One Man's Romantic Tragedy is Another Man's Political Statement

The top piece of gay gossip this week has been the apparently infidelity of Anderson Cooper's hunka hunka burnin' love, Ben Maisani. In case you missed it, photos emerged earlier this week of Ben making out hardcore with another man in Central Park. Like so...

Blogs of every shape and size have been reporting contrasting details of this soap opera, so it is hard to keep track of what the outcome has been thus far. Some say that Anderson was outraged and tossed him off of a boat in Croatia. Some speculate that the two gentlemen have an open relationship, and that outside snogging is not such a big thing.

I have yet to find an article that convinces me one way or the other (If you've found one that is even half-credible, feel free to send it my way). I don't have any opinions about the situation one way or the other. If they are open, than I'm glad that their relationship is secure and that the drama is all on the observers. If Ben did cheat, than I'm glad he was publicly humiliated for it because fucking around on Anderson Cooper is something that nobody can live down. I'm all for open relationships if that's what works for you, but if you promise monogamy to somebody and you break it, that's just downright shameful.

What annoys me most about the situation though is not that so many people are fabricating details of the story, but that it's become this full-on Sharks-and-Jets debate between Team Monogamy and Team Open Relationships. Having belonged to both schools of thought in my lifetime, I understand why this matter is important to both groups (and all in between). But is this really the appropriate platform to advocate these things? It just doesn't seem right to me to bank on somebody's potential heartbreak to make a point about your chosen lifestyle. Insensitive is what it is. Ideally I just wish everybody could let one another do what works for them and let it go all together, but I know this race is a long way off from that happening.

Either way, one thing is for certain: If you or your significant other are a high profile figure and you plan to perform an act of infidelity, you should really avoid doing it in a public place. That's how your ass gets caught.