in the news: coming out…

Sunday was a good day for the New York Times and coming out stories. Both Don Lemon, anchor for CNN and Rick Welts, the president of the Phoenix Suns NBA team are now openly gay.* Still, I don’t know if I’d use the phrase “out, loud and proud” for these guys–emphasis mine.

“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.”

— Gay CNN Anchor Sees Risk in Book

Mr. Welts felt isolated. What little he knew of gay culture was stereo­typ­ical, and un­appealing, he recalled. “In my mind, it was ef­fem­i­nate: a way that I would not define as masculine.”

— A Sports Executive Leaves the Safety of His Shadow Life

It’s doubtful that this will really hurt either of their careers as they’ve clearly proven their worth in their respective fields and in both stories it seems reinforced that neither person was excessively closeted. Still, time will tell. Especially when it seems that the sexuality of news anchors and athletes/sports personalities are discussed lately even moreso than hollywood/music stars.