Robin Robertsnearly turned down one of the biggest opportunities of her career.
During an appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres ShowMonday, the 61-year-oldGood Morning Americaanchor reflected on her 2012 interview with then-President Barack Obamaon marriage equality. But Roberts said that very moment almost didn’t happen over fears she would be outed as gay.
At the time, Roberts got a call to visit the White House and learned “there was a possibility that then-PresidentBarack Obamawould change his stance on marriage equality.”
“I had not been public yet about being gay,” she continued. “And I was afraid that I might be outed, that people might wonder, ‘Why is she the one interviewing the president when he’s making this change in his stance?'”
Fortunately for Roberts, she quickly realized she couldn’t pass on the opportunity.
Michael Rozman/Warner Bros.
“It was kind of like a scene out ofMoonstruck: ‘Snap out of it; Robin, what are you thinking? It’s not about you. This man is going to impact countless lives,'” she said. “And it was at that moment that I said, ‘I’m gonna stop letting fear keep me from the things that I want to do.”
Roberts is now “so grateful” to have been able to interview Obama, 60, about such an important issue. “Shortly thereafter is when on Instagram, or on social media, I talked about [my partner]Amber [Laign]. And all that fear I had of being a Christian, that people would look at me differently — I was embraced,” she recalled.
Pete Souza/White House Photo via Getty
While Roberts’ colleagues and loved ones had been aware of her sexual orientation, she didn’t publicly come out as a lesbian until December 2013.
“I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together,” she said in a reflective end-of-year Facebook post, perCNN.
Roberts has been dating Laign, who is currently battling breast cancer, for almost 17 years.
Amber Laign and Robin Roberts.Andrew Toth/FilmMagic
“I haven’t talked about it much but with you, I will,” Roberts told hostEllen DeGeneresof Laign’s cancer battle. “She’s doing well, which is great.”
She continued, “I went through it twice, barely shed a tear. I’m a puddle every time I think about what Amber is going through. But she is being so courageous and is handling it extremely well. And I’m able to kind of give her a roadmap because I’ve gone through it, but she’s also given me a roadmap on how to be a caregiver.”
source: people.com
