Former CNN news anchor turned Insider correspondent Thomas Roberts talks to The Advocate about how it was to come out of the closet publicly and about misconceptions around his sudden departure from CNN.

The Advocate writes:

It started in 2006, when his appearance on a panel of gay broadcast journalists was picked up by a blog. The “news” quickly turned into a coming-out of the first order -- even though Roberts was already out at CNN. Never mind: He was now an official gay celebrity, and along with the affection came the opposite -- the rumors, innuendos, and downright trash talk hurled at anyone in the public eye these days. When Roberts left CNN a year ago this May, people speculated that the cable news behemoth parted ways with him because of his sexuality. Then, when he started on the air at The Insider a few months later, in September 2007, a blogger posted pictures that were purportedly from Roberts’s Manhunt profile -- a nasty hit that was splashed across the top of the New York Post gossip column “Page Six.”

“It’s funny that people think I got fired from CNN,” he says, addressing the prevailing rumor about him. “I left CNN on my accord: I resigned from my contract because of personal reasons.” During his six years at the channel, he says, “I never dealt with anything but respect and kindness. There’s a great misconception.”

Indeed, Roberts says, being gay has never held him back. “I’ve worked my ass off, I’ve been fortunate, and luck doesn’t hurt either,” he says. “If people don’t like that I’m gay or that I talk about being gay, I’m sorry. Because that’s not my problem.”

Last update: 05-07-2008 14:48