CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper is about to come out of the closet, finally announcing he is gay, proud and looking for a house so he and his gay lover, NY gay bar owner Ben Maisani (photos below), can move in together, according to the National Enquirer.

“Anderson has found his ‘Mr. Right’ in Ben. Their relationship is so solid they want to move in together, and they’ve been looking at Manhattan real estate,” a longtime friend said.

“I’ve seen Anderson have crushes before, but he’s been telling pals that this is the real thing,” said the CNN source. “He plans to sell his condo and move in with Ben. They looked at an old firehouse in Greenwich Village that Anderson wanted to convert into a residence.”

Anderson and Ben first met a few years ago but were reintroduced earlier this year and have reportedly been dating for the last eight months. Anderson feels confident enough about their relationship that he is not one bit concerned about his secret being revealed.

“Anderson firmly believes that media members should keep their personal lives private, but for years he’s dropped hints that he’s gay,” the source said. “Now that he’s with Ben – who is certainly not shy about his sexuality – Anderson is seriously considering publicly acknowledging his sexuality.”

The lovebirds do everything together, share the passion for horror movies, good wine and photography, and have even spent a very special vacation in “a romantic resort in Jaipur, India – the Rambagh Palace – where their opulent $3,200-a-night room had views of the gardens of the former Maharaja palace.”

The 42 year-old, who wanted to be a serious news anchor instead of being labeled the ‘gay anchor’, is finally considering sharing his life with someone (Ben!) and is ready to face the consequences.

Ben Maisani & Anderson Cooper Pictures Below

[images: wenn.com]