The difference between the glass closet and being out

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This came up in another thread that touched on Anderson Cooper and if he is openly gay or he isn't. As far as I know all of the following is true about Anderson Cooper. He has gone to public events with male dates, he hasn't uttered the words I am gay, and when directly asked refuses to answer.

In comparision is this video of Kieron Richardson who is an English soap star on Hollyoaks.

http://www.afterelton.com/tv/2010/09/hollyoaks-actor-comes-out

As the interview makes clear Kieron was living in a glass closet before his interview. His friends knew, his coworkers knew, and his family knew. But he hadn't told the public.

I can relate to this kind of difference. As a teacher I was in the Cooper camp until last year. I was the faculty advisor of the Gay Straight alliance. I was known to be single and refused to answer the question when asked. Honestly, I know, many knew I was gay. But some didn't. when I came out last year a few kids were honestly surprised.

It is different when you actually say it. You can't take it back or somehow finesse it the next day. I am sure most of Cooper's fans assume he is gay (I know I do) but there are some number of fans, like I had some number of students, who don't think he is. Kieron can not say the same thing after today.