Sen. Lindsey Graham: “I Ain’t Gay”

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina addressed rumors about his sexual orientation in a lengthy profile for The New York Times Magazine, telling writer Robert Draper, "I ain't gay," while adding sarcastic quips about Ricky Martin and a San Francisco landmark.

Draper broached the subject in the context of recent Republican rumors about one of their own. Graham is a lifelong bachelor.

"His greater transgression, however, has been his willingness -- even eagerness -- to seek common ground with Democrats," writes Draper. "For his sins, Glenn Beck termed the senator Obama Lite, while Rush Limbaugh labeled him Lindsey Grahamnesty. Less tame are the blogosphere monikers, like 'Miss Lindsey,' that play off of Graham's never-married status. 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. (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.')"

Read the profile here.