Gay CNN Anchor Sees Risk in Book (Don Lemon comes out)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/business/media/16anchor.html

-snip-

So he has no illusions about what he is getting himself into with the book he has written about his career — and life. In “Transparent,” Mr. Lemon has a lot to say about reporting for television and about journalism in general. But he knows enough about news to recognize what will get this book noticed.

“People are going to say: ‘Oh, he was molested as a kid and now he is coming out.’ I get it,” he said.

Few national television news anchors or hosts have publicly acknowledged being gay. Rachel Maddow is perhaps the best known. Her MSNBC colleague, Thomas Roberts, has also come out as gay.

Mr. Lemon has not made a secret of his sexual orientation in his work life; many of his CNN co-workers and managers have long been aware that he is gay. But he still acknowledged that going public in his book carries certain risks.

-snip-

He has been assured of support by CNN, which has booked him as a guest Monday on its daytime show “CNN Newsroom.” He will also be on Joy Behar’s show on the network’s sister channel, HLN. A few other possibilities remain “up in the air,” he said.

-snip-

Good for him! :applause:

I hope Don's career takes off from here. He deserves it.

He seems so genial on tv.

And he has a real kindness about him.

a couple of cuties

Don is 45? 45? Good lord. I thought he was in his early thirties at most. :wow:

I wish him nothing but the best.

I thought he was around the same age as TJ Holmes.

:)

I think he's biased as all get out. I've seen him be rude and snotty to way too many dems and liberals.

Wow, I can't recall him being like that.

However, I don't spend much time on CNN, so I'm not doubting you at all. Whenever I've seen him on the teevees he seems so polite.

Still I wish him the best and appreciate that he confronted his inner struggle. I heard his interview on NPR this morning.

Has he ever come out publicly, or is this just a rumor in the first place? :shrug:

He just doesn't talk about it in public...it's well-known though.

Maybe he'll be the next one to come out!

A friend of mine used to date him. LOL.

He was abused by the older son of his mother's best friend starting when he was a pre-schooler and it took him 30 years to tell her, to tell anybody. His Dad died when he was seven and the abuse didn't stop until his mother eventually remarried and they moved away. I didn't catch that he was gay, but I did know that he'd dedicated his book to the gay college student who committed suicide, so I guess I'm just dense. It took a lot of guts to put his private life right out there, especially since he's always so professional and self-contained, but he did this to help others. Bravo to him... :thumbsup:

I'm such a sexist...I watch him coz he's adorable.