CNN anchor Don Lemon says being gay
doesn't necessarily mean having gay friends, but adds that he has
some “really gay” friends.
Lemon came out gay during a May
interview with The New York Times, becoming the third
high-profile openly gay news personality behind MSNBC's Thomas
Roberts and Rachel Maddow.
He talks about his experience as a gay man working in television
news in his 264-page memoir Transparent.
The 45-year-old anchor has said the
response to his announcement has been “99.9 percent” positive.
“I'm lighter and freer,” he told
the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “It makes me better on
air. I'm not trying to hide anything.”
On Wednesday morning, Lemon
took questions from Reddit users (or Redditors), including one
from a self-identified closeted young gay person who said he or she
found it hard to relate to gay people and asked Lemon for advice.
“That's a really good personal
question,” he wrote back to Appo123. “Know that you're not
alone. Come out of the closet when you feel comfortable and safe.
But know that it's never an easy thing to do at first. Then when you
do it you'll wonder why you hadn't sooner. Here's the thing, you
don't have to relate or like anyone just because they're gay. You
should relate to or like them because they're a good person or you
have something in common. You don't have to hang out or befriend gay
people just because you're gay. I have a bunch of straight friends
and some really gay ones too. It's all good.”
“Don't be so hard on yourself. It
all works itself out. Good luck,” he added.