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Leave Lindsay Alone?

The media is especially light on Lohan and Ronson. What gives? Plus, Newsweek mirrors The Advocate’s cover story on Lawrence King, the Democrats attack “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and the isle of Lesbos hasn’t seen this much action since Sappho
An Advocate.com exclusive posted July 25, 2008
Leave Lindsay Alone?

Welcome to the celebrity-friendly version of The Week in Gay. The most salacious story hitting the blogs and the big papers was the Los Angeles Times ’ two-page Sunday spread devoted to the media’s treatment of the relationship between Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson.

The piece by Kate Arthur talks about the usually voracious celebrity media’s rather demure handling of the Lohan-Ronson pairing. In this case, the relationship seems to be met with the print version of a shrug -- at least until Life & Style dared to run a cover asking “Is Lindsay Gay?”

Perhaps, as Village Voice columnist Michael Musto suggests to the Times, “they don’t consider gay a dirty thing anymore. And it’s very cool.”

Or maybe they are just taking the lead from the couple themselves, who are out about it without stating it for the record. Sheila McClear of Gawker.com argued in a post last month (“Why Lindsay Lohan Is a Gay Hero”) that Lohan’s casual openness is revolutionary because it treats her same-sex relationship the same as her straight ones. She writes: “Here’s what’s cool: Lohan has been entirely matter-of-fact about the whole affair. She’s continued to appear in public with her rumored lover. There has been no moaning from her about private-life intrusion from the media, and no cries from her cougar mom to `Leave Lindsay ALONE!’ ”

The other possibility to consider -- and not a pleasant one -- is that the mags aren’t using the words gay and homosexual and lesbian because they don’t want to upset the more conservative segments of their readership. They are just putting out the story and the accompanying photos as if to say “Nothing unusual here!”

The Life & Style cover seems to have helped open the gateways for more explicit coverage -- New York Daily News gossip columnist Jo Piazza ran an item about Dina Lohan’s approval of the couple. She writes: “Dina was all smiles, telling partygoers just how cute she thought the pair looked, making sure reporters were never out of earshot.” Such a thing would have been unthinkable even five years ago.

Of course, like any celebrity couple, they have their ups and downs, as Gawker.com illustrates in another post. Hopefully, the relationship will go back up.

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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Fancy
    Date posted: 2008-08-19 6:31 PM
    Hometown: San Diego, CA

    Comment:

    Man people are harsh & they love to judge dont they? meanwhile how many of you r cheating on your wives? or go home and drink everyday? or beat your kids? no one is perfect. if lindsay wants to have a gay affair thats her perogative. she paid her dues. & the ppl commenting on her drugs use, get fluckked. like youve never done drugs? and if you havent, maybe you should! its easy to judge ppl when youve never walked in their shoes. i think what lindsay has accomplished in her life is admirable & i dont care who agrees. if you had her bank acct you wouldnt either. i think her relationship is very cute & i agree she is a gay hero. congrats lindsay, do YOU. youre not hurting anyone so enjoy your life while youre young & beautiful!


  • Name: Carrie Newman
    Date posted: 2008-08-18 3:44 PM
    Hometown: Ottumwa

    Comment:

    I think its hard even as a bisexual person myself to believe everything I read about Lindsay's relationship with Samantha Ronson. I believe Samantha to be a lesbian, but I would put it past Lindsay to play up the relationship for publicity. Of course, maybe she would have found a more attractive woman if that were the case. I just don't trust Lindsay Lohan or anyone in the Lohan clan.


  • Name: Lisa Trunnel
    Date posted: 2008-08-13 3:08 AM
    Hometown: Boston, Ma.

    Comment:

    I am not impressed with Lindsay. I liked her alot and watched most of her movies. As for today , I believe she has lost it either by drugs or alcohol abuse. personally she now makes me sick. I lost all respect for her and will never ever watch another movie of hers. spoiled out of control loser thats what I see right now. I am very disappointed in her and will never turn back no matter what she does in the future. I believe she deserves a girlfriend because I cant see any normal guy wanting her and her ways. She went lesbo because no guy will except her nasty ways. She is now a has been , and should hide her face. Sorry Lindsay your nasty ways have ruined you to alot of fans. Lindsay now washed up big lesbo. Also you have become very ugly from drug and alcohol abuse. Keep posing Lindsay your just maling a fool out of yourself. see ya LOSER.


  • Name: Ken
    Date posted: 2008-08-01 5:17 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Congrats, Lindsay! If she stars in a film I'll watch it. If she gets in the tabloids I'll shrug it off. Perfect stardom right there. More celebs should mess up the tabloids.


  • Name: Kathleen F.
    Date posted: 2008-07-27 3:25 PM
    Hometown: Austin

    Comment:

    I think Lindsey's 'lesbian' relationship is NOT being taken seriously by the media simply because she is is considered such a messed up flake. For years we've heard about Ms. Lohan's drug and alcohol abuse, the hit and run accident, and her crazy family that this lesbian thing just seems like another trashy saga in her frakked up life. I also think in the last few years that gay relationship have become more mainstream and less shocking to the general public (look at Cynthia Nixon and Lance from InSynch.) On top of that, Lindsey's relationship with an androgynous DJ who isn't eye candy material just isn't that sexy to harp on.


  • Name: Apostate
    Date posted: 2008-07-26 3:00 PM
    Hometown: AZ

    Comment:

    Or maybe, just maybe, people are sick and tired of Lindsay Lohan and they wish she'd just go away? Ya think?


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