CNN Host Richard Quest Finally Acknowledges That He Is Gay

CNN host Richard Quest has acknowledged his sexuality, his fears about being openly gay in public life “never materialised” into reality.

The British-born news anchor made headlines in 2008, after he was arrested in a compromising position in a public park.

A year later, he made a comeback, having agreed to undergo six months of drug counselling in return for an “adjournment in contemplation of dismissal” of charges.

In his "Profitable Moment" segment which Richard Quest uses to close out every show, he came out as gay on Friday night on CNN International, saying that it is good for his business as a financial journalist. He said on his show Quest Means Business:

“If I remember back to when I wasn’t open about my sexuality, I spent a great deal of time worried about it, about what my family would think, what would my friends, my colleagues would think, and of course, what would you think.

“Would the fact that I’m gay affect my creditability as a business journalist? Would you watch the program differently? 

“Thinking like this saps energy, it drains confidence, it takes a toll on productivity, it’s exhausting! 

“I realize that everyone has their own road to travel in making this decision about when it’s right to come out. 

“I know that in my case, the worst fears never materialized. All in all professionally, I know the work I do here every day is better because I’m honest about who I am.”

Richard Quest said he wish that he had done it a day before - when he interviewed John Browne, the former CEO of the British oil giant, BP. John Browne resigned in 2007 after a British tabloid revealed that he was gay.

John Browne wrote the book The Glass Closet: Why Coming Out is Good for Business, and Richard Quest interviewed him about it on Thursday.