CNN’s Don Lemon says he’s gay
CREDIT: CNN
CNN’s Don Lemon, who last year stunned audiences when he said he was molested as a child, has revealed he is gay.
Lemon, 45, has a new memoir coming out called “Transparent.” He told Bill Carter of the New York Times of the inherent risks of coming out as a news personality.
“I’m scared,” he said to the Times. “I’m talking about something that people might shun me for, ostracize me for.”
Although some TV personalities are out, most notably Rachel Maddow of MSNBC, he said being a black male makes it even tougher to be gay.
“It’s about the worst thing you can be in black culture. You’re taught you have to be a man; you have to be masculine. In the black community they think you can pray the gay away.”
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
436 comments Add your comment
TG
May 16th, 2011
10:23 am
Mike Hipp, you are entitled to your opinions, but not to the facts. “lobbying for and passing those laws that keep people like us from living our life, quietly, with the people we love.” WHO IS DOING THIS? NO ONE is stopping you from living with who you love.
Dixie Cybill Presley
May 16th, 2011
10:24 am
Let’s see how long CNN will keep him on the air!
Anyone remember Thomas Roberts? He had a prime late afternoon/early evening slot on CNN Headline News. He came out while working at CNN and shortly thereafter he left. If memory serves me correctly they didn’t renew his contract, but think it was publicised that he left for “new journalistic opportunities”.
Wonder how long it will be before CNN gets rid of Don Lemon?
Emma
May 16th, 2011
10:24 am
@ tony…ummmmm I got to disagree with ya…my black family would rather have a gay black man that is successful and an asset to society than a drug dealer who isn’t going anywhere and is a liability to society…
Ho what are you thinking?
May 16th, 2011
10:24 am
Great move for Don……….The economy or his horrible news reporting skills were about to get him fired………next……claim you are gay….________ it from behind and you have job security.
If I ever find myself worried about my job security…I will “claim” to be gay…….no business can ever fire you….instant job security….gotts love how life works…..
Hmmmmm.....
May 16th, 2011
10:24 am
“…he is very good looking, i wish him well. personally, my problem with gay men of any color is when they practice it, but hide it and endanger the lives of the women they also deal with. other than that– life is too short.
↑ This deserves repeating!
Peter
May 16th, 2011
10:25 am
As far as the Christian Fundamentalist viewpoint…….Love the sinner and hate the sin.
pcBobby
May 16th, 2011
10:25 am
Everyone ought to care because this great man has a lot of people who look up to him. If he can save just one life or many lives from torment, then he has done a great service to this world.
@rodneyho – Your hat is awesome and just because you dress well and you’re thin, smart and neat, doesn’t mean that you’re gay.
Lois Lane
May 16th, 2011
10:25 am
I love him anyway. He’s one of the best in the business.
roark
May 16th, 2011
10:26 am
So, should we offer him a cookie?
South Side Steve
May 16th, 2011
10:28 am
really….This is news to who?????
Patricia Stultz
May 16th, 2011
10:29 am
Big deal! Some of the most wonderful people in the world are gay and I have the privilege of knowing some of them. God Bless you. Move on with your life and don’t worry about a thing! You are still loved and respected for who you are, believe me!
Apple
May 16th, 2011
10:30 am
@Joe White, what makes you a man? Ignorance, contempt for others, judging something you know nothing of and don’t understand? If that’s the case then I don’t think you are a man either.
Ho what are you thinking?
May 16th, 2011
10:30 am
As far as the Christian Fundamentalist viewpoint…….Love the sinner and hate the sin.
v
May 16th, 2011
10:31 am
Does anyone believe in grammar and spelling anymore? Come on, AJC, at least spell check the article before you post it.
Ken
May 16th, 2011
10:32 am
I’m so happy that’s he’s secure enough to bring it up. When you hit mid-40s you don’t care as much what folks think.
joann
May 16th, 2011
10:32 am
I have more important things to worry about such as : price of FOOD and GAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
4xtra
May 16th, 2011
10:33 am
what no racist white power type comments??
I am shocked that MOST of you accept this….
Being in Atlanta..this does NOT suprise me in any capacity …
But it really doesn’t matter what his preference is
Todd - Dacula
May 16th, 2011
10:34 am
No big deal, but I always figured he was.
Call it like it is
May 16th, 2011
10:34 am
Hmmm, so I’m a news reporter on a completely irrelevant new shows with a new book coming out. What can I do to garner attention to push up sales. I know, I know, I’m black, I’m proud and I’m GAY. Don you should have taken up rap and poetry, at least then you would have been invited to the White House and you could have pushed your book there.
bigDee
May 16th, 2011
10:34 am
He’s in good shape for 45. Will soon find out who his REAL friends are. Best of luck to him.
SO WHAT!!!!!
May 16th, 2011
10:34 am
I just want to know what does that have to do with how GOOD OF A JOB you do?….I’m with you Whateva!…I have a lot of friends both male and female that sre GAY and they live thier lives only on one principle “I’m Gay” as if THATS ALL THAT THEY ARE!!!
China Tea
May 16th, 2011
10:34 am
uhhhhhh……………who really cares and why do people need to know these things? Really, whats this got to do with the price of tea in China? Hey world, guess what? I’m straght as an arrow! Just thought EVERYBODY needed to know
jay
May 16th, 2011
10:36 am
BREAKING NEWS: I am heterosexual…more on this development at 11pm
Bro 1
May 16th, 2011
10:36 am
THEY SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH FOR ONCE AND
AND SAY HE IS POCESSED A PERVERT WITH UNCLEAN SPIRITS
AND BECAUSE EVERYONE AT CNN HAS DEMONS TOO HE CANT TELL
Mitzymy
May 16th, 2011
10:37 am
You are right about the Black Community and their sons. They would rather have anything become of their sons as long as they are not gay. It is an embarasment to their family. They watch the sexual development of their sons more than their daughters. When they see their daughters dressing like boys, and hanging out with boys doing boy things, they just say that she is a tomboy and will grow out of it. But if a boy holds his arm a certain way, they jump all over him and tell him girls do that. This makes it difficult for boys to tell anyone how they feel, just as it took Don Lemon until he was 30 to tell about his molestation.
Lisa Wheeler
May 16th, 2011
10:37 am
Not trying to sound facetious, but did you really think we did’nt know? Really? No, I mean really?Black women, the actual heads of the black community and the black home, know this thing not long after a child is born. And guess what? Black Momma wish somebody has somethin to say about it. When it comes to our children, we stand up for ours. (Chosen vernacular and misuse of tense is necessary for the conveyance of this message.) Don, Love you Baby.
Will
May 16th, 2011
10:37 am
I knew he was Fine!!!
Jennifer
May 16th, 2011
10:37 am
Already could tell, but glad he came out…very brave!
Call me the Supporter
May 16th, 2011
10:38 am
I can’t wait to Pride this year. I will be there celebrating and supporting all my friends. The world is a better place because of diversity and because of these people. We can’t all be the same now can we?
Rick
May 16th, 2011
10:38 am
Wow… of opinions here on this issue. My thoughts on being gay is pretty main stream. I don’t like it and think its wrong and a pervursion of the natural coarse of humanity. However I refuse to treat anyone less than human no matter the choice of sexual preference. From a purely religious perspective… it is not my business and that between the person & God although I can have an opinion and feelings about it. I nor we have the right to judge or humiliate.
Nicole
May 16th, 2011
10:38 am
Who the heck cares if he is gay or not? I just dont understand all this gay pride rainbow flag mess. You dont see hetero-sexual Married couples hanging a flag out side thier home to announce thier sexual preference. Geesh enough of the “I’m Gay” announcement. and this made the news why???
pop123
May 16th, 2011
10:39 am
it is great thing to be free from bondage and guilt and shame. i hope you have blessed life and keep it real with yourself and God!!!
Will
May 16th, 2011
10:41 am
He is one of the finest broadcasters in the business. What he does behind closed doors is his own business. CNN should show some class and stand behind him.
CNN FAN
May 16th, 2011
10:44 am
I thought Don was married, didn’t he wear a wedding ring (band) sometimes on his left hand????
I do know he is very soft spoken. I agree he is a very good new reporter. Ro please answer my question.
Mike Hipp
May 16th, 2011
10:45 am
“Mike Hipp, you are entitled to your opinions, but not to the facts. “lobbying for and passing those laws that keep people like us from living our life, quietly, with the people we love.” WHO IS DOING THIS? NO ONE is stopping you from living with who you love.”
TG – You can’t be serious? You do know that there is a constitutional admendment in Georiga and 30 some odd other states that says I can’t marry the man that I’ve been in a committed manogamous relationship for 14 years, right?
You do know that I can be fired in 31 states just for being LGB or T, right?
You do know that there are some 1,800 rights that you are handed by the Federal government when you get married that are held back form me just because I am different?
Fact are facts, and you do not have the slightest grasp of them.
Tom
May 16th, 2011
10:46 am
He just covered all his bases concerning his employment. I have seen him on tv and he seems very capable and qualified to do what he does. But let’s assume he does a poor job, any chance an employer would try to fire a black man who is gay?? The NAACP and Rainbow Coliation(mispelled) would have a field day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kiana
May 16th, 2011
10:46 am
Actually, the worst thing you can be in black culture is DOWN LOW, not gay. If you want to be with men, don’t try to hide behind your feelings by bringing an innocent woman into your web of lies.
John Galt
May 16th, 2011
10:46 am
He is attractive so his sexual orientation was his choice. Rachel Maddow, on the other hand, has to be a lesbian because there is no man on earth that desperate-
Freedom
May 16th, 2011
10:47 am
@Nicole, straight people do the same thing we they marry. They put on a big wedding, parties, and a big show. Gay’s aren’t allowed to marry. Coming out in a big thing because its also coming into acceptance of who you are and no longer pretending to be someone you are not. Gay people are thought to hate their very existence based off who they are. I proudly applaud and commend anyone who learns to love and accept themself.
SteveO
May 16th, 2011
10:48 am
Considering that only old people watch cable news, this could be bad for his career.
Geraldine
May 16th, 2011
10:49 am
Nothing changes with me, he is a great well-spoken newscaster. Continue doing a GREAT JOB, and keep your business to yourself. Love U!!!!!!!!!!
Didwereallyhavetoknowthis
May 16th, 2011
10:50 am
And we needed to know this because………… Wonder if he’s able to sleep better at night since coming out? Dude, please tell us something that we didn’t know. I don’t see why someone’s sexual orientation has to be put on public display for everyone to see. What you do in your bedroom is your business and that goes for everyone whether they are straight or gay…….
AreYouSerious
May 16th, 2011
10:51 am
Honestly, this is a fact that the general public really didn’t need to know. And it’s only relevant if he’s on a date with a WOMAN; then he needs to confess that he’s gay.
FYI to Don: your business isn’t everybody’s business, and people only know what you tell them…PERIOD!!
worm
May 16th, 2011
10:51 am
Does anybody actually watch CNN..I didn’t realize they were still on the air.
anna
May 16th, 2011
10:51 am
Aren’t all black men in Atlanta gay…what a waste!
godoggo
May 16th, 2011
10:51 am
Jay
May 16th, 2011
10:00 am
He’s a good anchor, that’s all I care about.
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto Jay !!!
That is the great thing about America….we have a forum here we can deliver out thoughts without coming home and having found our house burnt to the ground.
And yes, Rachel absolutely annoys the be-jesus out of me………but then again, she teaches me how i never wish to be : )
-
Warren
May 16th, 2011
10:52 am
My personal advise Lemon, if they (the blacks) don’t love you, f— them… and not in the sexy way. Live your life! ♥ Leave them to their BET and JET Magazine. :^)
Liberace
May 16th, 2011
10:53 am
Look at his face –you are surprised he’s gay? Sure he has the voice to go with it.
TG
May 16th, 2011
10:53 am
Mike Hipp, you stated you were not allowed to “live peacefully with who you love.” That was a LIE and I called you on it. You can absolutely live with who you like.
And this is another lie: “You do know that I can be fired in 31 states just for being LGB or T, right?” Really? Name one–and the statute that says you can be fired because of your sexual preference.
comingout
May 16th, 2011
10:53 am
who cares!!!… btw… i’m not gay…