Former CNN anchor Don Lemon reappeared at the Native Sun Awards on Friday, his first job since being laid off by the cable news giant in April.

The Native Sun Awards, a show that celebrates the achievements of black gay men, has named Lemon as host. The former CNN host said he no longer works, but he still considers himself a journalist. according to Go to page 6. (Related: ‘What Are You Saying…’: CNN Anchor Appears After Don Lemon Suggests Women Have a ‘Primary Working’ Age)

“I may not be on CNN, but I’m still a journalist,” Lemon said, the media reported.

Don Lemon to Host 7th Annual Native Sun Awards https://t.co/GzQhDN6hHL pic.twitter.com/G2b9a49M3i

— Page Six (@PageSix) June 5, 2023

Lemon said he spoke of a flurry of bills across the country that he claims are targeting members of the LGBT community.

“There will already be more than 520 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in state legislatures across the country in 2023,” Lemon said, according to the media. “Almost half of those bills target transgender or nonbinary siblings.”

Lemon reportedly accused companies of bowing to “extremist demands to discriminate against us” and accused them of “removing Pride gear and decorations from their stores.”

The former CNN anchor has reportedly joked that he has had more personal freedom since being kicked out of the cable news channel.

“I don’t have a job right now, so I’m going to have a lot of drinks and celebrate as soon as I’m done here,” Lemon said.

Lemon was fired from CNN in April after a series of controversies. screaming Claimed to be the Republican presidential nominee at co-host Nikki Haley is no longer “in his prime” due to his age, and has a live shouting match with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.