Posted on 05/19/2011 12:25:51 PM PDT by flowerplough
The CNN anchor has been applauded for announcing that he is gay, but some say he unfairly portrayed all blacks as homophobic.
...Lemon "came out" in a recent New York Times profile, in which he discussed his new book, Transparent, which was spurred by his disclosure last fall that he was molested as a child. The weekend news anchor explained to the Times that he knows that a common reaction to the news will be that people will try to make a connection between his sexuality and past sexual victimization as a young boy.
In the news and around the Web, the other typical reactions are there, too. Some have expressed shock; others are quick to boast that they already knew, due to their "gaydar"-enhanced psychic powers. There are also those who offered a "So what?" as if the first black national news anchor to say he's gay is much ado about nothing.
But there are other reactions to Lemon's profile that are far more interesting. Explaining the risks that come with being an openly gay black man, Lemon told the newspaper, "In the black community they think you can pray the gay away." Lemon also mentioned other obstacles, like the pressures to attain certain ideals of "manhood" within the black community, plus his own fears of the attitudes of some black women toward gay men.
The Baton Rouge, La., native said, "You're afraid that black women will say the same things they do about how black men should be dating black women." In a later interview with theLoop21, he made his feelings even clearer, responding to a question about whether or not the black community is homophobic with a "yes."
(Excerpt) Read more at theroot.com ...
Unfairly?
Maybe because the two things are so strongly correlated. It ain't rocket science.
Taint nothin' psychic about the powers of observation. When a flamer leaves a trail of pink feather boas and fabulous window treatments, it is hard to miss.
Just correcting the terminology a bit.
Don Lemon admits he’s gay? What’s next, the sun comes up in the east?
Maybe Eliot Spitzer will admit he’s a creepy sleazebag.
Sexual predisposition is innate. The race angle is a valid point.
Feel free to stomp away.
First of all, you idiot, there is no such thing as “homophobic.” Can we go on from there?
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