--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was born gay, just as I was born black." description: "\"I was born gay, just as I was born black.\" — Don Lemon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg" --- # I was born gay, just as I was born black. ![“I was born gay, just as I was born black.” quote by Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg) > “I was born gay, just as I was born black.” [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being gay is an innate identity, just like being black; both are inherent aspects of self. **In simple terms:** Being gay is innate. Key Takeaway Accept and celebrate inherent identities. Themes identity LGBTQ+ race Mood proud defiant Type social personal When to use this quote - activism - education - personal storytelling Key Concepts prejudice discrimination acceptance Questions to Reflect On - How do you support identity acceptance? - What challenges remain? A Different Perspective Societal bias persists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Born Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-black-496093/) [Born gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born-gay/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-just/) [I was born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-was-born/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Just Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-born-610041/) ## Related quotes > [There was a while when I was feeling like, 'Damn, if I'd just been born black, I would not have to go through all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/there-was-a-while-when-i-was-feeling-like-damn-if-i-d-just-been-born/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [So I think all gays who are born gay are overwhelming conservative, maybe apolitical, and all those angry gays, causing trouble for everybody, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/so-i-think-all-gays-who-are-born-gay-are-overwhelming-conservative/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [One is not born gay and can't help it. It is a choice. Just as I can choose not to eat chocolate, but refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lee-riner/one-is-not-born-gay-and-can-t-help-it-it-is-a-choice-just-as-i-can/) [Justin Lee Riner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lee-riner/) > [You can be born gay, but not because of your genetics, I think because of your subconscious more than your genetics. I think genetically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rza/you-can-be-born-gay-but-not-because-of-your-genetics-i-think-because/) [RZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rza/) > [I can't help the way you was born if you was gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/i-can-t-help-the-way-you-was-born-if-you-was-gay/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Above these universal themes 'Truth Will Set U Free' is also a song composed for those who were born gay. I am a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-hart/above-these-universal-themes-truth-will-set-u-free-is-also-a-song/) [Corey Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-hart/) > [No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/no-government-has-the-right-to-tell-its-citizens-when-or-whom-to-love-2/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [When you are born gay, you are born into a rich culture of politics, music, and art, but you are also a minority in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tranter/when-you-are-born-gay-you-are-born-into-a-rich-culture-of-politics/) [Justin Tranter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tranter/) > [Homosexuality is not 'normal' On the contrary it is a challenge to the norm...Nature exists whether academics like it or not. And in nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/homosexuality-is-not-normal-on-the-contrary-it-is-a-challenge-to-the/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Being born gay, black, and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay black female is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/being-born-gay-black-and-female-is-not-a-revolutionary-act-being/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [When you're a comic, it's like being born gay. It's what you want to do every night when your other friends are out at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-silverman/when-you-re-a-comic-it-s-like-being-born-gay-it-s-what-you-want-to-do/) [Sarah Silverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-silverman/) > [Many things shaped my identity as a young boy: a strong selfworth (something that was instilled in all three Barrowman siblings by our parents),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/many-things-shaped-my-identity-as-a-young-boy-a-strong-selfworth/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [The only people are those who don't love anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/the-only-people-are-those-who-don-t-love-anybody/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I was born gay, OK? I've always known. I don't think my family were the least bit surprised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/i-was-born-gay-ok-i-ve-always-known-i-don-t-think-my-family-were-the/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [A lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight — and when they come out, they’re gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/a-lot-of-people-who-go-into-prison-go-into-prison-straight-and-when/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) ## More by Don Lemon > [I don't know if I would have the same take on world matters and social issues if I were not gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-have-the-same-take-on-world-matters-and/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I don't consider myself a celebrity. I'm just a journalist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-celebrity-i-m-just-a-journalist/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [If you're going to be in the business of news and telling people the truth... you've got to be honest. You've got to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/if-you-re-going-to-be-in-the-business-of-news-and-telling-people-the/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I'm not concerned with what people think of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-m-not-concerned-with-what-people-think-of-me/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Paula Deen is a human being. She deserves forgiveness and a chance at redemption as much as anyone else. America is about redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/paula-deen-is-a-human-being-she-deserves-forgiveness-and-a-chance-at/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I'm a gay black guy. If I can't ask questions without caring what people think of me, who can?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-m-a-gay-black-guy-if-i-can-t-ask-questions-without-caring-what/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Some people are saying, Justin Bieber is racist. Is he? I dont know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/some-people-are-saying-justin-bieber-is-racist-is-he-i-dont-know/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [When someone is in our tribe, I think it's particularly easier for us to tell them apart, because we're used to their facial features.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/when-someone-is-in-our-tribe-i-think-it-s-particularly-easier-for-us/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I've never been one to take glee in anyone's demise, and when I saw Jerry Sandusky walk out in handcuffs, I did kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-ve-never-been-one-to-take-glee-in-anyone-s-demise-and-when-i-saw/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I do feel that Paula Deen should not have lost her job, and I've said this on the air. The marketplace should have decided.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-do-feel-that-paula-deen-should-not-have-lost-her-job-and-i-ve-said/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [The best way not to encounter America's health care system is not to have to encounter it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/the-best-way-not-to-encounter-america-s-health-care-system-is-not-to/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [It's not ideological to ask someone to stick to the question presented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/it-s-not-ideological-to-ask-someone-to-stick-to-the-question-presented/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Whenever I see John Lewis, I invariably say, 'Thank you.' And I will never stop. I don't know how he's still standing, because what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/whenever-i-see-john-lewis-i-invariably-say-thank-you-and-i-will-never/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [I am a big devourer of James Baldwin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-am-a-big-devourer-of-james-baldwin/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) > [Who needs a bullet piercing, armor piercing bullet to go hunting? Who needs an assault rifle to go hunting? You can't even use the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/who-needs-a-bullet-piercing-armor-piercing-bullet-to-go-hunting-who/) [Don Lemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) [Explore all 67 Don Lemon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/) ## More Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [We do not want to be reminded that it is we, the indigenous people, who are poor and exploited in the land of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-biko/we-do-not-want-to-be-reminded-that-it-is-we-the-indigenous-people-who/) [Steven Biko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-biko/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) [Adam Imad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-imad/) > [The wailing of the newborn infant is mingled with the dirge for the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/the-wailing-of-the-newborn-infant-is-mingled-with-the-dirge-for-the/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [I gave birth to most of them MC's... So when it comes around to the month of May, Send me your royalty check for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/i-gave-birth-to-most-of-them-mc-s-so-when-it-comes-around-to-the/) [Roxanne Shante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxanne-shante/) > [“A Beautiful verse takes birth when "U"n"I" VERSE.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajesh-walecha/a-beautiful-verse-takes-birth-when-u-n-i-verse/) [Rajesh Walecha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajesh-walecha/) > [“There is no born evil, only a corruptible canvas darkened by a formidable perpetrator.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yefon-isabelle/there-is-no-born-evil-only-a-corruptible-canvas-darkened-by-a/) [Yefon Isabelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yefon-isabelle/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) [Browse all 6,183 Birth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was born gay, just as I was born black.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Don Lemon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Birth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c8e/don-lemon-10223_birth_i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black_2942832.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was born gay, just as I was born black.” — Don Lemon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Don Lemon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-lemon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was born gay, just as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-lemon/i-was-born-gay-just-as-i-was-born-black/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```