 In 2014, David Uberti of the "Columbia Journalism Review" named him in a list of worst journalism of the year for several reporting gaffes throughout the year.In December 2016, Lemon was honored with a Native Son Award, named after James Baldwin’s "Notes of a Native Son" (1955), recognizing and to "encourage the increased visibility and impact of black gay men in society".In 2017, "Out" named him on its Power 50 list of "the most influential LGBTQ people in the USA."