CNN’s Don Lemon finally admits he’s gay

Sandra Rose May 16, 2011

CNN’s Don Lemon has finally come out of the closet:

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 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.”

KK76

45 looks good on him.
prynsexxx

Rachel Maddow is gay?!?!?!?

I need to stay off the “Housewives” circuit and tune into some REAL news.
KK76

Oh and duh! I thought he’d already came out long ago….
yvonne79

@KK76: He does look good for 45….
Genia

WOW!! really!!!nooooooooooooooooooo!! you don’t say? I just learned how to make fire…those damn cavemen had it all wrong…(blank staring while sipping coffee)
prynsexxx

KK76 says:

45 looks good on him.
__________________

Protein does a body good! <——– facial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8SdzwoIcwo LUSCIOUS LOLITA AKA SUGA WALLS

Pryn
deedeegirl

brave of him to speak up about something so personal.
Feline Feminine

Don looks great to be 45, I thought he was in his mid to late 30’s…at any rate I figured he was possibly gay after he discussed being molested as a child by a male family friend…
Dawn Sheen

Redeemed666 is awake.. I am out like Don Lemons… see Ya’ll tomorrow.
Peachizz

No Surpise here, Sandra mention this a while back in the comment section..Just happy for him, now that his door is kicked down.. just waiting on Kween Perry ever come out the closet…..
Feline Feminine

Protein does a body good! <——– facial

___
candykisses

well he looks gay hey prynsexxx what’s up
http://smokiesays.blogspot.com/ Smokie

He looks great for his age.

I’m tired of people coming out. Why is a grand announcement necessary??? Just introduce your boo and keep it moving. Just live your life, ala Queen Latifah. I think straight people should start marching and coming out as being heterosexual. I’m serious.
ELove

He SAID…
“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.”

I SAY:
ACTUALLY Being a Disgusting DL Brutha is about the WORST …

AND you’re USUALLY TAUGHT (Back in the Old-Skool DAYZ) to ACTING LIKE a MALE and NOT a FEMALE …

And EXACTLY Who are these people who “Think You can Pray Gay Away”
prynsexxx

@ CandyKisses
Anna

LOL. I had to google, the pic did not load. I know who he is, good for him for coming out, now the ladies will quit throwing themselves at him. @ Fe Fe. Hi, and just wondering, does being molested by the same sex make you gay?
PAHairston

Hello All. Just because one is molested as a child does not make one gay. Trust me, I know.

“Baby I was born this way.” I was born straight, no matter what road I take or will take. I can’t say that for you or you or you, or him. Peaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Anna

ELove says:

He SAID…
“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.”

I SAY:
ACTUALLY Being a Disgusting DL Brutha is about the WORST …

AND you’re USUALLY TAUGHT (Back in the Old-Skool DAYZ) to ACTING LIKE a MALE and NOT a FEMALE …

And EXACTLY Who are these people who “Think You can Pray Gay Away”
~~~~
Hey E. You know Church folks think they can pray the gay away. I also believe that being a DL man is far more worse than being a gay man.
Redeemed777

God is not mocked.

If your right hand causes you to steal CUT IT OFF ( not literally, but yeah cut it off )

If you are praying consistently to the Lord about yourself, HE will help you. But if you decide in your heart that you enjoy your ways too much to ask God to help you fight it off, then God will give you over to those ways whereby you will be so spiritually blind that you will ignore verses from the Bible that speaks against your ways, AND you will start to come up with reasons such as ” I was born this way ”

God is not mocked. HIS WORD WILL STAND.

Don’t let satan snatch heaven from you.
http://twitter.com/candyrayne215 spongebobfan

As long as that other black anchor isnt gay on CNN …dang i forgot his name. hes weekend morning anchor…. mmm

but on topic..ok who cares, why every celb or semi celb coming out has to be front line news? kudos to him
candykisses

prynsexxx
Feline Feminine

@Anna

Hi, and just wondering, does being molested by the same sex make you gay?

___

No, I don’t think it MAKES you gay per se…I’m not an expert nor have I been molested by anyone of the same sex, but I think it can definitely awaken something that may have lied dormant…I don’t want to get too deep in my beliefs about it though, not here to offend anyone at all
Peachizz

Rachel Maddow gay????? Stevie Wonder can see that!!!!
Redeemed777

You are better off remaining single ( without fornication )for the rest of your life, than to be in a relationship with another man.

The Word of God is CLEAR. You either accept it or you don’t. Your choice.
Feline Feminine

@spongebobfan

Yes! TJ Holmes…and he is not gay…he used to date Chilli from TLC… and yes, he is sexxxy!
Cha Chillin

I could have sworn he was dating Tyra Banks or laying down Chili’s baby hairs at one time…. NO????……. Oh Im so confused…
http://twitter.com/candyrayne215 spongebobfan

YASSSSSSSSSSSs TJ Holmes .loves him
Cha Chillin

Feline Feminine says:

@spongebobfan

Yes! TJ Holmes…and he is not gay…he used to date Chilli from TLC… and yes, he is sexxxy!

I KNOWWWWWWWED IT… I knew one of them Anchors was sending Chili a box of Pro Style gel instead of chocolates…..Oh whewwwwwww, thought my mind was playing tricks on me
https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

KK76 says:

45 looks good on him.
__________________

prynsexxx says:

Protein does a body good! <——– facial
______________

LOL!
Feline Feminine

@Cha Cha
Feline Feminine

@spongebobfan

Yes, definitely
Anna

Feline Feminine says:

@Anna

Hi, and just wondering, does being molested by the same sex make you gay?

___

No, I don’t think it MAKES you gay per se…I’m not an expert nor have I been molested by anyone of the same sex, but I think it can definitely awaken something that may have lied dormant…I don’t want to get too deep in my beliefs about it though, not here to offend anyone at all
~~
I often wonder why one would choose to be gay. I’ve convinced myself that they were born that way. In a few yrs. when my God son comes out the closet, it won’t be a shock to me, I’ve known since he was 4. I’d like to think it’s a choice, I’ve had many gay and lesbians, that my kids were around when they were little, my kids are not gay,but don’t judge either, they have their own gay friends.
Feline Feminine

@Anna
I believe some people may be born gay but I do believe some people are turned on to the lifestyle by other gay people and possibly by pedophiles who prey on children. I honestly didn’t mean anything negative with my initial comment but I was more so attempting to highlight that he had a trauma in his childhood that he took years to reveal and being gay could POSSIBLY follow it. I’ve never heard about him being with any women and he kind of gave off a slight vibe to me for years. Nonetheless he is an excellent journalist and I love watching his Sunday night specials. I wish him well…
renegadesince1985

He didn’t have to come out the closet…who didn’t know he was gay? that was plain as day to me
kee kee

First the fat boys break up…now this JK
He probably came out because someone looking for a come up was about to out him. I could care less if he or any other person is gay. I will be glad when the day comes when ppl feel comfortable being who they are. If you like to dig in the peanut butter…HAVE AT IT, just don’t be on the DL. Can’t STAND when ppl sit in judgement of others. Especially when it doesn’t have a direct effect on them.

In the words of Sean Corey Carter “what you eat (or who you :hump:) don’t make me ish!
KsMommy

Sorry didn’t read comments yet. But:

Why do ppl have to “come out”. How does this make my job, your job, my life, your life or any one else’s life different? I just dont understand. I dont run down the street screaming “HEY IM STRAIGHT IM STRAIGHT. I LOOOOVE THE D-K”. I mean really come up off it already.
CatMiaow

LOL @ KsMommy lol ain’t that the troof!
Xsjado

——–Dammit didn’t work———>:gay:
Anna

Feline Feminine says:

@Anna
I believe some people may be born gay but I do believe some people are turned on to the lifestyle by other gay people and possibly by pedophiles who prey on children. I honestly didn’t mean anything negative with my initial comment but I was more so attempting to highlight that he had a trauma in his childhood that he took years to reveal and being gay could POSSIBLY follow it. I’ve never heard about him being with any women and he kind of gave off a slight vibe to me for years. Nonetheless he is an excellent journalist and I love watching his Sunday night specials. I wish him well…

~~~
I didn’t take anything as a negative, just asking a question. I do think some are born gay, and as you mentioned, some are by circumstance, and others by choice. Not sure why it’s anyones business who is gay or not. I’m thinking someone was going to out Don.
http://twitter.com/jaysreallife Jay Bee

NBA owner for the Phoenix Suns has come out as well #moremoney more money
Anna

kee kee says:

First the fat boys break up…now this JK
He probably came out because someone looking for a come up was about to out him.
~~~~~~~~
Right.
Anna

Jay Bee says:

NBA owner for the Phoenix Suns has come out as well #moremoney more money

~~~~~~~~
I heard that this morning, isn’t he also encourging players to come out?
Feline Feminine

@Anna
You’re probably right…he decided to beat them to the punch…
KsMommy

Smokie says:

He looks great for his age.

I’m tired of people coming out. Why is a grand announcement necessary??? Just introduce your boo and keep it moving. Just live your life, ala Queen Latifah. I think straight people should start marching and coming out as being heterosexual. I’m serious.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://twitter.com/candyrayne215 spongebobfan

Spongebob says:

Attention readers of sandrarose.com
After a long time of soul searching….i wanted to tell you guys that
I’m Heterosexual thats right, i’m straight. Its been so trying all these years going after people of the opposite sex. Yes, as a female i enjot sex with men
DONT JUDGE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee
_____________________

I had such high hopes for you
http://chokolatemilk.blogspot.com Choco aka Hippie

Okay thank you for letting us know you are gay this will mos def get my bills paid on time and omg Im certain this new will allow me to sleep better at night – I mean I’m all for folks doing them – but sometimes less is more imo
Feline Feminine

@spongebobfan
Anna

spongebobfan says:

Attention readers of sandrarose.com
After a long time of soul searching….i wanted to tell you guys that
I’m Heterosexual thats right, i’m straight. Its been so trying all these years going after people of the opposite sex. Yes, as a female i enjot sex with men
DONT JUDGE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee

~~~~~~~
Don’t start, you’re going to make all the hetro’s come out the closet.
http://chokolatemilk.blogspot.com Choco aka Hippie

I’m tired of people coming out. Why is a grand announcement necessary??? Just introduce your boo and keep it moving. Just live your life, ala Queen Latifah. I think straight people should start marching and coming out as being heterosexual. I’m serious.
_________________
Ditto which is y my comments was dowsed in sarcarsm – off to training
Cha Chillin

KsMommy says:
“HEY IM STRAIGHT IM STRAIGHT. I LOOOOVE THE D-K”.

TOO
http://pearlswindow.com Carrington

“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.”

JACKASS!!!

When I worked for an HIV clin-tick a few years back, I wrote an article about the black family inadvertantly contributing to the HIV infection rate in black women because the way view homosexuality in our community causes black men to be with women while coveting men… this statement above is a quote from that article and this long-faced mf didn’t even offer a brother a bag of skins and a scratch off for using it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8SdzwoIcwo LUSCIOUS LOLITA AKA SUGA WALLS

Choco are you in a foul mood
http://twitter.com/candyrayne215 spongebobfan

spongebobfan says:

thata another thing,,,, who in the black community cares? just another thing that makes us look bad
_______________

How does him coming out make the black community look bad? If anything, it makes HIM look bad, not to mention cowardly, for hiding in the closet all these years.
HoneyDip aka QueenSJ

@Carrington

Dang B! Dude tryna play you out son!
HoneyDip aka QueenSJ

@spongebobfan

Yes, I agree. The black community is always the demon.
Mr.BluPhi

Maybe this gave him some sense of relief. Or maybe he feels this will help sell his book. Either way, I dont see why its important.
vjackson

Mr. Lemon is an clean-cut, articulate, educated, well-dressed, well-employed black man….of course he’s gay!!!
http://pearlswindow.com Carrington

vjackson says:

Mr. Lemon is an clean-cut, articulate, educated, well-dressed, well-employed black man….of course he’s gay!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Right? LMAO!

‘Cause we all know that intellect, fashion sense and jobs don’t come in heterosexual. *side eye*
https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

Jay Bee says:

NBA owner for the Phoenix Suns has come out as well #moremoney more money

~~~~~~~~

Anna says:

I heard that this morning, isn’t he also encourging players to come out?
________________

He definitely knows who they all are. cough*DerrickRose*cough
Cha Chillin

@ SPONGE… we kno yo knocked up azz is straight… we aint need the annoucement…but then again the world is fin a come to an end so anything is possible these days…..
Feline Feminine

@Sandra

cough*DerrickRose*cough
__

I’ve thought this for awhile now
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1335451522 therapist1911

kee kee says:

First the fat boys break up…now this JK
He probably came out because someone looking for a come up was about to out him. I could care less if he or any other person is gay. I will be glad when the day comes when ppl feel comfortable being who they are. If you like to dig in the peanut butter…HAVE AT IT, just don’t be on the DL. Can’t STAND when ppl sit in judgement of others. Especially when it doesn’t have a direct effect on them.

In the words of Sean Corey Carter “what you eat (or who you ) don’t make me ish!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

No one was after him or blackmailing him. His co workers, family and friends already knew. Not sure if we can label this as “coming out” more so jsut informing .

I guess he is hoping his story will help someone else and prevent some one struggling with thier sexuality from committing suicide.

Either way I didn’t think it was big news but it helps promote the book #Marketing
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1335451522 therapist1911

vjackson says:

Mr. Lemon is an clean-cut, articulate, educated, well-dressed, well-employed black man….of course he’s gay!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sarcasm?
Peachizz

Pipping Hawt Tea On Cough “Derrick Rose……
http://twitter.com/candyrayne215 spongebobfan

Time out *blows whistle*
Yall will NOT sit here and imply that derrick Rose is gay …i wont allow it..so he took one fruity pic, hes not a model (like kobe) hes a bball
player

@Cha Chillen
i go in the 20th so ill still be in hospital the 21th when the supposed end of world happens …smh just one more thing to worry about
http://pearlswindow.com Carrington

Sandra Rose says:

He definitely knows who they all are. cough*DerrickRose*cough
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But wait, Sandra – Why did I just say this last week? For a number of reasons, the 1st – he has ZERO personality and it FEELS like he doesn’t say too much because he don’t want the queen to trickle up out his a$$. LMAO!
Mr.BluPhi

He definitely knows who they all are. cough*DerrickRose*cough
___________________________________________________________

LMFAOOOOO Sandra …stop it….lmfaoooo.
http://twitter.com/candyrayne215 spongebobfan

STOP IT I SAY …..
seriously how is he gay?
http://pearlswindow.com Carrington

spongebobfan says:

Time out *blows whistle*
Yall will NOT sit here and imply that derrick Rose is gay
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LMAO @ the whistle blowing.
http://pearlswindow.com Carrington

Hold up!!!

Didn’t Sandra call Derrick her nephew last week?
http://twitter.com/jaysreallife Jay Bee

Anna says:

kee kee says:

First the fat boys break up…now this JK
He probably came out because someone looking for a come up was about to out him.
~~~~~~~~
Right.

~~~~
He put the spin on it, when kobe called the ref a faggot, now they have commercials and all putting the message out that its not nice to call be gay, faggot what have you, I believe he is telling players its ok to come out while your playing instead of waiting for retiement to make the announcement.
http://twitter.com/jaysreallife Jay Bee

Sandra say:
Anna says:

I heard that this morning, isn’t he also encourging players to come out?
________________

He definitely knows who they all are. cough*DerrickRose*cough
~~~
pause
Cha Chillin

@ Sponge… Girl only GOD knows the time and the hour…. TRUST!

I wish you the best with your new arrival…DAT BABY will be a blessing
CFREE

Do you bruh, why did he feel he needed to make that announcement tho? It aint everybody biz, oh wellz
Cha Chillin

Carrington says:

Hold up!!!

Didn’t Sandra call Derrick her nephew last week?
CFREE

So Im not the only one that thought D Rose back was a lil too arched huh? cool
pointhimout

next up, Ryan Young, so like someone said, women can stop throwing themselves at him. Ryan’s a mans man that I think likes men. Allegedly.

TJ Holmes is not gay, though many tried to persuade him to come out of somebodies closet last night. That was funny. My gaydar yawns and cusses because “im tired of phuckin telling u he’s not gay.” so we’ll give that a rest.
vjackson

therapist1911 says:

vjackson says:

Mr. Lemon is an clean-cut, articulate, educated, well-dressed, well-employed black man….of course he’s gay!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sarcasm?
—————————————————

Yes and not really. I’ve seen and heard lots of other black folks say that about a brotha just for those very reasons alone.
You could easily replace that with: Lemon is a clean-cut, articulate, educated, well-dressed, well-employed black man…of course he dates white women!!!
You know how we do. LOL
datsmdubya2u

Don needs to write a book about how to look like that at 45.

Cause a lot of folks be looking tired and tore up by the mid 40s.

I guess not having the stress of kids helps.
Jamillah

Utterly ridiculous!!! Straight people don’t have to come out and tell the public they are straight. Who cares if this man is gay? As long as he’s not getting married to a woman and having children knowing he is messing with men on the dl, it should be nobody’s business. God bless him for being true to himself but….damn.
Daisy

I think ppl “come out” so they can live their life in the open no holds barred. Now Don and his boo (if he has one) can be openly gay and proud just like us straight folks are free and open me.

I know plenty of ppl who think u can pray the gay away. I don’t believe in all that but a lot of christians do. I don’t want a man that use to be gay (yes some of them do end up marrying women after they have been delievered).

I enjoyed Don’s letter/article
https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

Daisy says:

I think ppl “come out” so they can live their life in the open no holds barred.
___________________

You don’t have to “come out” to do that. You simply live your life in the open like the rest of us. I didn’t have any “coming out” party and everybody knew I was a lesbun
datsmdubya2u

I still wanna know why he looks so young!
GoldenGurl

Um, we already knew Don….we already knew.
Samurai

I KNEW HE WAS GAAAY!!! ALWAYS THOUGHT HE TALKED FUNNY. NOW I KNOW WHY…

NEXT.

CNN’s Don Lemon finally admits he’s gay

Ludacris and Eudoxie Celebrate Her Birthday

R.I.P. M-Bone, Cali Swag Member

related posts