Don Lemon and Gays in the African-American Community



Posted: Tuesday, May 17, 2011

by Walter Rhett
Charleston Perlo

In a huge irony, Don Lemon, a CNN anchor, who, in a recent interview, acknowledges the “risk” of publicly sharing his intra-gender partnership preference, also engages in an example of the very stereotyping and labeling that he seeks to avoid and acknowledges as determental to progress and understanding.

Lemon says being a gay man is a huge issue in the African-American community and runs contrary to the community’s image of maleness and to the teachings of many churches. This broad brush is factually inaccurate, overlooks the nucances of the gay experience in the African-American community, but also paints the community as homophobic.

Lemon’s statement practices sensationalism not journalism. Within the informal level of the African-American experience, there is broad acceptance of the intra-gender preference. The very church opposing homosexuality from the pulpit will probably have a number of gay members in the choir, and often the choir is led by a gay individual. Both gay men and women will set in the congregation where everyone knows what is a open secret. In personal relationships, the black community rarely engages in harassment or violent against gays, and nor are gay individuals isolated or shunned in social or leadership functions.

Washington, DC had an infamous gay stroll, where nightly gay African-American men who cross-dressed paraded nightly and openly in hot pants, hawking sex, that operated without incident. No one expects Lemon to prostitute himself as a street walker, but this broad public open flaunting of law and sex is based on an atitude that runs counter to what Lemon describes.

Through the course of my life, in different states, from my teen years to now, I have worked with and been friends with African-American men who were openly gay and who were widely accepted without discrimination or barriers. They have included well respected teachers and principals, professors, musicians, church members, cab drivers, in some cases, preachers; business men, union leaders, janitors, and others. Historically, well known and respected men, from labor organizer and March on Washington organizer A. Philip Randolph to the poet Langston Hughes were broadly known to be gay. Harvard’s much beloved minister and professor, Peter J. Gomes, who died only in March of this year, addressed the relationship of sexual preference and Christian teachings in his well recived and widly read books. Professor Gomes was Pulsey minster in the Memorial Church and of Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at harvard Divinity School. His book is “The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart.” It was a best seller. Rev. Dr, Gomes offered official prayers at the inaugurations of Ronald Regan and George H. W. Bush. Apparently, Lemon is not aware of, or didn’t read or seek out the counsel of many who would have gladly offerd help and support within the community. Nor does he seldom bolstered by its widely known examples.

Not to say that African-American community life is or was a paradise for gay men, but it is tolerant of preference and quiet in applying what can be a pulpit message.

Lemon’s description sadly overlooks these important nuances, and he appears to be unfamilar with these examples and role models. His thinking and views isolate him more than his gayness.

Walter Rhett Walter Rhett attended Ohio State and writes from Charleston, SC. He writes about national and global affairs with an eye on Southern history and culture and enjoys listening to his readers.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Jennifer Stewart
 362 days 15 hours ago.
153 fans.
Nicely said, Walter. Thanks for putting the record straight.
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