Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts came out via Facebook in a message that thanks her longtime girlfriend, Amber Laign. Roberts, who has publicly faced breast cancer, been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, and undergone a bone marrow transplant is the second GMA member to come out, as weatherman Sam Champion came out last year. Roberts joins an already prolific list of women of color to come out this year.
Flashback 12/29/12….Hard to believe this was 1 year ago today..when I reached a critical milestone of 100 days post transplant…and KJ was finally allowed to come back home.
Reading this comforts me and I hope the same for you: “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude.
I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health.
I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life.
I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together.
I am grateful for the many prayers and well wishes for my recovery. I return every one of them to you 100 fold.On this last Sunday of 2013 I encourage you to reflect on what you are grateful for too.
Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year.
Peace, love, and blessings to all..XO
Roberts rose to fame in the 90s when she joined ESPN as a sportscaster. Her coming out is the perfect reason to bring her catchphrase, “go on with your bad self” back to the mainstream. (I’ll lead this charge, no worries.) You might also remember Roberts from the interview where Obama officially endorsed same sex marriage. At the time, many wondered whether her glass closet status is what secured her the interview, but what people really should have been worried about is whether it snagged her a role on Hannah Montana. In case you don’t remember, Roberts guest starred in an episode called, “Can You See the Real Me” in which Miley Cyrus reveals she’s Hannah Montana and talks about how hard it is to live a double life. For some reason no one credits her open closet door for this opportunity but me.
Roberts and Laign, a massage therapist, have been together for ten years. Though 53 year-old Roberts has been out to family and friends, this marks her first public acknowledgment of the relationship and like Maria Bello, did not label herself lesbian, bisexual, or otherwise in the post.