Anderson Cooper Says He's Gay - Other Very Private Homosexual Celebs

For gay celebrities, the decision to come out or not is probably one of the toughest they'll ever have to make, at least as far as their careers are concerned. Though public opinion on homosexuality is constantly evolving, there is still an inherent risk of alienating a fan base if they do come out. For some gay celebs, coming out is very natural and not a big deal, others choose to let ambiguity speak for them, while others are never asked, and therefore don't feel the need to share.

For CNN's Anderson Cooper, it would seem that he's chosen to simply life his life very privately. In a letter he wrote to columnist Andrew Sullivan, Cooper let the cat out of the bag when he wrote, "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." The notoriously private Cooper did acknowledge the risk come out could put on his personal life, but he concluded, "But I do think visibility is important, more important than preserving my reporter's shield of privacy."

Here are few other celebrities that are both out of the closet, but living very private lives.

Jodie Foster - Speculation about the tremendously talented actress and director's sexuality had been rampant for years. For a long time though, the star of "The Silence of the Lambs" was mum about her homosexuality. In 2007, she came out though, and she and her partner still live very private lives, raising their two sons.

Sean Hayes - The former "Will & Grace" star is a prime example of an out gay actor in Hollywood who still manages to keep his private life out of the tabloids. Hayes has never denied his homosexuality, but he has never sought the spotlight when it comes to his sexuality or love life. He was seen most recently in the mostly forgettable film "The Three Stooges," playing iconic Stooge Larry.

Michael Stipe - The former front man for R.E.M. came out officially in 2008 after years of speculation by the media but never confirming it himself. Even in the years following his coming out, Stipe has managed to keep the focus on the gay community as a whole choosing to be an advocate for equality while not just ending up in the headlines for his own personal and private life.

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