Don Lemon joins "The Family"

Don Lemon of CNN has come out as gay just a few days ago. Lemon who is 45 years old, made a big step in owning who he really is & not let his sexuality define him.

Althoug this was no surprise to me, it may be to many others. My radar went off the first time I saw Don Lemon on CNN. He carried himself with poise & very professional all the way. He never let's his opinons about certain hot topics, overshadow the story itself.

I really hope Lemon will help take a stand against the discrimination in the black community when it comes to GLBT issues. GLBT issues are important but they are very different in the Black community. We fight a different fight than others. Lemon stated " It's quite different for an African-American male" he told New York Times. "It's about the worst thing you can be in the Black culutre. You're taught you have to be a man; you have to be masculine. In the Black community they think you can pray the gay away."

It was in September of 2010 when he interviewed members of Eddie Long's church, when he revealed he was a victim of sexual abuse.

I agree with Lemon on some points. I myself feel very fortunate to have a family that embraced me for who I am when I came out to them. It wasn't until I started interacting with others in the gay black community, when I realized how lucky I was to have the family I have.

The problem in the black community is discussion. For whatever reason we avoid discussions about the gay community or any other issues related because it is easier to use religion as an excuse not to accept. What ever happened to thall shall not judge? If many of us practice what we preach, we would be more of a community as a whole, instead of two very distant communities trying to co-exist. Don't get me wrong, the black community has come very far but we still don't do enough.

Very early on in life, my parents always had family meetings. I thought they were pointless & dumb when I was younger. Now I see why because having a discussion is the only way to learn from one another. If we don't, there will always be the same stereotypes when it comes to gay black individuals.

Will Lemon help push for a healthy discussion we most desperately need? I think he should, he is on a platform where millions tune in to see what he will be reporting. We need more of "our" stories on the air. I'm tired of turning on the news & the only black news is when a black person is killed or a suspect. Not even BET does a news hour anymore. It is up to us to share our stories or no one else will.