Lindsey Graham opposed LGBTQ+ rights. Three men say he paid them for sex

Three sex workers allege in a documentary released Thursday that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham paid them for sex, including one who says he was 17 and that Graham questioned his age before continuing the encounter.

Among the participants is Cory Burns, an adult film performer known professionally as Sean Harding. His 2020 social media posts helped propel the “Lady G” allegations into public view, drawing attention to claims that Graham hired male escorts while opposing LGBTQ+ rights.

“The CLOSETocracy,” released by The Young Turks and Swamp Watch Studios, presents the accounts alongside Graham’s legislative record. Participants accuse him of privately seeking sexual encounters with people whose rights he opposed in public office.

The Advocate, which has not independently verified the documentary’s allegations, contacted Sen. Darline Graham’s office for comment about her brother and also reached out to Burns. Lindsey Graham, who died July 11 at 71, publicly denied being gay during his lifetime.

Neither Darline Graham nor Burns responded.

Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesman and executive producer of The Charlie Kirk Show, dismissed the documentary’s political significance in a Thursday post on X. “This is why we called him Lady Graham. This isn’t an October surprise, we’ve known this for years,” he wrote. Kolvet argued that blaming Graham’s sister would backfire, adding, “No one cares.”'

Related: In a viral post, transgender author alleges anti-LGBTQ+ senator Lindsey Graham hired her for sex work

From “Lady G” posts to an on-camera account

On June 4, 2020, Burns, posting under his stage name, alleged that an unnamed Republican senator hired male sex workers while supporting legislation harmful to LGBTQ+ people. He used the initials “LG,” encouraged other sex workers to come forward, and retweeted posts naming Graham.

Within days, “Lady G” and “Lady Graham” were circulating widely online. News reports described “Lady G” as a nickname male escorts allegedly used for Graham. Burns subsequently said he would stop discussing the allegations on Twitter because he and his family had received death threats.

In the documentary, Burns alleges that an intermediary arranged a $1,500 overnight booking and a driver took him to Washington’s Mayflower Hotel. He says he recognized the client as Graham only after seeing him on television.

Burns describes requests for domination and degrading language, including homophobic slurs. He says Graham paid the agreed amount but ended the booking early.

Related: Trump ally Laura Loomer goes after Lindsey Graham: ‘We all know you’re gay’

One man says he was 17 at the time

Another participant, identified as Kelvin, alleges that Graham arranged an encounter in Arizona while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1995 and 2003.

In the film, Kelvin acknowledges telling Graham he was 18. He alleges that Graham repeatedly challenged his age, demanded identification, and ultimately continued sexual activity despite expressing concern that he was 17.

Kelvin says he couldn’t challenge Graham because he needed the promised $120 payment.

“I felt powerless in arguing with him about it,” he says.

A third participant, identified as Jesse, alleges that Graham paid $260 for an encounter at Washington’s Beacon Hotel in 2012.

Related: Lindsey Graham, Trump ally who opposed LGBTQ+ rights and consistently denied being gay, dies at 71

Previous reporting and Graham’s public record

Them and The Advocate previously reported allegations from transgender author Jesse James Rose, who said Graham hired her for sex work before her transition.

In a separate collaboration, the publications interviewed Taylor Snider, a transgender woman who alleged that Graham paid her for sex in June 2015. Them reviewed purported appointment messages but could not independently authenticate them. A relative recalled Snider discussing the allegation in 2020. Former Graham aides contacted for that story did not respond.

Graham voted against repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” federal employment protections for LGBTQ+ people, and the Respect for Marriage Act. The film’s participants cite the conflict between those positions and his alleged private conduct as a reason for speaking publicly.

The release comes as his sister, Sen. Darline Graham, campaigns against Democrat Annie Andrews. President Donald Trump rallied Wednesday at Clemson University to support her, praising an attendee who apparently struck a protester being removed from the event.

The documentary includes footage of Darline Graham rejecting a question about allegations that her brother hired male escorts.

“I’m not even going to entertain that question,” she says in the film.

Watch The CLOSETocracy below.

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