Are there people out there who don’t think CNN’s Anderson Cooper is gay? For some years now, Anderson has been living in what some refer to as “the glass closet”. Meaning he lives his life as a gay man and everyone knows he’s gay, but he still won’t talk about or answer questions about his sexuality. Which leads to some strange moments when some media outlet has an ax to grind. Like the Rupert Murdoch-owned New York Post. Less than a month ago, Page Six ran this little story about Anderson and his boyfriend, er, I mean “muscular friend” Benjamin Maisani:

Anderson Cooper has been consoling himself over falling ratings by living it up in Jaipur, India, at one of the world’s most opulent hotels. The CNN star was spotted Tuesday with his muscular friend, Benjamin Maisani, an owner of East Village bar Eastern Bloc, at the Rambagh Palace, named the best hotel in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. Cooper’s $3,200-a-night room features a four-poster mahogany bed and views of the gardens of the former Maharaja palace. Our source said, “Anderson’s room has a large round bathtub. On the first night it was filled with bubbles and sprinkled with red rose petals.” CNN declined to comment.

[From Page Six]

Gay catchwords: bubbles, sprinkle, Conde Nast, opulent, four poster, garden, round, rose petals, and Rambagh. Page Six is screaming it! “The Coop is gay – with bubbles!!” Anyway, this new National Enquirer report just reminded me of the Page Six thing. The Enquirer claims that Anderson and this Maisani fellow are moving in together. They’re house hunting now!

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper has found love with the buff owner of a gay bar – and pals say the couple is moving in together.

The award-winning newsman, 42, has been quietly seeing 36-year-old New Yorker Ben Maisani for the last eight months, and they’re now house-hunting, The ENQUIRER has learned.

“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 told The ENQUIRER.

The two met briefly years ago, and were reintroduced earlier this year, according to a CNN insider. They recently vacationed at 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.

“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.”

While he’s widely considered one of TV’s sexiest newsmen, prematurely gray Cooper has long been the source of gay speculation. With Ben’s love and support, he may finally come out of the closet, the friend said.

“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.”

Ben co-owns a raunchy gay bar, the Eastern Bloc, and while he’s in fantastic shape, he’s also an intellectual who was the valedictorian of his Hunter College graduating class in 2000, the source said. The two share a love for horror movies, good wine and photography, friends say.

“Anderson and Ben do everything together. They bike and work out at the gym,” said the source. “They also like to have intimate dinners alone and with friends.”

Meanwhile, the relationship has delighted their friends. “Anderson says Ben is the first guy who he can see sharing his life with,” said the CNN insider.

The source added: “Up until now, Anderson has refused to comment on his sexuality. He wanted to be a serious newscaster – not ‘the gay newscaster.’ But Anderson cares so much about Ben that he’s ready to change his attitude. That’s what love will do for you.”

POP FYI: Anderson is the son of heiress and 1980s jeans magnate Gloria Vanderbilt.

[From The National Enquirer]

Here’s the thing – I love Anderson Cooper, and I want him to be happy. Do I wish he would just publicly declare that he’s gay and get it over with? Sure. It would be nice to have an openly gay newsman in America (we already have an openly gay newswoman in Rachel Maddow). But on the other hand, I get why Anderson’s fabulousness is relegated to snark-filled gossip and tabloid posts – because if he came out, all of that stuff would go mainstream in a big way, and Anderson probably doesn’t want to be the story. In any case, I love him and I hope he’s happy. His boyfriend’s cute, isn’t he?

Header photo is Anderson Cooper with Benjamin Maisani in New York City on June 26, 2009. Credit: Hector Vallenilla, PacificCoastNews.com. Additional photos of Anderson at the CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute event on November 21, 2009. Credit: WENN.

You know your relationship is getting serious when it comes time to have the moving in discussion. While it can be a little nerve-wracking (What if they say no? What if they’re mortified I even asked?) apparently that’s not possibility that’s even entered into Jennifer Aniston’s head. According to Now Magazine, when Jen asked John Mayer to move in with her, it was more of a command/threat/ultimatum, depending on how you look at it.

Dishing out ultimatums is a risky business and it can backfire. Jennifer Aniston accompanied John Mayer on his tour dates in Callifornia [sic] last month but her reunion with him in Chicago on 18 July, after a few days apart, wasn’t a joyful one.

After she arrived at 2am at the Peninsula Hotel bar in the Windy City, security got rid of all the other guests so that John, 30, and Jen, 39, could dine alone together and have a serious heart-to-heart chat about their future.

‘It was crunch time,’ a source close to the couple tells Now.

‘Jen’s told him she wants him to move into her £7.5 million Hollywood home once the tour ends [on 31 August], but John’s told her that, while he’s not against it in principle, they have to give it time.’

[From Now Magazine]

I think the “crunch time” is supposed to be the ultimatum. The way Now ends the article makes it sound like John said no for the time being. But AZ Central says he’s agreed, and will be moving in at the end of September.

Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer are planning a “trial marriage”. The couple – who have been dating for three months – are said to be keen to test the strength of their relationship, and think John moving into Jennifer’s house is the perfect first step.

A source said: “John wants to settle down as much as Jennifer does. “What’s more, he’s been telling her that he thinks she is the one and she believes him.” John’s move into Jennifer’s Beverly Hills mansion is set to happen after his tour ends in September.

The couple are also reportedly planning a family. The source added to Britain’s Grazia magazine: “John is the first guy since Brad who has talked seriously about having children and Jennifer is very excited about it.”

[From AZ Central]

This whole thing just sounds fraught with peril. John Mayer is not the guy you settle down with. At least current 30-year-old John Mayer isn’t. He’s the guy you use to get back at/get over your ex-boyfriend. And from the stories I’ve heard, John will help you out with that no matter who you are. But he’s not the man you start picking out china with. Generally I don’t jump on the “poor Jennifer Aniston” train because I think she’s reasonably smart and not nearly as pathetic as tabloids paint her to be. But I really think she’s getting duped here, and this can only end badly.

Note by Celebitchy: I would be surprised if either of these stories is anything more than speculation. Yes we picked a very unflattering picture of these two, but it’s hard to find one where they’re together.

Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer are shown on 6/28/08 in London. Credit: ISO IMAGES/bauergriffinonline.com

Things really do seem to be moving forward in the relationship between Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel. The two have shied away from media attention – I often forget that he’s even seeing someone. And while there was a round of rumors earlier this year that Justin had cheated on Jessica with Kate Hudson, apparently everything has been going well since then. Jessica is moving in to Justin’s six bedroom Hollywood Hills home – a step Justin has never taken before, even with ex-girlfriend Cameron Diaz, who he dated for four years.

Justin Timberlake can no longer call his house a bachelor pad — he’s asked his girlfriend, Jessica Biel, to move in! “Jessica is preparing to live in Justin’s Hollywood Hills home,” an insider tells In Touch. “They’re both really excited.” But the 26-year-old actress is also hanging on to her own Brentwood, Calif., digs. “Jessica’s giving the house to her parents and brother because she doesn’t want to sell it,” the insider adds.

It’s a big deal for Justin, 27, who has never taken this relationship step before, but the insider insists that he’s ready. “They’re definitely headed for marriage,” the insider says. “Moving in is just the beginning.” So how does the couple — who have been together since January 2007 — make it work? “They avoid the spotlight as much as possible,” the insider adds. The couple has been apart while Jessica’s been filming in South Carolina. There’s plenty of room for Jess in Justin’s six-bedroom mansion.

[From In Touch]

It’s been widely rumored that Justin is going to propose to Jessica in the very near future, and moving in together seems like a logical step in that process. It’s also indicative of just how seriously they both must be taking the relationship. It’s good that Jessica’s not giving up her home yet. Hopefully thing will work out well for them.

Here’s Justin and Jessica leaving a wedding held at the Oviatt Hotel in Los Angeles on May 4th. Images thanks to WENN.