooper writes that he's thought about the topic over the years, and has decided to be clear about the fact that he’s gay.

Cooper says he refrained from being so straightforward in the past because he was trying "to maintain some level of privacy in my life," for both personal and professional reasons.

"As long as a journalist shows fairness and honesty in his or her work, their private life shouldn't matter," Cooper writes. "I’ve stuck to those principles for my entire professional career, even when I’ve been directly asked 'the gay question,' which happens occasionally."

Recently, however, Cooper says he's been reminded "that … the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible. 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."

He said he wasn’t comfortable with the assumption by some that because he wasn’t speaking about his sexuality, he was trying to hide something – an impression that he finds “distressing because it is simply not true.”

And so, for the record, Cooper writes: "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 adds that he's always been this open with family, friends and 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," Cooper says.

"The ability to love another person is one of God’s greatest gifts, and I thank God every day for enabling me to give and share love with the people in my life," Cooper says in closing. "I still consider myself a reserved person and I hope this doesn’t mean an end to a small amount of personal space. But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter’s shield of privacy." http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/02/anderson-cooper-says-hes-gay-h
appy-and-proud/?hpt=hp_c2

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According to literature, "Auditing is a central practice in Scientology through which a practitioner is cleared of negative influences known as engrams in order to heighten spiritual awareness and access currently untapped potential. Auditing sessions involve two people: the person being audited and an auditor. The person being audited is generally referred to as a pre-Clear in public Scientology literature, although Clears continue to participate in a similar process. The auditor monitors a device known as an electro-psychometer, or E-meter. The pre-Clear holds a metal cylinder in each hand, both of which are attached by wires to the E-meter." http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2012/07/katie-holmes-scientology
-tom-cruise-marty-rathbun?

She's in for a tough time; they're pretty aggresive, those Scientology nuts:

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Katie Holmes isn’t just parting ways with A-list husband Tom Cruise, she is also divorcing the Church of Scientology.

Holmes is seeking sole custody of their daughter reportedly in part to extricate Suri, 6, from her father's faith before Suri's heavy-duty Scientology education starts.

But according to multiple insiders and experts, it could be a rough ride for the former “Dawson’s Creek” star, both personally and professionally.

Mark “Marty” Rathbun, a former higher-up in the church who left and became one of its biggest critics, used to be Cruise’s Scientology auditor and legal affairs advisor. Rathbun told FOX411's Pop Tarts column that Holmes has reason to be concerned.

“In the long run, Tom – if he takes (David) Miscavige’s advice – may very well try to hamper Katie’s career through Scientology Inc. propaganda and smear tactics after the smoke settles on the divorce,” Rathbun said.

(David Miscavige is the head of the Church of Scientology and one of Cruise's best friends. He was also best man at Cruise and Holmes' wedding.)

While divorces are not considered hugely problematic by Scientology when conducted in a “normal” fashion, Holmes’ very public departure could be considered an attack on the Church and its most famous adherent.

“Whatever happens, Scientology will make sure she does not go out and talk about what really went on," Heldal-Lund said. "She will be put under a lot of pressure that could make her much more vulnerable and weaker by the time she has to fight in court.”

Personal information gathered during the Scientology practice of auditing could be used against Holmes.

It is like a spiritual counseling session, its purpose is to clear the mind and blockages so you can become totally free,” {Scientology expert and founder of the website “Undressing the Church of Scientology,” Andreas Heldal-Lund} continued. “But this includes very, very personal questions, and to get rid of the blockage, you have to 'declare.' But this is not in confidence; the auditor logs everything. I would not be surprised if Katie’s declarations are used against her. You can get away with exiting Scientology if you do it their way. If not, this information could be leaked out.”


Mark “Marty” Rathbun (a former higher-up in the church who left and became one of its biggest critics), who personally audited Cruise and called Holmes’ divorce filing “a minor miracle,” said Holmes’s audits will “absolutely” be used against her.

“When I first spoke out about [Scientology] in the summer of 2009, Miscavige directed and published an 80-page magazine that was chock-full of confidential matter I had shared with my church counselors when I was inside,” he said. “If Katie doesn’t obtain primary custody of Suri, and Cruise continues to do Miscavige’s bidding, she can count on Scientology Inc. indoctrinating Suri to hate her mother.” http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/07/03/former-scientologist-s
ays-katie-holmes-answers-during-church-qa-sessions-will/ always felt sorry for Katy, not just from hooking up with such a kook as Cruise, but for what I was pretty sure would follow, given his close ties with Scientology. Looks like my worst fears are coming true, and I'm even sadder for her now.

As to Cooper, compulsive giggling fits are no indicatio of gayness, I hate to tell our bigoted friend; I know someone who has them personally, and she's DEFINITELY not gay! Happens to many people; I don't think scientists have been interested enough to figure it out. But many people experience them, from reporters

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Charlotte Green of BBC Radio 4 loses it on the Today programme after a colleague remarks offline that the earliest known voice recording (of a French song) sounded like a bee buzzing in a bottle.

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to politicians

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Switzerland's finance minister, Hans Rudolf-Merz, has become an unlikely YouTube sensation. In a video that has garnered nearly one million views, Merz dissolves into a fit of laughter while answering questions about cured meats before the parliament. The 67-year-old Swiss politico, who is due to retire soon, can't keep a straight face as he stumbles through bureaucratic language about an air-dried beef product called "Bündnerfleisch."

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to movie stars

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BRAD Pitt gets a long fit of the giggles as he shoots a scene with comic actor Jonah Hill. Brad's chuckles start when Superbad star Jonah Hill says: "Now he's going to do what he's never done." The 48-year-old actor throws his head back with laughter, wiping his eyes.

He tries to calm himself, but when Jonah tries the line again, Brad guffaws even harder. Jonah winds him up, saying: "Use it Brad, just use it. Seriously use it." But this only makes his co-star laugh harder. Then there is silence, which Brad finds funny too. He spends ages trying to keep a serious expression, ready for his line, then he looks up at Jonah and bursts into laughter again. You can find the video on YouTube, amusingly, presented by Anderson Cooper:

Brad Pitt is gay?