In a heartwarming on-air moment, Spectrum News 1 Ohio’s Taylor Bruck shared a piece of her personal life during a casual chat with co-anchor Alexa Maslowski, revealing plans to visit her “girlfriend” in Cleveland over Thanksgiving. The 25-year-old Emmy-winning reporter described the decision as “spur-of-the-moment” but significant for her journey towards self-acceptance.
Taking to social media to celebrate this milestone, Bruck posted the clip, acknowledging the impact of uttering the word “girlfriend” on television. The video quickly gained traction, amassing over 110,000 views on TikTok and 190,000 likes on Instagram, with comments pouring in from around the world.
The Ohio native, who has been openly gay on social media, expressed surprise at the meaningful impact her on-air revelation had on over a million people globally. Messages of support flooded in from places as diverse as Ghana, Germany, Australia, London, and various states across the U.S.
One comment highlighted the profound influence such visibility can have, particularly for those still in the process of coming out. Bruck, acknowledging the support, emphasized the importance of living one’s truth. She shared that the decision to come out on air was prompted by her desire to encourage others to do the same.
Bruck, who met her girlfriend Lauren Lanzaretta in Cleveland, sees herself not as a hero but as a journalist and news anchor who happens to be gay. Inspired by LGBTQ journalists like Anderson Cooper and Robin Roberts, Bruck aims to be authentic and unafraid in her professional and personal life.
As the year comes to a close, Bruck reflects on the support she’s received and looks forward to spending the holidays with Lanzaretta. Their festive season included attending Mariah Carey’s Christmas concert and putting up their first Christmas tree together.
Approaching the new year with pride in her personal and professional support system, Bruck emphasizes the importance of visibility, stating, “I’m so grateful for being able to be myself on and off the screen because visibility matters, and it saves lives.” In a society where representation is crucial, Taylor Bruck’s on-air coming out serves as a beacon of inspiration for many around the globe.
Sources:
- Brant, B. (2023, December 11). Ohio Anchor comes out On-Air and reveals she has girlfriend in ‘Big Moment’: ‘Visibility Matters’ (Exclusive). Peoplemag.
- Baumann, B. (n.d.). Alexa Malowski. John Butte & Associates.
- Photo Credit: Taylor Buck