CNN's Don Lemon, Randy Rainbow, John Waters and Janelle Monae Among 20 LGBTQ Icons Honored in Metrosource Mag's annual People We Love

For 16 years running, Davler Media Group’s Metrosource, the largest circulation LGBTQ publication serving New York City and Los Angeles, and second largest nationally, has ended each year with People We Love.  In the December/January issue, and on  metrosource.com, People We Love honors the people and organizations who display extraordinary acts of service and philanthropy, raise awareness about LGBTQ rights and culture and model excellence in being part of the LGBTQ community.

The cover story subject of 2018’s People We Love is veteran CNN anchor Don Lemon, an openly gay journalist who has demonstrated exceptional courage in President Trump’s ongoing battles with his network and the media at large.   Lemon is in the unique and unenviable position of being a direct target of both the President’s barbed tweets and, in October as he was being interviewed by the magazine, of  Florida terrorist Cesar Sayoc.

“I have been in this business for 27 years, and I’ve only had credible threats against me for the first in the past couple of years,” laments Lemon in the article. “I have security now – for the first time.  You know the only difference now versus the other 25 years or so… is Donald Trump.”

“I’ve been poor,” he tells Metrosource. ”I have had to deal with abuse. … I’ve had to deal with loss. I’ve had to deal with discrimination and racism. I’ve had to deal with homophobia. But I think that makes me a pretty good person to deliver the news to the American people, because most of the people in my audience have had to deal with those things.”

‘If you’re critical of others, you should expect the same,” says Lemon. “But I do have to say as much discrimination as there is towards gay people – and it’s awful – I have received far more for being a person of color that for being a gay man.”

Metrosource’s interview with Lemon goes beyond politics, delving into his youth in Louisiana, his coping with abuse during these years and his current happiness off-camera with his partner, real estate agent Tim Malone.

The other honorees featured in People We Love 2018 include filmmaker and gay icon John Waters, musician and actress Janelle Monáe, actress Samira Wiley of Orange is the New Black and The Handmaid’s Tale, veteran British actor Rupert Everett, columnist Michael Musto, comedians Cameron Esposito and Hannah Gadsby and new media figures like YouTube satirist Randy Rainbow and blogger Kenneth Walsh.  Also spotlighted are lesser known but mightily impactful community leaders and organizations including Leo Preziosi, founder of the student advocacy organization Live Out Loud, LGBTQ legal advocacy organization Lambda Legal, LGBTQ scholarship organization The Point Foundation, and SAGE, an organization providing support to the elder LGBTQ community. 

Metrosource’s People We Love also cast a spotlight on Olympian and Dancing with the Stars winner Adam Rippon, President & CEO of NYC & Company Fred Dixon, the entire cast and creative team of the FX series Pose, NYC Promoter Brandon Voss, and Doctor Evan Goldstein.  The final honoree will be determined by the public, which can head to https://metrosource.com/legendaryqueens to cast a vote for their favorite New York City Drag Queen.  The legends nominated include Sherry Vine, Hedda Lettuce, Lypsinka, Shequida, Tina Burner, Lady Bunny and Joey Arias.   All who cast a vote will be entered to win a pair of VIP tickets to the People We Love gala on January 15, 2019.

“Creating our annual ‘People We Love’ list is a true privilege and pleasure,” says Paul Hagen, Editor-In-Chief of Metrosource.  “It’s the time when we recognize the people who are going to exceptional ends to do great things for the LGBTQ community.  It’s not only a salute to high-profile names in entertainment and media, but a spotlight on the many activists whose efforts mean so much to the day-to-day well-being of our community.”