Robin Roberts surprised her Facebook followers this afternoon in an end-of-year post. She came out publicly for the first time, mentioning her longtime girlfriend Amber Laign. Roberts has been out to her family, friends and co-workers for years, but this is the first time she’s publicly acknowledged her sexuality.
I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together.
Roberts and Laign have been together for 10 years. Laign, a massage therapist who works with patients recovering from injuries, is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area.
A year ago today, Roberts reached the 100 day mark following her bone marrow transplant. Her posting today is a message of thanks for all who helped her along the way.
Roberts joins a short list of TV news anchors who have come out publicly. In July, 2012 CNN’s Anderson Cooper came out during a Q&A with Andrew Sullivan. In Oct., 2012, former “GMA” weatherman Sam Champion was at the wedding of MSNBC’s Thomas Roberts to Patrick Abner when he let it slip that he was going to marry his boyfriend, Rubem Robierb.