Anderson Cooper - Vanderbilt and Me

He is so fucking sexy,
and beautiful.

I watched CBS this Morning and the story about Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt today.  I think of this handsome man, and all he has been through.  The loss of his father at a young age, and the the death of his brother, who jumped from a balcony to his death, and wonder, how do our lives compare.

I'm not talking about the money, and fame, we know where that stands.  But where his life as an out man, is different than mine.  What if I would have had the courage to be OUT. Either when I was a kid, or now.  There are times I want to be free of this lie, of this life I have built.  But then, I have to sit back and realize that I have build a great thing.  Others would disagree, but I'm 51, I have a career, I have built a family that is loving and full of life.  We care for each other, love each other despite our differences.

Then I read this contrast in family.

Los Angeles father allegedly killed son because he was gay.

I do have an extended family that is homophobic, but would never go this far.  Last time I was home, my father was lamenting over his friend's son who is gay and living in New York with his husband.  They have a family vacation, and take family pictures during it.  He can't believe that his friend is okay with the pictures of the gay son's husband in the picture.  More so that they would post it on Facebook.  And furthermore, how they would allow this behavior next to the gay son's sister's kids.  Showing it as normal. Of course I sit and just listen.  Say nothing, wanting to debate him on his views.

I guess it brings me back to what makes one life better than another?  Just because one is out, does that make his life better?  Is one life more moral than the other?

I say NO.  It is different.