‘Don’t Be Afraid’: Don Lemon rallies queers to push back against rising hostility

CNN anchor Don Lemon has issued a call for queer people and journalists to confront intimidation head‑on, delivering an impassioned speech at the 37th GLAAD Media Awards on 9 March 2026. Speaking to a packed audience, Lemon urged LGBTQ+ communities not to give in to fear amid rising political hostility, stressing that the only way to counter bullies is through courage and defiance.

Lemon - who was arrested in January while covering federal immigration protests in Minneapolis - used the platform to reflect on the escalating pressures facing both queer people and the press. He condemned what he described as mounting fascistic attitudes and reaffirmed the vital importance of the First Amendment, calling it “the bedrock” of democracy. 

“Don’t be afraid! They want you to be afraid.”

“Don’t be afraid! They want you to be afraid,” he told the audience, insisting that intimidation must be met with resistance rather than silence. In remarks that have since circulated widely, he said the way to confront a bully is “to stand up to them,” adding that the “metaphorical thing is to punch them in the nose” - a statement intended to encourage resilience rather than violence. 

Lemon thanked supporters who rallied behind him following his arrest, including fellow journalists and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. His appearance follows a period of heightened scrutiny of the media, as well as increased threats to press freedom and queer visibility nationwide. His message was framed as both a personal reflection and a broader rallying cry for marginalised communities and the journalists documenting their struggles.