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
oldmaninatlanta
May 16th, 2011
2:37 pm
U GUYS think he has a boyfriend at CNN?….maybe Wolf Blitzer….or Elliot Spitzer?
Thrash
May 16th, 2011
2:38 pm
Here’s a clue… EVERYONE and EVERYTHING about CNN is gay.
Renee'
May 16th, 2011
2:38 pm
Who could not guess that he is gay???? Duh. Did he even need to come out of the closet?
Mossy Oak
May 16th, 2011
2:40 pm
WOW.Black and gay.Must suck to wake up to that…………….
Swaga1
May 16th, 2011
2:42 pm
Im sorry but i figured this guy was gay a long time ago. What’s the breaking news? U can see it was clear as day. He said on Frank and Wanda in an interview that Tyler Perry had called him and offered any help if Don needed it….im sure that was a call to set up a date.
Ben
May 16th, 2011
2:43 pm
Don Lemon, is a brave man to come out. Yes It is hard to be a Gay Black Man In The USA No matter how acomplished Hats off To You Don. I wish you the best from one gay black man to another.
good reporter, just don't mess with the ladies!
May 16th, 2011
2:44 pm
Don is a great anchor and reporter. If he’s a homo sexual, that’s his business, I don’t give a flip about who he’s sleeping with…as long as he wasn’t on the down-low trying to fool women! THAT’s when health issues etc affect others. As an aside, heck…are there any straight young black men out there? geez. Sisters, go white.
tasha
May 16th, 2011
2:46 pm
this made the news?
Andy in Blairsville
May 16th, 2011
2:50 pm
Anyone ever watch this guy? He’s painful to watch just like the many other B-list CNN anchors.
I wonder if him and Anderson Cooper pillow bite together?
Just Saying
May 16th, 2011
2:55 pm
you can tell this cat was gay just by body movements and facial expressions; it does not make a difference, hopefully from this point on he will be true to himself. Do not have go around professing his gayism but just be who you are.
KD
May 16th, 2011
2:58 pm
I’m actually more shocked that he’s 45! No judgement here ( and yes I am a saved woman)..You don’t have to answer to me or anyone else walking this earth..God is the one and only judge. May he bless you and keep you.
TashTash
May 16th, 2011
3:04 pm
Is anyone really surprised that he’s gay? It was always assumed but didn’t matter. We live in Atlanta, is Gay really still an issue? My God, they’ve practically turned this city into San Francisco. I have a problem with so many young Black men suddenly acting as if being homosexual is cool-the people that really struggle with it suffer because they think it’s cute to dress in complete drag in the Atlantic Station in the middle of the day! If you gay and you like men – why do gay men want to look like women to attract other men? Sounds a bit redundant to me – maybe Don can do an expose on that.
mamaj
May 16th, 2011
3:14 pm
@turthbtold; ..and the blogging public needed to hear your NASTY description of what goes on in this man’s bedroom? How would you even know?
@goodreporter; Yes, there are still straight young Black men out there, if that’s what someone wants; but going white does not make everything alright (for EVERYONE).
Hmmmmm.....
May 16th, 2011
3:17 pm
Perhaps I’m missing something, but for all of you marveling that he looks great for 45, anyone know when that picture was taken? Also, haven’t you heard the phrase “black don’t crack!”
lisa
May 16th, 2011
3:20 pm
So what? Why is this evena story?
LOL!
May 16th, 2011
3:25 pm
All GAY DUDES in Atlanta are NOT from here!
who cares? tell the damn news please......
May 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
Why do some Gay celebrities, not all feel they have to let the world know their sexual orientation. That is info he could have kept to himself as an Anchor person. I am not saying there is anything wrong with him being Gay its just its his own issue not mine. Just tell the damn news and move the hell on!
Is this some kind of marketing strategy?
He's a
May 16th, 2011
3:27 pm
Fruity Booty! LMAO
The Truth
May 16th, 2011
3:27 pm
So now he can use the “race” card and….”gay” card. Pretty neat..plus the “quota” system.
This guy has it made!!!!! {”:}
Ryan
May 16th, 2011
3:28 pm
To all of the people that are asking why he needs to come out, and saying it is no one’s business, and asking why it has to be on public display, here is your answer. Try to look at it from their point of view. Think about how many times you have introduced your spouse/significant other to someone. How many times have you gone to a dinner party or a company party with your spouse? How comfortable would you be leaving your spouse behind or lying about your relationship because you are afraid of how people would react to your choice in a partner, or that you would be judged and or discriminated against because of who/what your partner was. This is how homosexuals have to live their lives until they come out. This is not about “What they do in the bedroom” or “Where they put their thang” it is about being able to freely live their life in the outside world. EVERYONE deserves that freedom.
who cares? tell the damn news please......
May 16th, 2011
3:34 pm
Surely the circles that he travels in know his orientation.
M. Jordan
May 16th, 2011
3:43 pm
Oh well, sorry single “WHITE” females, you won’t that one (ok, just kidding). Honestly, I wish that the world would stop forcing us to know what a person prefers sexually, in the privacy of their homes. If you are a “flaming” homosexual, it looks bad to parade as a woman or man of the opposite sex of what you actually are. You cannot be too flamboyant as either sex, in a weird sort of way. Its laughable. That does not make me “homophobic.” Now again…. what a waste of a fine, educated, black hunk of a man….. ugh!
Yvonne Williams
May 16th, 2011
3:45 pm
It’s not that Don wanted to reveal his preference. He was forced to, as someone was going to out him. Now, its out. He has to fear no more. He can go on with his life.
good reporter, just don't mess with the ladies!
May 16th, 2011
3:46 pm
Oprah might bump one of her shows to have him on. you know she loves the gays. special connection. Tyler Perry, Rosei O’D; nate B; Melissa Ethridge, Ellen DeG, Queen La, others… She has them on all the time. Gayle.
nancy
May 16th, 2011
3:51 pm
good. be yourself.
RDT
May 16th, 2011
3:53 pm
Wow Queens are all coming out this week. The CEO of Phoenix Suns and Now Black Don Lemon. Who is next? A.C.?
signed
GAY Black Man in Atlanta so yes I can say Queen lolol
Sage
May 16th, 2011
4:03 pm
I love Don and I think he’s a great journalist and I could care less about him being gay BUT homophobia is not exclusive to SOME Blacks,there is homophobia in all races.I just get tired of some Blacks Gays using the attitude of SOME Blacks for the reason they don’t come out the closet.
Thrash
May 16th, 2011
4:04 pm
Let’s just say that any man ITP is suspect.
whocares
May 16th, 2011
4:07 pm
is being gay the new thing to do or something? good grief!
GloriaY
May 16th, 2011
4:16 pm
So what? It is no business of mine or anyone else’s for that matter. The important thing is that he does his job professionally and does it well. Being gay is not a crime. The criminals are the serial adulterers who call themselves politians and “lawmakers.” What is also a crime is the overt racism in the nation, and by the way, I happen to be a heterosexual great grandmother.
C M
May 16th, 2011
4:31 pm
Hallelujah Y’awl,
Leave the man alone! Sure is a lot of perfect people out there casting stones!!!
The Human Torch
May 16th, 2011
4:34 pm
Now there’s a surprise.
coondog1251
May 16th, 2011
4:35 pm
There is no straight news, gay news. There’s just NEWS. And I love it when YOU do the news on the weekends. So you’re GAY. Big friggin’ deal. Someday announcing that a person is gay willl be YAWN what else is new? Don’t let anybody treat you any DIFFERENT. You were Don Lemon before this and you’ll be Don lemon after this.
TheBigCat
May 16th, 2011
4:40 pm
Just like the guy told Lela Rochon’s character in Harlem Nights “Just becasue your name is Lady Heroin you don’t have to sell the stuff”, Just becasue you are a Lemon you don’t have to let guys suck you.
Claudia, Houston, Tx
May 16th, 2011
4:41 pm
Don Lemon is a professional and should make anyone proud regardless of his gender or race. I love and support him and look forward to his continued professionalism on CNN reporting.
Saint Simons
May 16th, 2011
4:48 pm
now maybe he can start covering the news honestly, since he has been honest with himself finally, at least we now know why he leans so left.
i dont care if he is gay or not, not my business, but fair news is…..are you listening CNN???
who?
May 16th, 2011
4:54 pm
WHo?
Who cares?!
Brin
May 16th, 2011
4:56 pm
Why are Homosexuals, gay’s, always coming out of the closet ? Why do they feel the need to publicize their sexual proclivity ? Ever notice how many normal folks, heterosexuals, come out or announce they are normal and love the opposite sex…Me thinks the Gays do protest too much !
jesse
May 16th, 2011
5:00 pm
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP KEEP GOD FRIST
Craig H
May 16th, 2011
5:17 pm
Mitzymy…that is about the dumbest comment I have ever heard! “I sure hate this because some nice woman could have made him very happy. I don’t know why gay people have to tell everyone that they are gay. Why is that?” Mitsymy….Just so you KNOW, no woman,no matter how “nice” could make a GAY man very happy!! HELLO!!!!!! Key word here is GAY!!!!????
Thya
May 16th, 2011
5:22 pm
Good luck, and all the best to you, Don. I hope your book becomes a best seller, and I wish you peace and love. Also know not all black people are Christians, and that even amongst Christians they don’t all share the same views about homosexuality.
Baltisraul
May 16th, 2011
5:33 pm
I would be upset if he was an anchor on Fox. Not so much with CNN.
Rodney, Who is Rachel Maddow? Never heard of her. Is she new to tv?
Melody
May 16th, 2011
5:35 pm
That is not news!!! Who cares.
Smeat
May 16th, 2011
5:57 pm
So what … He’s gay. This is a non-story unless Lemon WANTS the spotlight.
At work – Is he on-time, on-deadline, professional, responsible, and trustworthy?
If Yes then I don’t give a flying crap who he loves.
leddy
May 16th, 2011
6:06 pm
Paging, Anderson Cooper! Anderson Cooper to the outing microphone.
PeteyNola
May 16th, 2011
6:08 pm
I remember when black men would never admit to eating fur burger, and now …what? They’re admitting to being gay? Now if they would only admit that the “N” word has no meaning.
Sid C
May 16th, 2011
6:22 pm
I want Rodney to do a story on me because i want to officially announce that…
“i’m heterosexual”
CNN is irrelevant anyway
May 16th, 2011
6:42 pm
EJ @ 9:42 AM…Are you kidding me? Seriously???
Flash
May 16th, 2011
6:43 pm
Interesting how many people claim to have not known CNN was still on the air. CNN is the worlds most watched and quoted news network. If you are not aware that they are even on the air you are not an individual with any sort of valid point to make in an open forum. Honestly, who cares what the out of touch and uninformed have to say about modern issues.
Patricia Ferguson
May 16th, 2011
6:45 pm
Shame on you Don!