And CNN’s first openly gay anchor is… Don Lemon

What, you were expecting someone else?

Yes, CNN anchor DON LEMON came out this weekend ahead of his new book, Transparent. Lemon spoke to the New York Times this weekend about the additional scrutiny gay men face in the black community:

“It’s quite different for an African-American male,” he said. “It’s about the worst thing you can be in black culture. 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.” He said he believed the negative reaction to male homosexuality had to do with the history of discrimination that still affects many black Americans, as well as the attitudes of some black women.

“You’re afraid that black women will say the same things they do about how black men should be dating black women.” He added, “I guess this makes me a double minority now.”

Lemon also discussed his decision to write Transparent- originally meant to be a “pamphlet,” with an “inspirational” focus before he discovered he wanted to write something more honest and revealing. The anchor then said something that maybe, possibly could be construed as potentially pointed at one of his work associates, if you look at it from that angle:

“I abhor hypocrisy. I think if you’re going to be in the business of news, and telling people the truth, of trying to shed light in dark places, then you’ve got to be honest. You’ve got to have the same rules for yourself as you do for everyone else.”

Lemon added:

“I do have to say that the more people who come out, the better it is for everyone, certainly for the Tyler Clementis of the world.”

Tyler Clementi committed suicide last year after his roommate at Rutgers posted links to footage of Clementi’s alleged sexual encounters on Twitter.