Is The anti Gay Senator Lindsay Graham Gay Himself? Oh yeah!
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| Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) during the hearing where Russell Vought appeared before the Senate Budget Committee for a confirmation hearing and vote. | © Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images |
Daniel Villarreal
For years, people across the political spectrum have wondered, “Is Lindsay Graham gay?” It makes sense: The now 70-year-old anti-LGBTQ+ Republican South Carolina senator has never married, has no kids, has never been seen with any sort of romantic partner in public, and has been the subject of unverified gay rumors for years.
Graham himself has denied the rumor; he has remained the butt of homophobic jokes, insults, and insinuations — even a viral hoax from a self-described male sex worker who claimed to have seen Graham’s nether regions covered in moles. But the mainstream media has generally not examined Graham’s sexual orientation, possibly to avoid drawing more attention to those potentially offensive rumors and out of a general reluctance to discuss the sexual orientation of anyone who isn’t out.
Former LGBTQ Nation editor and longtime LGBTQ+ rights activist Bil Browning called Graham’s homosexuality “an open secret in Washington, D.C., and his home state of South Carolina.” But…
… is Lindsey Graham gay? Let’s look at his own words.
In 2010, Robert Draper of The New York Times reported in a profile of the senator that “during a South Carolina Tea Party rally this spring, one speaker created an uproar by postulating that Graham supported a guest-worker program out of fear that the Democrats might otherwise expose his homosexuality.”
Draper added, “Graham smirked when I brought this up. ‘Like maybe I’m having a clandestine affair with Ricky Martin,’ he said. ‘I know it’s really gonna upset a lot of gay men — I’m sure hundreds of ’em are gonna be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge — but I ain’t available. I ain’t gay. Sorry.’”
In July 2015, NBC News interviewer Abby Huntsman asked Graham if, as one of the Republican candidates in the 2016 U.S. presidential race, he felt any disadvantages from being “a bachelor” without a spouse.
He replied, “I think America is ready for this. If I’m qualified to lead the nation, I think that will be the test for Lindsey Graham. I think most people are not worried about my marital status as much as what I can do for their family.”
Huntsman then asked, “Why are you still a bachelor? I feel like you would have a number of options.”
Graham answered, “Well, you know, at the end of the day, life goes by pretty quickly. My parents died when I was 22. Responsibility for my sister. I’ve had a good life. You know what? It’s okay to be single.”
She asked, “You want to get married?”
Graham said, “You know, I don’t know. At the end of the day, it’s not that I have foreclosed that possibility, but I shouldn’t have to explain that choice. You know what I should do is, ‘Here’s who I am and Lindsay Graham’s a pretty good guy.’ I’m not perfect by any means, but to everybody listening, it’s okay to be single, and maybe you too can grow up to be president.”
He then touted himself as a politician who has handled “very tough issues in a red state,” like immigration, saying, “I think the fact that I’m not married: America can handle it — I sure can handle it.”
Though Graham officially announced his presidential candidacy on June 1, 2015, he suspended his campaign on December 21, 2015, before the Republican primary elections even began.
Then, in October 2018, Graham publicly denied rumors of his homosexuality after comedienne Chelsea Handler posted a tweet on Twitter (now X) which said, “If you’re wondering why Republicans took a sick day today, it’s probably because it’s #NationalComingOutDay. Looking at you @LindseyGrahamSC.”
Various commenters said Handler’s joke sought to out Graham and his hypocrisy (considering his past anti-LGBTQ+ votes), while others accused her of homophobia and hypocrisy (considering her past support of same-sex marriage and her gay fans).
About 15 yrs ago I declared the man who has done so much damaged to the gy community was gay himself. I had as evidence the word out on the streets, my own observations and something that is rarely and I mean rarely wrong: My own gaydar.
On June 4, 20202, Sean Harding, a gay adult video performer, wrote on Twitter, “There is a homophobic republican senator who is no better than Trump who keeps passing legislation that is damaging to the lgbt and minority communities. Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man. Wondering if enough of us spoke out if that could get him out of office?”
In follow-up tweets, Harding wrote, “I cannot do this alone. If you’d be willing to stand with me against LG please let me know,” and, “So far I have two individuals who would be willing to go public and support my claims. Anyone else?”
While several commenters claiming to be lawyers promised to assist Harding in his quest to expose “LG” (including looking over any non-disclosure agreements they might’ve signed), others warned Harding that exposing Graham might harm the local sex worker community by making them seem dishonest or untrustworthy to potential clients and the public.
A media frenzy also ensued, with gay Hollywood fixer Howard Bragman weighing in, plus columnist Dan Savage, and Michelangelo Signorile, who reminded everyone of the dangers associated with “outing,” though Signorile expressed support for outing closeted anti-LGBTQ+ politicians.
Harding never made any other public claims against “LG.” But soon after, the hashtag #LadyGraham (and Lady G) both went viral — allegedly repeating a nickname for Graham used by Washington D.C. sex workers.
Even The Washington Post reported on the alleged nickname, writing, “Americans have long expected their politicians to be male, cisgender, straight and married, and have scrutinized those who are not…. [Republicans] often are at the center of rumors, in part because speculation about their sexuality mixes with scorn for their votes against legislation that protect the rights of LGBTQ people.”
Right-wingers jumped on the trending nickname as well, accusing the mainstream media and supposedly progressive social media users who referenced it of fostering homophobia and transphobia.
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