Gay US TV Anchor to Host Miss Universe in Moscow.
WASHINGTON, October 18 (RIA Novosti) – An openly gay US television news anchor will host the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow next month in what he has called a show of solidarity with Russia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in the wake of controversial Russian legislation on homosexuality.
“I choose to offer my support of the LGBT community in Russia by going to Moscow and hosting this event as a journalist, an anchor and a man who happens to be gay. Let people see I am no different than anyone else,” Thomas Roberts, a news anchor for the US cable network MSNBC, wrote in a blog post Thursday.
Organizers of the pageant, including US real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump, announced Thursday that Roberts would co-host the Nov. 9 event at Moscow’s Crocus City Hall together with British pop star Mel B, formerly of the Spice Girls.
Last year’s host, openly gay American television personality Andy Cohen, announced he would not take part in this year’s event, saying he “didn't feel right as a gay man stepping foot into Russia” after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation in June banning the promotion of “non-traditional sexual orientations” among minors.
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20131018/184232206/Gay-US-TV-Anchor-to-Host-Miss-Universe-in-Moscow.html
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On September 15, 2006, Christie Keith, a reporter with the website AfterElton.com, published an interview with Roberts, who stated that he actually came out to coworkers in 1999, when he was living in Norfolk, Virginia.
"I was happy, I was in a relationship, and I was very proud. I had the support of family, and of my friends. It was … about not wasting any more time. I'd wasted enough time." He further commented, on the subject of coming out, "Hopefully, everyone, gay or straight, journalists or doctors or otherwise, can overcome that obstacle, because it stands in the way of you being the best you can be, with your job, with your family, with everything, and not have to be afraid anymore."
