By now, I think we all know that Anderson Cooper is gay. He has a hot boyfriend named Benjamin Maisani who owns and operates a club. They have a big gay love shack that is a converted firehouse (complete with a fireman’s pole, apparently). They’ve even been photographed together (Benjamin is the hot, muscular dude with Anderson in these photos). Anyway, the Enquirer often runs stories about the state of Andy and Ben’s relationship. They sometimes go over the top with their claims, probably thinking that if Anderson ever tries to refute them, he’ll have to come out of his glass closet. Last year the Enquirer even reported that Ben and Anderson were thinking of adopting a Haitian orphan, which was probably never going to happen in reality. This week, the Enquirer claims that Andy and Ben were having relationship problems, but Anderson’s mom, Gloria Vanderbilt, stepped in and mediated a solution. She’s not so selfless though – she wants Anderson and Ben to give her grandbaby, NOW.

Anderson Cooper’s famous mom is pushing him to marry his boyfriend – so she can get another grandchild! Fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt helped the CNN anchor mend his crumbling relationship with club owner Benjamin Maisini, 38, amid quarrels over their taxing work schedules.

“Anderson and Ben are in love, but they were on the verge of breaking up,” an insider told The Enquirer. “Between Anderson’s dangerous work assignments and Ben’s crazy hours at the club, the guys reached an impasse.”

That’s when Anderson’s 87-year-old mom worked some magic.

“At her age, Gloria is desperate to see her son settle down and make a family. So she got right in the middle of things, and reminded each of them how lucky they are to have found love and to stop being so demanding,” the source divulged.

Anderson, 44, said he could cut back on road trips, said the source.

“Then Ben said his real worry is that Anderson’s job keeps him in danger. Pretty soon they got a dialogue going and the breakup was averted,” the source added.

Now Gloria – who has three grandchildren – is pushing hard for the two to marry and pick up their plans to adopt a child.

As the Enquirer reported, the two considered adopting a Haitian orphan after the country’s January 2010 earthquake, which Anderson covered extensively. They scrapped that plan due to his busy career, but now “Anderson is ready to settle down, and Ben is content,” said the source. “And they both have Gloria to thank!”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition]

I’m not really sure who is the bigger “get” in Ben and Anderson’s relationship. Ben seems like a decent guy, he’s hot, he spends a lot of time at the gym, and he’s a successful businessman. Anderson is hot too, and he’s probably lusted after by scores of ladies and dudes. BUT, if you date Anderson, you can rarely go out in public with him. You can’t be his date to any official functions, you can’t even hold his hand when you go to Crate & Barrel. So who has the better deal in this relationship? I hope Ben likes being Anderson’s not-so-secret lover for a few more years, because I don’t think this whole marriage-and-babies thing is in the cards for now.

Photos courtesy of WENN & Pacific Coast News.