Anderson Cooper opens up about why being gay is ‘one of the blessings’ of his life

Last year he became a proud father of one, and now he is opening up about how he learned to accept and celebrate who he is.

Anderson Cooper responded to a viewer question on CNN’s Full Circle on Monday night, asking him, ‘How did you learn to except being gay? How old were you?’

In response, the decorated CNN anchor, 53, discussed how he felt ‘something was up’ as early as six or seven years of age. 

Proud gay father: Anderson Cooper responded to a viewer question on CNN’s Full Circle on Monday night, asking him, ‘How did you learn to except being gay? How old were you?’; seen here on Instagram last fall

‘I’m not sure I knew the word “gay” at the time, but I realized something was up. Something was different,’ he said.

Anderson is the son of famed American artist Gloria Vanderbilt, who passed away in June 2019, and author Wyatt Emory Cooper. 

And while the AC 360 host realized from a relatively early age that he was different, it wasn’t until much later that he learned to accept it. 

In response: The decorated CNN anchor, 53, discussed how he felt 'something was up' as early as six or seven years of age

In response: The decorated CNN anchor, 53, discussed how he felt ‘something was up’ as early as six or seven years of age

Famous family: Anderson (R) is the son of famed American artist Gloria Vanderbilt, who passed away in 2019; seen here with mom and late brother Carter (L)

Famous family: Anderson (R) is the son of famed American artist Gloria Vanderbilt, who passed away in 2019; seen here with mom and late brother Carter (L)

‘I think I really, truly accepted it — and not just accepted it, but fully embraced it and you know, came around to really loving the fact that I was gay — would probably be right after college,’ Cooper reflected.

‘You know, I kind of struggled in my teenage years, certainly,’ he continued, ‘but even a little in college.’

Coming of age in the 80s and 90s, Anderson felt that there was a disconnect between who he was and the goals he had set for himself, like potentially joining the military or getting married. 

'I think I really, truly accepted it — and not just accepted it, but fully embraced it and you know, came around to really loving the fact that I was gay — would probably be right after college,' Cooper reflected

‘I think I really, truly accepted it — and not just accepted it, but fully embraced it and you know, came around to really loving the fact that I was gay — would probably be right after college,’ Cooper reflected

‘It wasn’t what I envisioned for my life,’ he said in the video. ‘I imagined a family, getting married, and all those things which weren’t possible at the time.’

But later, ‘about a year after college,’ the newscaster and producer had a reckoning which changed his outlook.

‘I realized I don’t want to waste any more time worrying about this and wishing I was some other way. 

'About a year after college': The newscaster and producer had a reckoning which changed his outlook; seen here in 2019

‘About a year after college’: The newscaster and producer had a reckoning which changed his outlook; seen here in 2019

‘I think being gay is one of the blessings of my life,’ he added. ‘And it made me a better person, it made me a better reporter,’ he observed.

‘When you grow up feeling like you’re on the outside of things, and you’re kind of an observer of things or not necessarily in the mainstream, you see society from a slightly different view,’ Anderson continued. 

‘And I think that can be very valuable, and can impact how you treat other people, and how you see things. So yeah, it’s enabled me to love the people that I’ve loved and have the life that I’ve had, so I’m very blessed.’ 

'I'm very blessed': One of those blessings, of course, is his eight-month-old son Wyatt, named for his father, whom he had via surrogate last year

‘I’m very blessed’: One of those blessings, of course, is his eight-month-old son Wyatt, named for his father, whom he had via surrogate last year

One of those blessings, of course, is his eight-month-old son Wyatt, named for his father, whom he had via surrogate last year.

In December, the proud dad even said he wished he’d made the decision earlier to have kids, as being a father is ‘extraordinary.’

Most recently, the Emmy-winning anchor was seen ringing in the new year in Times Square – and getting a wee bit tipsy doing it – with fellow media personality and proud gay dad, Andy Cohen. 

Most recently: The Emmy-winning anchor was seen ringing in the new year in Times Square – and getting tipsy doing it – with fellow media personality and proud gay dad Andy Cohen

Most recently: The Emmy-winning anchor was seen ringing in the new year in Times Square – and getting tipsy doing it – with fellow media personality and proud gay dad Andy Cohen