MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow is all about keeping them honest, telling the Guardian that closeted gay anchors should come out. But, hey, that doesn’t mean she's referring to a certain CNN anchor.

In the interview with the publication, which was published Monday, the openly gay anchor is asked if she feels frustration toward “an equally well-known news presenter who is widely assumed to be gay but has never come out?”

“I’m sure other people in the business have considered reasons why they’re doing what they’re doing," she answers, "but I do think that if you’re gay you have a responsibility to come out.”

The interview drew much attention, with blogs suggesting she was referring to Cooper, who has never acknowledged -- or denied -- that he is gay. Maddow responded to the noise in a self-penned blog post Monday evening, stressing that she wasn’t singling anyone out.

“In that interview, I wasn't asked about Anderson Cooper, I didn't say anything about him, he literally was never discussed during the interview at all -- even implicitly,” she wrote. “I don't tend to be shy when I criticize -- you wouldn't have to read between the lines if that's what I was trying to do."

She goes on to list the ethics of “coming out,” in case you were looking for a guideline.

Do you agree that news anchors have a responsibility to be transparent about their sexuality?

-- Yvonne Villarreal

twitter.com/villarrealy

Photo: Getty Images