CNN anchor Don Lemon comes out as a gay man, dedicates new book to late Rutgers student Tyler Clementi

Statement released early Monday by CNN anchor Don Lemon:

“Today I chose to step out on faith and begin openly living my own truth. And let me say right up front that I hope many of you will be inspired to do the same thing in your daily lives. Some of the things I’ve chosen to reveal in my book Transparent were very difficult to share with even those closest to me.

There was a time when I was terrified of revealing these things to the person I love most in this world - my own mother. But when I finally mustered the courage to tell her that I had been molested as a child and that I was born gay, my life began to change in positive ways that I never imagined possible. Yet I still chose to keep those secrets hidden from the world. I, like most gay people, lived a life of fear. Fear that if some employers, co-workers, friends, neighbors and family members learned of my sexuality, I would be shunned, mocked and ostracized. It is a burden that millions of people carry with them every single day. And sadly, while the mockery and ostracizing are realized by millions of people every day, I truly believe it doesn’t have to happen and that’s why I feel compelled to share what I’ve written in Transparent.

As a journalist I believe that part of my mission is to shed light onto dark places. So, the disclosure of this information does not inhibit in any way my ability to be the professional, fair and objective journalist I have always been.

My book is dedicated to the memory of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, who jumped to his death from a bridge after his dorm mates streamed his private business over the Internet for the world to see. Tyler might still be with us today if more gay men and women had chosen to live proudly and openly. It is also dedicated to the millions of young, gay people who believe they are alone when dealing with their own sexual identities. You are not alone! There are people, like me and many others, who are thriving in their personal and professional lives and although we sometimes have a hard time with it ourselves, we are here to show you by example that you too can overcome any obstacle as long as you stay strong and, most of all, stay alive.”

With love and honesty,

Don Lemon

May 16, 2011

Comments

[Bee]

Good for you Don, we're all GOD's children. Everyone is entitled to happiness.

[John Martin]

I salute Don Lemon for his courage and his honesty. I look forward to reading his book.

John Martin, 49, Fort Worth

[Charles Perez]

Don says it best when he says, regarding Tyler Clementi, "Tyler might still be with us today if more gay men and women had chosen to live proudly and openly."

There is no shame.

Thanks, Don!

[timmy (office boy) geithner]

I don't care if the guy's gay. Anderson's gay, I think. The problem is Mr. Lemon is just a really poor journalist. He's as bad as the nighttime FOX bunch. Anyway, congratulations on accepting yourself. And go read anything at LewRockwell.com, it could change your journalistic life.

[Joao Brandao Junior]

I'm so glad some important people are coming out with their sexuality, showing respect for themselves and giving power to our voices as gays who have no expression on media, even in our communities or work places s well.Unfortunately, these people are still a minority, protected by their own social and financial condition, and whether or not they talk their truth, their spot in this society is respected not because they are or not gays - that's because they have money, power or whatsoever which can show power. That's how the ideology works.

[Stevaros Paternos]

It would be correct to say that one is born with a sin nature. Various types of sin can spring up from this nature, such as adultery, stealing, lying, murder, sodomy etc, etc. It is a misnomer to use the word gay because this is the saddest "lifestyle" there is. (which will be evidenced by the reaction to this comment). I pray that they would turn from their rebellion to the true source of joy. (which many have)

[Tim]

In all sincerity - Why do people feel such a need to tell others about their sex lives? Why do they feel such a strong desire to be honest with others, but perhaps not honest wit themselves?

E.g. "...that I had been molested as a child and that I was born gay,..."

Do you not see the problem? Are you gay? Or were you molested as a child, a very evil thing to be done to anyone, and are now torn about what occurred in the past?

There are evil people out there praying on our children. Sexually abusing them. And feelings of self worth, confusion regarding homosexuality, depression, etc. are often the result of such abuse.

Regardless of whether you disagree with everything I stated. Can you honestly say that you don't have some concern about the quoted statement and the un-acknowledged impact the former had on the latter? How can one first say I was molested, and then second say I was born gay?

Or do you just want someone to state that they are gay and leave it at that? If someone can not have heterosexual sex I sure don't want them forced into it. But if someone is abused, and then takes on a gay lifestyle, that is not any better is it?

[R.G. Frano]

There was an article in today's NY Daily News concerning how Reuben Diaz, in an anti-gay march in the Bronx, claimed he ISN'T a homophobe, yet he wants to control his grand daughter & her significant other's marriege plans, (prevent the marriege, actually).
Between the mass rape of children that passes for Catholic theology these days and the overt lack of Christianity displayed by rev. Diaz and others, I think Christians SHOULD be worried...
That their 'movement' will be swept into the garbage container of history, due to 'passive' believer attrition.
What are straight people really afraid of??

[Milton Waddams]

May you, Don....and Shep Smith have a wonderful life together....

(The unbelievable lengths people take on behalf of the gymnastics they practice in the bedroom.)

[mike]

sorry Don you were NOT born gay, being molested made you THINK you were gay. you are not "living your truth" your living a lie. It is not "who you are" it is what you do. It is sexual perversion plain and simple, and you can come out of homosexuality, many many have done so.
I am praying for you Don, God Bless you.

[BillyBob]

cnn is battling the prison channel/msnbc for the most perverts infesting their site.

[Addi]

Well, I have read other posts and feel somewhat confused, also. Starting with, "I was molested..." lends people to question whether Don is actually gay or just torn by the pleasure/abuse received as a child...this is what abused people go through...quite naturally...

I think others would respect it more, if he just admitted he was gay...(not that we care)

Now, here's where it gets tricky:
1. I agree with Tina, why do people feel the need to share personal info??? it's no one's business.

2. I support the idea that the NATION should get together to end ostracizing an individual because of his sexual orientation...it's just not anyone's business...I guess in support of those ostracized, men/women feel the need to come out of the closet to support the fearful...

But isn't that self-serving, self-promoting and missing the point? The point is not whether someone is gay or not, it's to stop the bad behavior and practice tolerance and respect for others...hell, fat women are ostracized...guess people can't come out and say, "I'm fat!" People already see it; but who CARES???

Really, WHO CARES? Let's all take care of ourselves, and treat others like we want to be treated!

[Kay]

If you don't believe people are born gay, than why in He'll should anyone believe you were born human? Being molested as a child does not affect sexuality what does affect sexuality is the mass kingdom of sheep in the world that follow 2000+ year old books that have no basis on any kind of reality. Do not pray for the gays. Pray for yourselves. On that day in the future where your eyes go black and you for a brief moment in time realize your mind was wasted on 'where you'd end up after' when all there is is here and there. No fire, no clouds. No wings. No throne. You're eyes will flicker, you're mind will say 'oh I was so wrong'. Being gay is as beautiful as being straight. You hate us because you tie yourselves down with rules that make no natural sense. The common sense rules of life are not to harm or kill others. We can rationalize pain so we chose to let God tell us not to cause pain. To every gay or straight person reading this. HAVE ABSOLUTE FAITH IN YOURSELF. to have faith in anything else is the antithesis of self esteem. Something the religious commentors here sorely lack.

[Vivian]

The best PR for a book is to "confess" somethng just before it is published. Be whatever you believe yousrself to be, but for the sake of your own dignity don't use the victim excuse. Some of the most haateful comments I have heard have been "gay-on-gay remarks.

[Frank]

~
Very sad that some people can't accept the fact that you are born either gay or straight.

[deb]

Seems like most gays either had no dad in the picture, or were molested as a child. It's quite disgusting to think of how many sicko men are going around molesting little children in this world, who all grow up to identify as gay! I truly believe someone can be born gay, but I also truly believe most gays today are a product of childhood molestation - and if you don't want to believe that, that's your right!

[Tom]

Wow! The complete and utter ignorance (and in some cases arrogance) displayed in some of these commnents is astounding. I have a question for those who believe that one is not born gay, that homosexuality is a choice. If that is what you believe, then you must also believe that heterosexuality is a choice. So, when exactly, at what age or point in your life, did you make the conscious choice/decision to be heterosexual?

[They're BornGay]

To those who would try to make a story about a person being abused as a child and then "turning Gay", they need to rethink that one. What about the Gay male child that is abused by a Heterosexual female? Science and credible major news sources have found that children are already predisposed that way, Can it then be said that because he was Gay to begin with, the straight female made him into a Heterosexual? I think not. One cannot change being who they are and how they were born no matter what those with inherent prejudices and fears may say. They often use inappropriate Biblical Scripture in their defense to try to illustrate their point but they use passages that do not truly apply to Homosexuality. Also, Jesus Christ spoke nothing against Gay or Lesbians and we are Saved by His Blood let's not forget. The Ten Commandments do not condemn Gays either and God knows ALL. But some men do condemn through fear. So, let's see this for what it actually is and stop the Prejudices, Fear, and Discrimination already!

[Tanisha B.]

No wonder why the world is turning out the way it is today. Some stand up for morality and some stand up for immorality and corruption and they wonder why the owrld is so evil. It is because they are evil themselves. All these are signs telling us that Christ is soon to return. Live thy youth, but know for all these there is a price to pay.

[Tanisha B.]

Some people want to enrich themselves while they are helping others to be engaged in their corrupt lives.