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11/02/2009
CNN's Don Lemon Talks to Panel about Blacks and Gay Equality
As part of CNN's "Black in America" series, Don Lemon talks to a panel consisting of Tyree 'DJ Drama Simmons, Farrah Gray, Bishop Eddie Long, Tyrone McGowan, and Steve Perry about gay equality, the "down-low", and African-American culture. He also reveals that he's working on a series called "Gay in America".
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 6:09 PM EST by Andy Towle in Don Lemon, Gay Rights, News | Permalink
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I was hoping they would do Gay in America. Why is he doing it & not Soledad, who did the Black & Hispanic portions. Is Lemon gay? I know it doesn't matter, but just wondering cuz he's a good-looking guy.
Posted by: scar2 | Nov 2, 2009 6:24:51 PM
If you wonder whether black gays and lesbians really face persecution from their (our) own community, note the derisive laughter when 'DJ Drama' on Don Lemon's panel answers the first question about people on the "down low" with "Its a shame...."
Those people were not laughing out of agreement, but out of a diminution of the situation for gays and lesbians. What that laughter means is: "Its a 'shame' for you if you have to live in the closet, but, oh well, that's on you."
That spoke more about the attitudes of the black community than anything else the panel had to say.
Posted by: princely54 | Nov 2, 2009 7:37:19 PM
I noticed that also princely54. The audience became really quiet when DJ Drama stated that Gays shouldn't be judged on who they fall in love with but then again there was a lot of poor editing in this special.
Posted by: db | Nov 2, 2009 8:10:08 PM
There is obviously a specific homophobia problem withing the black community and I'm glad the people on that panel seem to accept it. Being on "the down-low" and all the hideous destruction that brings (in terms of avoiding condoms, spreading HIV to pretend wives, etc.) is exclusively a problem among black people and I think that shit needs to be sorted out.
Posted by: DavidG | Nov 2, 2009 8:24:18 PM
David you are a moron. I hope you look in the mirror every morning and see what a useless piece of wasteful shit you are. That's all.
Posted by: CAJIVA | Nov 2, 2009 9:24:22 PM
"Being on "the down-low" and all the hideous destruction that brings (in terms of avoiding condoms, spreading HIV to pretend wives, etc.) is exclusively a problem among black people and I think that shit needs to be sorted out."
I am missing the sarcasm here? Because otherwise its completely inaccurate.
Posted by: Zach | Nov 2, 2009 9:26:35 PM
Exclusively among black people? Um, no. Other groups just call it "being in the closet"
Posted by: KFLO | Nov 2, 2009 9:38:11 PM
maybe david just forgot the "not" before "exclusively"? maybe give him the benefit of the doubt? or let's burn him in effigy.
Posted by: jon.luddite | Nov 2, 2009 9:39:50 PM
These people on this panel should be ashamed of their racism for saying that black people are homophobic.
Posted by: GrabbinNewscum | Nov 2, 2009 9:40:21 PM
DavidG | Nov 2, 2009 8:24:18 PM
*****************************
David who knew that the republican party, the catholic church, Pat Robertson and his crew were of the black community, thanks for enlightening me.
Posted by: johnosahon | Nov 2, 2009 9:45:13 PM
Just what did we do to deserve this one foxy Don Lemon?
Posted by: JeffRob | Nov 2, 2009 9:56:07 PM
Don Lemon is undoubtedly wondering that himself.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Nov 2, 2009 10:41:48 PM
OKAY I see where this is going at times Towleroad is so becoming Queerty on the DL!
The more that some of the caucasians kids read this it's going to get worse and worse.
As DavidG said: Being on "the down-low" and all the hideous destruction that brings (in terms of avoiding condoms, spreading HIV to pretend wives, etc.) is exclusively a problem among black people
Really queen?
Yeah okay DavidG Because being in the triads and polymorous,and open relationships doesn't allow you to catch HIV,
Being a meth head going on mad sexcapades won't allow you to catch HIV.
Going to Bear runs in dark rooms having unprotected sex eating and sucking cum all night doesn't allow one to catch HIV.
Is this exclusively a problem among white people?
David you dumb bitch just like white Men who are married and call it DISCREET do the same thing but you know what. We don't know how many white women have caught HIV because no one is getting tested.
What an idiot you are!
Posted by: Chris | Nov 3, 2009 12:42:11 AM
Exclusively a problem among black people?
Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of dating one of those College Republican, fraternity "All American" closet cases can tell you there are plenty of white men on the down low. And their ditzy girlfriends are just as clueless about it as anyone else.
Posted by: John | Nov 3, 2009 1:35:20 AM
Weren't there recent studies that showed that the high rates of HIV among African-Americans had nothing to do with gays or bisexuals, but rather promiscuous heteros?
Posted by: JT | Nov 3, 2009 2:32:51 AM
And Miss JT You fucking KKKGAY Bastard,
Why weren't there a recent study that showed that the high rates of HIV among Hetero Caucasians
Can you answer that BITCH?
I can because they're not being tested for any study.
With all these young teens fucking and sucking with nothing on........So your point is?
Or did God just tell them don't worry I gotcha' covered. It's not news worthy but shit on minorities like this is......
YOU FUCK HEAD!
Posted by: Chris | Nov 3, 2009 3:25:24 AM
Dude : I don't know personally. I'm just asking about what the CDC said. http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2009/10/16/15756#comments
Posted by: JT | Nov 3, 2009 4:02:41 AM
The black community has some real problems they have to deal with. Whites are not allowed to help; they will be called racists (see above). Maybe its true and maybe blacks are homophobes, too. We'll never know until we can speak honestly with each other. When the black population stops killing each other and blaming whites for it, maybe they'll start having an open, honest discussion on how THEY should fix THEIR problems. Okay, go ahead and flame out on me now
Posted by: anon | Nov 3, 2009 9:49:56 AM
Uh, I knew I'd get this kind of a response. The "down-low" problem is exclusively a black "problem". Certainly, it's problematic in other communities, but it's not anywhere near as rife as it is among black gays. This is either a simple fact or all of the gay media is conspiring to hide the extent of the problem among European and Asian-Americans. I don't understand what's so bad about saying that some problems exist in certain communities that do not exist in others. For example, the issue of "pedophile priests" was more or less exclusive to Ireland and the Irish diaspora (concentrated in the northwest of the U.S. and parts of Canada and Australia). Is it racist to make that statement? Of course not. Same thing.
Posted by: DAVIDG | Nov 3, 2009 1:50:36 PM
DavidG is right. Different communities have their own unique challenges. Homophobia IS much more pronounced in the black community than it is among Asians, Hispanics, and whites, and it is NOT racist to point it out. You could say the same thing about teen pregnancy. Crystal meth is a white problem, crack is a black problem, and sexually predatory priests are a Catholic problem.
Posted by: dion | Nov 3, 2009 2:59:37 PM
I wish I had been on that panel. I would have told him a few hair raisers about being Black and Gay as it relates to my fellow Gays. I just came away from the National Equality March with a whole new understanding of what trying to achieve diversity means when you are up against an entrenched mindset.
Folks we have a long way to go. Luckily, the younger Gays don't seem anywhere near as hung up as the enshrined, so called, "Hereos" of the Gay movement are.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Nov 3, 2009 3:36:25 PM