(RNN) - Anderson Cooper, well known as the high-profile anchor for CNN, has officially come out of the closet.
"It's become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something - something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid," Cooper wrote in an e-mail to The Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan.
"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."
It has long been known in many circles that the 45-year-old journalist is gay, but Monday was the first time he publicly addressed his sexuality.
He notes in his letter that his memoir never discussed his sexual preference because the book was focused on "war, disasters, loss and survival." Further, as a journalist, he felt his safety may be more at stake if he was open about being gay.
His decision was influenced by the growing number of high profile "out" people.
"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," he wrote. "I'm not an activist, but I am a human being and I don't give that up by being a journalist."
Sullivan and Cooper have known each other for more than 20 years, according to Sullivan's blog. He asked the well known journalist to weigh on a story from Entertainment Weekly on the uptick of celebrities coming out in a casual way.
The story highlighted the matter-of-fact ways celebrities are talking about their sexuality.
Entertainment Weekly said the shift from making a big deal out of sexuality to casually downplaying it shows that celebrities feel, "This is part of how I am, I don't consider it a big deal or a crisis, and if you do, that's not my problem."
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Anderson Cooper, left, speaks with former presidential candidate John Edwards, right, in New Orleans during Edwards's bid for president. (Source: Rachel Feierman/Flickr)
