Atlanta News category interest

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - He’s an Emmy award-winning journalist, actor, producer and bestselling author, but Mark Pettit’s career wasn’t always filled with success. The former Atlanta news anchor released a new fictionalized memoir where he writes about a career upended when he came out as gay during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

“It’s allowed me to change some things around and tell the story that I wanted to tell. One that makes sense of my life,” said Pettit, author of “Ankrboy.”

Pettit seemingly had it all. After a few short years of climbing the ranks in smaller TV markets, he landed his dream job working in Atlanta’s local news, digging for the truth as an investigative reporter and delivering the headlines from the anchor desk.

“As far back as I can remember all I ever wanted to be was an anchorman,” said Pettit.

The Calhoun native, now in his 60s, flips through newspaper clippings from back in the late 80s and 90s highlighting a career filled with interviewing serial killers, revealing holes in airport security and uncovering government corruption.

His dream job made him a hometown hero.

“I had a singular focus and that was getting to the bottom of things,” said Pettit.

But Pettit was hiding something. In his new heart-wrenching memoir Ankrboy, Pettit details his struggles growing up gay and closeted.

“I started making mistakes. I went out to meet a guy for drinks at Blake’s and he said you know you’re taking a big risk,” said Pettit.

Eventually, Pettit felt the risks were worth taking. Two years into his career in Atlanta, Pettit came out, met someone, and fell in love. He said life was going great, but soon, it all came crashing down.

“After I came out and lost my job, things changed. People turned on me. They turned on my family, and it was a horrible time,” said Pettit. “I lost my job in TV news, and not long after that, I lost my first real boyfriend to AIDS.”

Pettit said his life spiraled out of control.

To find himself, he escaped into the gay party scene. In his book, Pettit writes that drugs, alcohol and a subsequent overdose led to a wake-up call. It took some time and a lot of self-healing and reflection, but Pettit made a career change and more importantly, started down a new path of being unapologetically his authentic self.

This Pride Month, Pettit’s message to others in Georgia’s LGBTQ+ community is to have the courage to be their authentic self.

“I want people to live their life openly. Live it honestly because yes, there may be a price to pay today, but there will be a greater cost tomorrow,” said Pettit.

Ankrboy is available on Pettit’s website and on Amazon.