Lindsay Lohan's Fight for Marriage Equality

She's young, she's messy, she fights with her sometime girlfriend, and she's been to rehab -- but she's leading the charge for marriage equality in the process.

By Hugh Ryan

COMMENTARY: Lindsay Lohan's recently released faux eHarmony profile is perhaps the most brilliant 90 seconds in the young actor's career. She simultaneously manages to poke fun at herself, her relationship with Sam Ronson, and eHarmony -- a homophobic dating website that would never allow her to post an ad looking for a "man or a woman."

But when I posted a link to the video on my Facebook page, I received comments like "she's young and immature and well -- who cares?"

The answer: I care. Deeply. And so should anyone who's concerned with the future of queer rights and visibility in the United States.

It can't be stated strongly enough: Lindsay Lohan is unlike any other LGBT celebrity to come before her. She's young, she's beautiful, she's A-list -- and at the top of her career, she began publicly dating a woman. This is not the coy "maybe/maybe-not" game that other young celebs have played, or the outing of a former star. It's worlds beyond the occasional kiss or the admission of having "dated women in the past," which until now was the most radical truth that Hollywood stars would own up to.

While never choosing a label and avoiding public statements, Lindsay Lohan lived her relationship with Sam Ronson in the public eye almost exactly, one feels, as she would have had she not been famous. They partied, they made out, they fought, they bought groceries. And yes, I read about it every time. Not just because I love gossip, but because Lindsay Lohan is both representative of and at the forefront of an important cultural shift in the way sexuality plays out in the public sphere. She is the first of a new post-identity wave.

And it is this same wave that is helping to win the fight for same-sex marriage -- as well as other queer issues like adoption by same-sex parents, hate-crimes bills, and discrimination protections. In the aftermath of the Prop. 8 vote in California, an important set of data came out: 63% of voters ages 18 to 29 rejected the initiative, but 54% of voters 45 to 64 supported it.

If that's not a generational shift, then what is?

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. 1 2 NEXT Page 1 of 2

This article is representative of the author's views and not those of Advocate.com.

READ COMMENTS (71) MORE Commentary EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

‹‹Previous Article in Category | Next Article in Category››

Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: PJ
Date posted: 4/27/2009 7:32:00 PM
Hometown: Toronto

Comment:
Oh yes, she's so great that she hasn't had a hit film, can't get film offers because she's uninsurable, and has addiction problems and violent streaks. Such a role model. And yes, I'm over 30 and never did drugs or chased people down in my car. So I'm throwing the first stone.
Back to top
Name: Carrie Newman
Date posted: 4/27/2009 6:39:00 PM
Hometown: Ottumwa

Comment:
Jennifer, Angelina Jolie came out as bisexual long before Lindsay Lohan. Just because she didn't have a female partner doesn't make it any less brave.
Back to top
Name: Andrea
Date posted: 4/27/2009 5:28:00 PM
Hometown: Houston

Comment:
the bottom line is that Lindsey's life is making it easier for queer kids to be accepted, and not be as discriminated against as we of the older generation have been...the 20 yo from Georgia made an excellent point: equal rights would be great to have, but it's the day to day that affects us most deeply, and if her Mom is ok talking with her about her life b/c of anything Lindsey Lohan did regarding being open with her own life, then that is powerful and meaningful and brave, and she deserves to be applauded for whatever contribution she is making to history and the movement
Back to top
Name: L.A. supporter
Date posted: 4/27/2009 4:20:00 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:
What 22 year old doesn't have relationship drama? It's just unfortunate the Lindsay and Sam's is in the public eye. And what about those idiot paparazzi chasing her everywhere she goes. Talk about pressure! How would you do with absolutely no privacy? I'd probably crack. THANK YOU LINDSAY ! You are incredibly brave !
Back to top
Name: Bob
Date posted: 4/27/2009 11:09:00 AM
Hometown: Springfield, NJ

Comment:
After reading some of these posts about Lindsay Lohan from obviously bitter and unhappy people, I can't for the life of me imagine why gay people have gotten the reputation for being "bitchy".
Back to top
Name: Susan Ross
Date posted: 4/27/2009 11:08:00 AM
Hometown: Greenfield Park

Comment:
Kudos to Lindsay and anyone else who believes in something so strongly to stand up and fight for it.
Back to top
Name: Pauline
Date posted: 4/26/2009 10:52:00 PM
Hometown: San Mateo

Comment:
Gay or not, out or closeted, this girl's career is over. O-V-E-R. Next!
Back to top
Name: Lula
Date posted: 4/26/2009 10:50:00 PM
Hometown: San Francisco

Comment:
What a mess!
Back to top
Name: L
Date posted: 4/26/2009 6:11:00 PM
Hometown: San Francisco

Comment:
Thank you for recognizing Lindsay! I admire her visibility and label-lessness, and I wish the best for her. So many people get bogged down in the details of her past without looking at the larger picture, but you have brought the lens back into focus (on the larger picture). Thank you!
Back to top
Name: Trish
Date posted: 4/26/2009 2:42:00 PM
Hometown: Miami

Comment:
Lindsay is a gorgeous, sexy brave girl. Name me just one young, beautiful Hollywood girl who went on Ellen and talked about her relationship with a girl like it was nothing. God bless her.

PREVIOUS 1 2 3 4 5 ... NEXT

More Online Only

Commentary Progress in the Midwest
The president of Kalamazoo's campaign to keep an anti-discrimination law reflects on a hard-won campaign.

Commentary What Marriage in Maine Meant for Me

Dana Hernandez is a straight white married mother of two young children. But in campaigning for No on 1 and reporting Election Night outcomes for Advocate.com, defeat hit her like a ton of bricks.

Marriage Equality Terri White Stages Her Leather Encore

Last year, acclaimed stage performer Terri White was homeless and living in a public park. On Sunday, she and her partner held a leather-themed commitment ceremony onstage following her triumphant Broadway turn in Finian’s Rainbow.

Music Ghost Story

Out singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile discusses working with her childhood mentor, coming out publicly, and joining next year's Lilith Fair.

News View From Washington: GOP Upheaval

Now that the only pro-marriage equality candidate in New York's 23rd Congressional district, Republican Dede Scozzafava, has dropped out of the race, Tuesday's election holds any number of political lessons for both the GOP and the LGBT community.

Books Hot Sheet: Ditto Knocking 'Em Dead

This week might not bring anything to the screen other than a Boondock Saints sequel, but there are plenty of reasons to sit at home on the couch or head to your local concert venue.

News Features Sailor Speaks Out
Sailor Joseph Rocha endured years of hazing until he spoke out — then he was discharged for revealing his homosexuality. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old is itching to suit back up.

Music Rainbow High

Busy Broadway heartthrob, gay rights activist, and former Advocate coverboy Cheyenne Jackson chats about his Finian’s Rainbow revival, his politically charged cabaret CD, and laying around in his underpants (pic on page five).

Marriage Equality For Maine, The Time is Now
Money is on their side and the polls look optimistic, but volunteers fighting to preserve marriage equality in Maine are prepared for a fight to the finish.

Television Another Tough Broad

After being outed by a Nazi and locking lips with a hook-up three times in one episode, Christine Woods's tough-talking FBI agent Janis Hawk on ABC's FlashForward might just be prime time's best gay offering — who isn't in Glee club, that is.

Books In Sickness and in Health

Mary Cappello’s memoir Called Back takes readers on a white-knuckle journey through the experience of cancer treatment in America — especially disorienting to navigate as a woman and a lesbian.

Books An American Crime

Best-selling novelist Patricia Cornwell made headlines last week when she filed suit against a New York investment firm for losing $40 million of her money. But she'd much rather talk about her new book, hate-crimes legislation, and Angelina Jolie.

Comedy Gilded Lily

After conquering Broadway, movies, and television, out funny lady Lily Tomlin prepares for the final frontier — Las Vegas.

Entertainment News Ricky Martin, No Shirt and a Baby
Ricky Martin knows how to get the camera's attention. Take a look at the many pictures of Ricky uploaded to his Twitter account in the past three months, always shirtless, frequently carrying one (or both) of his babies.

Television Fresh Blood
With True Blood a bona-fide cultural phenomenon, producer Alan Ball offers tantalizing hints about what to expect on season 3.