Anderson Cooper’s Trending After Big Announcement!

Just mere hours after announcing to the world "Fact is, I'm Gay," Anderson Cooper has received an outpouring of love, and support from his peers.

Ellen Degeneres, who made a similar announcement years ago wrote, "I'm proud of you, @AndersonCooper."

Actor Neil Patrick Harris, who revealed to People magazine he is gay back in 2006, said, "Good for you, @AndersonCooper. You're awesome."

Cooper's colleague, Don Lemon, who came out last year, sent him his well wishes, but kept it short, sweet, and to the point. "We should all be supportive."

Kathy Griffin posted a heartfelt photo of her holding hands with the silver-haired journalist. "Here I am with my friend Anderson Cooper who I'm so proud of." Twitter followers went into a tizzy over the picture, giving it nearly 50,000 likes.

Off course Joan Rivers took the comedic route, tweeting:  "Thrilled @AndersonCooper came out! So, THAT'S why he never wanted to date me! I would've loved having Gloria Vanderbilt as my mother-in-law."

Cooper, 45, who is currently on assignment in Botswana is grateful for all the incoming support."I appreciate all the nice tweets, "I am in Botswana working but want to wish everyone a great 4th of July!" The award-winning journalist tweeted this morning.

The CNN host has always remained mum about his personal life "...I understand why people might be interested. But I just don't talk about my personal life, he said to New York Magazine back in 2005, the whole thing about being a reporter is that you're supposed to be an observer and to be able to adapt with any group you're in, and I don't want to do anything that threatens that."

But in his recent letter to Daily Beast columnist, and Gay Rights Activist, Andrew Sullivan, that statement just didn't hold true anymore, although he will still strive to maintain his privacy.

It's become clear to me that by remaining silent on certain aspects of my personal life for so long, I have given some the mistaken impression that I am trying to hide something - something that makes me uncomfortable, ashamed or even afraid. This is distressing because it is simply not true, "Said Cooper.