CNN Anchor Don Lemon Opens Up About Homophobia and Racism

CNN anchor Don Lemon opened up his public role as both a gay man and a black man on national television to students at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics on February 22.

“Your always wonder how you’re being perceived [by the public],” he said.

“A lot of the criticism of me is warranted. Other times I think it’s based in homophobia, a lot of it, and I think a lot of it is also based in racism.

“I tend not to pay attention to that, and let things roll off my back.”

When asked about the challenges he faces as being inadvertent spokesperson for black gay men – especially after his viral take down of Kevin Hart – he said: “What’s interesting to me, what people don’t understand, is it’s a very odd space I exist in.

“I’m the only person like me in prime-time, on cable. I’m a unicorn! It’s just me.

“I’m black, and I’m gay. Black folks have a certain expectation of me—many feel that I should represent all black people, and it’s the same thing with gay people.

“Most journalists who are not of colour and don’t happen to be gay don’t understand that, because no one expects them to be the representative for all white people… but they expect me to be the representative for all black people or all gay people.

“That’s a weird position to be in, and if I say something that’s factual that the diaspora of people don’t like, they tell me ‘you’re not black enough’ or ‘you’re not gay enough’ or ‘you’re not down for the cause.’ It’s really, ‘this is my job.'”

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