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.”
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436 comments Add your comment
jay
May 16th, 2011
10:53 am
Ummmm Soooo…now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, Mr Perry is there something you’d like to stand up and tell the class? LOL!!!!
be yourself man
May 16th, 2011
10:54 am
it is ok man, who you are do not let others take you down, when if they told the truth on their life they would have a book too, and i am a black man, some of the people that carry bibles need to read them, and know that God made us all, sound like the days when the people wanted to stone the woman and what did Jesus say to them and they had to walk away, i am happy for you man, and any other man or woman, who taking charge of their lives. try people to love each other and stop the dipping ..
TR
May 16th, 2011
10:55 am
We all have something in our lives that we do…. Hold your head up and keep being who you are…God Bless you !!!!!
Vance
May 16th, 2011
10:55 am
This is very noble of Don Lemon to do this. Young gay people need to see mature, competent, professionals coming out for the ‘It gets better project”..Too many young people lose hope, commit suicide, turn to suicide or drug addiction. I wish him the best.
Pam
May 16th, 2011
10:55 am
That spirit came upon him when he was molested as a child. Soo sad.
TR
May 16th, 2011
10:57 am
It will come out about Mr. Perry … I feel The same way Jay
Capitalist
May 16th, 2011
10:57 am
Why do these people feel the need to share? Newsflash Rodney, I’m not gay. Does anyone care?
interesting
May 16th, 2011
10:58 am
Love his reporting- he is excellent at what he does- I also never knew he was 45. Wow!!!! Does not look 1 day over 30.
Back to Bama
May 16th, 2011
11:01 am
Way to go Don so very proud of you as it takes a lot no matter what anyone says or thinks about an alternative lifesytle. I know Atlanta is exposed to the lifesytle by leaps and bounds compared to most southern cities with the exception of Miami. I am very proud of all the positive comments GOOD JOB ATLANTA!!
Speak the truth
May 16th, 2011
11:02 am
Mr. Lemon, the culture tells you that if you feel something: (1) you were born that way, and (2) it is good. Both of these propositions are false. Whether one accepts divine command ethics (as I do) or not, you certainly were not born this way and there a lot of feelings all of us have that are not good. I believe that some desires are wrong and that, through faith in Christ, you can overcome them. The alternative: you can have a good time for a while (just like with heroin) but to swallow this Koolaid from the culture will destroy you.
pmuckle
May 16th, 2011
11:03 am
OK…. SO!
pw
May 16th, 2011
11:03 am
Hopefully he can move on with his life in a way that makes him happy. Can you imagine not being able to be who you are in the world because of fear of reprisal for something that is ABSOLUTELY NO ONE ELSES BUSINESS.
Being gay shouldn’t have a stigma attached to it but unfortunately in this world it still does. I wish him well.
sethook
May 16th, 2011
11:04 am
So like why does everyone have to parade their personal life in front of the public? Oh, that’s right, it’s for the book deals and any other publicity and pity one looks for. Just read the teleprompter about the news. Too many “journalists” have to be the news rather than just reading the news to us.
Mike Michaels
May 16th, 2011
11:04 am
I look forward to the day when this would not be news. And, just because he was not “out”, doesn’t mean he was on the DL sleeping with women.
Peter Jeter
May 16th, 2011
11:04 am
Other than going to Hell….he’s in Atlanta which means he’s goog to go!
#6
May 16th, 2011
11:05 am
So? who cares? What is too bad is it seems harder for a gay man to accept himself than it is for society— Don–you do a great job! keep up the good work.
pmuckle
May 16th, 2011
11:06 am
CRY ME A RIVER
Peter Jeter
May 16th, 2011
11:07 am
I too was molested as a child…..wish I could find those women now and return the favor.
'trtainmntatitzbest
May 16th, 2011
11:07 am
Why do ppl continue to say and write “WHO CARES” when evidently many do. Rodney, keep up your good work, reporting on any and everything. BTW, I happen to think your hats are cute on you especially when hair peeks out under the brim.
pw
May 16th, 2011
11:08 am
Why are people so immature as to keep up these comments about Tyler Perry? Must be a diminished sense of their own worth that makes them keep attacking a man who has done nothing but work hard, make his own way in the world and help others.
That crabs in a barrel mentality is what keeps these hateful people in the barrel of misery the live in every day. Try making your own way as Mr. Perry has done and you’ll have less time to make judgements about people that make no difference in the person they are in the world.
Freedom
May 16th, 2011
11:08 am
Speak the truth- are you saying that he wasn’t born gay because that is impossible, yet a God you have never seen is real and should be believed? So basically someone gay should disregard themselves and their feelings because it is a lie and believe in something that can’t be proven?
NoDisrepect
May 16th, 2011
11:08 am
O.M.G. I’m surprised and didn’t see that one coming, not that I should have expected it. Wow, well much love to the guy. He doesn’t come across as flaming gay person, which is good. I’m glad he let it be known or try to play like he was straight. Good for him.
Hmmmmm.....
May 16th, 2011
11:09 am
@anna ~ you know darn well every black man in Atlanta IS NOT gay…stop with the stupidness!
Ella
May 16th, 2011
11:10 am
I am soooooo disappointed. I am also wondering if there is some connection between these boys being molested as children and their confusion about their orientation. Tyler Perry was molested, Donnie McClurkin,,,,,,it really sucks. And regardless of the religious impact (which is huge) the scientific fact is that if everyone suddenly decided they were gay…unless we decided to share partners for reproduction’s sake….the world would become extinct. It is not natural which is why NO ONE (Yes I know there are infertile men and women blah blah)….NO ONE in a gay relationship can reproduce….never, NADA..ain’t happening because it is not the natural order of things.
Larry
May 16th, 2011
11:12 am
CNN only hires gay men.
The Black Community
May 16th, 2011
11:16 am
Pray it away? Yes, just like every other sinful habit the Lord can remove it.
Rev. Larry Fryer
May 16th, 2011
11:16 am
I wanted to speak to Mr. Lemon when he was in Augusta during the national mentoring program that Mr. Michael Baisden was presenting. I wanted to tell him to be strong. No one else can heal the “scars” that we inflict upon our lives or the lives of others but the creator, because we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, I say to him. “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they path”. Follow that path to its final destiny and you will reap your reward-Peace and happiness.
sha
May 16th, 2011
11:17 am
Great Looking Guy! I wish him well:)
chaz
May 16th, 2011
11:17 am
Attention gay people: WE DON’T CARE THAT YOU ARE GAY SO STOP ANNOUNCING IT! Just go be gay and move on.
USMC
May 16th, 2011
11:17 am
SO WHAT!!!
Doris M
May 16th, 2011
11:19 am
I like Don Lemon as an anchor. I don’t care what his sexual orientation is or will be in the future. After looking at many of the science shows about reproduction it’s a wonder any of us is totally male or female.
critikel
May 16th, 2011
11:20 am
This is a publicity stunt to make his fame highly notable. Everyone that has a gaydar, knew this man was gay, especially us in ATlanta, GA. Boi Please, knowone cares about this anymore. Do your best at what you do and live life. Now, If Derek Rose said he was gay, I’d have to kill myself. LMAO
CJ
May 16th, 2011
11:20 am
carlaroqs, you need to get to the root cause of the situation. Why do some men hide it? Because so many people in our society continue to hold prejudice against gay people. Don Lemon could very well have been married and acted out on the ‘DL’. Thank goodness he was man enough to know who he is and not accommodate the wishes of so-called Christians that he deny how nature made him.
wow
May 16th, 2011
11:21 am
Guess what everyone…I AM A MAN WHO LIKES WOMEN……WHO GIVES A SHIIAATTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh Gee!!
May 16th, 2011
11:22 am
He’s 45!!!!!!!!!! Goodness, he looks good for his age…By the way, I’m a heterosexual woman, and I’m giving the guy props for taking good care of himself.
Freedom
May 16th, 2011
11:23 am
I am SOOOOO sick of the gays can’t reproduce. Maybe gay couples not together, but a gay man and a gay woman and certainly reproduce!
jay
May 16th, 2011
11:25 am
@ pw: It’s called a JOKE….slowly remove the stick from your hind quarters!
Adam Sapple
May 16th, 2011
11:26 am
Look, who cares, let the guy have his privacy. On a side note, I admit, I’m a lesbian, seriously, I love women!!!!!
Greta
May 16th, 2011
11:27 am
Let’s hope he doesn’t end up like the last CNN anchor to reveal he’s gay. Fired from the network.
Orlando
May 16th, 2011
11:28 am
Stevie Wonder could see he was flaming, no secrets reveals here….
will
May 16th, 2011
11:28 am
I didnt even know CNN was still on the air. But I have heard for years that Lemon makes the rounds in gay Atlanta. Wonder if he was about to be “outed”?
lisa
May 16th, 2011
11:30 am
I am happy he got this “monkey off his back”. I am sure he is happier than ever. He is still fine and a woman can still fantasize about him! Don you are still a cutie to me!
Manny
May 16th, 2011
11:33 am
Ok, 45, single, never married, gainfully employed and living in Atlanta. Who didn’t know that he was gay? I mean, the shock would have been if he said that he was never married, 45, single, gainfully employed and living in Atlanta- and he wishes to finally marry a woman and start a family! That would have been news!
But Atlanta has too many pretty and good women for a man to be single for that long.
AND
May 16th, 2011
11:33 am
Who cares? He’s just a person trying to live his life.
Freedom
May 16th, 2011
11:33 am
@will, if he’s making the rounds I think he’s comfortable enough with himself and just hadn’t offically announce it because of his career. Also not everyone is afraid of being outed. Yes it is an invasion of privacy however, let give some credit to people who have the courage to come out themselves. Often time we focus to much on the negativity. I’m not interested in anyone being outed unless they are some sort of hypocrite who’s speaking out in opposition.
Freedom
May 16th, 2011
11:35 am
BTW people. CNN is a NEW NETWORK. It is not a show and yes the it is still on AIR. It’s a major network and located in Atlanta. If you live here and wasn’t aware then you have bigger problems to worry about other than this man’s sexuality. Also to all the people who say they didn’t care, then why did you stop to read the article and then comment. It must have some meaning to you even if it just struck up interest. I never post, comment, or even read something I have no interest in. If I accidently do then I have never posted or commented on it.
blacksheep
May 16th, 2011
11:37 am
If you want to know about ostracism, try coming out as an atheist
Miss Paul
May 16th, 2011
11:39 am
Mr. Lemon – You are still a handsome black male and I will continue to watch you on CNN and envy the male that wins your heart! God bless you!
David
May 16th, 2011
11:42 am
I thought he might be gay. As a gay physician I can say that in my area there is no discrimination against gays. Being gay is more genetic than thought. Don is a very pleasant person who does his job well, is fair, and not biased. Boy I wish we had more newsmen like him.
Brenda
May 16th, 2011
11:42 am
him & another high executive in baseball announce their calling. They have to know that being gay has to be contrary to a human lifestyle or they wouldn’t all seek so much advise before announcing their calling. Just wish they would keep their mouth shut so my little girl doesn’t use them as a great example to test the waters.