Lindsey Graham Death Spurs 2020 'Lady G' Rumors Back Into View
Updated
Updated · Slate · Jul 14
Lindsey Graham Death Spurs 2020 'Lady G' Rumors Back Into View
3 articles · Updated · Slate · Jul 14
Summary
Online reaction to Lindsey Graham’s death quickly turned into memes and posts reviving long-running speculation that the South Carolina senator was secretly gay.
That surge drew on allegations that flared in 2020, when sex workers and others claimed Graham paid men for sex and used the nickname “Lady G” — claims he denied.
No major exposé ever followed because the accusations lacked proof beyond testimony from sex workers, and Graham’s allies often framed insinuations about his sexuality as homophobic.
Graham’s death has reopened a broader argument inside queer circles over whether anti-LGBTQ politicians forfeit sexual privacy if they privately engage in same-sex relationships.