The two faces of Lindsey Graham.

[Doodley]

What possible reason caused LG to go from Trump's most outspoken critic to his most avid supporter?

[drray23]

1. I think it must be more than just the threat of being outed

I mean nowadays, nobody cares if you are gay or not. Amongst the many things I disagree with Graham for, being gay is not one.,

It is surprising that he went from opponent to full trumper if its just because of this. There must be even more.

[PJMcK]

4. Perhaps Russian money?

Of course, in South Carolina, Lady G's personal life might not go over well with those Republican voters.

[drray23]

5. yes but is it worth destroying your life over it? I dont think so.

If he had come out ahead of Trump triying to blackmail him two yearrs ago he would have defused the situation. Its likely many of his voters would not care, even republicans. Besides it has been suspected for years so its not like it would be a surprise to these voters.
of course russian money would be another thing but Trump is neck deep in it himself so it does not look like something he could use against Graham.

[msongs]

7. actually tens of millions care if you are gay, people of all religions, ethnicities, races

in a majority of states marriage equality is undermined, ppl can be fired from jobs and kicked out of housing all perfectly legally

[Miigwech]

10. So correct! But Lindsey propagates homophobia and oppression of people just like him

with his voting record. He needs to hide to survive in the world he currently participates in. Blackmail of closeted gay person is a real danger to our country. Are you being blackmailed Lindsey? The Russians have all the goods on all the repubs and their corruption .... they have krompomat as well as all the hacked RNC emails.

[drray23]

14. Yes of course I did not mean to ignore the plight of many LGBT people

in fact many of my family members are LGBT.

What I meant is for a skilled politician, coming out should be a positive. They can use it to further educate the population.

If Graham had done that two years ago he would have removed the hold Trump has on him and probably still gotten reelected. After all, it's an open secret. Most of his voters already suspect he is gay and yet they vote for him.

Instead Graham sacrificed what remained of his principles and went full Trump. As soon as McCain passed, Trump saw the opportunity and turned Graham.

[stillcool]

12. me too...way more...

He could just do like his fellow Republicans and resign to spend more time with his family, if it were a case of being outed, or anything short of criminal. The entire Republican party is complicit, it's hard to believe they are all afraid because of some minor or major faux pas. Some things I just can't rationalize.

[SergeStorms]

13. I don't know about that...

"I mean nowadays, nobody cares if you are gay or not."

Republicans in the deep south still might care about that. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think they've changed that much in the past 50 years.

[drray23]

15. I think many of the younger generations are indifferent to that.

besides, its pretty much known by voters in South Carolina that Graham is likely gay and yet they kept voting for him.

[LuvNewcastle]

17. I've said before hat I think Lindsey has himself

a mandingo, or at least he used to. SC might forgive the gay issue, but I don't know about having a gay interracial relationship. I think that might be a bridge too far, especially if there are pictures.

[diva77]

18. Maybe it involves the threat of pain that prisoners at the Gulag Archipelago

might be subjected to...

[Mariana]

23. "I mean nowadays, nobody cares if you are gay or not."

This is absolutely false.

[drray23]

26. Its false for us peons.

Powerful people like politicians or celebrities have the power and resources to come out and be fine. Obviously, others are still discrimated against. I think it's evolving however. Younger generations tend not to care anymore.

[Doodley]

29. To some people who have built a life on a lie, the humiliation of being exposed would be

the worst imaginable thing to ever happen.

[doc03]

2. Trump has something on him. nt

[PJMcK]

3. Gosh, I don't know (wink)

Of course, in fact, everyone knows which is why this whole "secret" is kind of weird.

[leftieNanner]

6. With the "news items" that have come out in the past few days

It may not be just that he's gay (who cares?), but that he has hired the "services" of young men - which is not legal.

I guess it's easier to just claim to be a single gentleman ma'am, and not have a partner. But find love in all the wrong places.

So to speak.

[BamaRefugee]

8. BUT DID HE 1099 THE CALL BOYS? That's how they all go down, tax evasion ;-)

[oasis]

9. Lindsey must go!

[Bev54]

11. He is being threatened

on twitter by some porn star who says many in the sex industry know Grahams secrets and it is not just about being gay. Say he will likely be outed soon.

[drray23]

27. If he was smart he would get ahead of it

and announce himself that he is gay. He is a powerful politician. He should be able to cone out and turn it into a teaching opportunity for his bigoted voters.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

16. I got outed

By staff on a psych unit.
The put my birth name on the board where you're nurse for the day is listed.

I begged them not to use my birth name.

When it got out I was transgender all the other patients could talk about was my gender. I told them it was none of thier business what my gender is. I got harassed by all the male patients day after day.

Than one night I got raped in my room when I went to bed to sleep.

This was not in a southern small town full of magats and evangelical twits.

It was in Baltimore City.
I dunno if putting my full birth name up there was even legal. After it happened staff would not talk to me at all. I had a safe test done by the police. It was horrible and I hate the staff for what they caused and I hate the hospital.
I had PTSD before I sought help there.
It's alot worse now

It's Mount Sinai hospital in Baltimore City. Tell people you know who are gblt to never to go there. They out gblt people and do not care what happens to them. A psych unit is supposed to be a safe place..

If Lindsey is outed he won't face what I faced. He has money. He has protection.

I say give him he'll.
He's the type of asshole who'd tell me I deserved it or caused it,and would praise those staff for what they caused.

[Hekate]

19. That's horrifying. Real Dark Ages snakepit shit.

I hope your life improves every day -- may you find peace and joy abundant.

[Ilsa]

20. God, that's awful.

I hope you were able to report staff to hospital nanagement to help protect future patients. Rape is a crime they are supoosed to protect against.

I'm so sorry you've had to live with this pain for so long. I hope you can find help or peace.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

21. I pressed charges

After I got out I just was out of it. Had to return to a group home staffed by abusive people. My life really sucked than.

It's somewhat better now.
Stable housing and living by myself with my sweet kitty Othello,and therapy and program has helped alot.

[Ilsa]

22. I'm glad you pressed charges, and I

hope their negligence has caused the worst of them to leave psych nursing, hospital work, etc.

It's good to hear that your life is better and you have some love in your life. Pets are the best!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

24. Thanks. It gets a little bit better

Day by day.

[Ilsa]

25. As a recovered victim

of rape, I get it. There have been times, decades later, when I get triggered, but I'm able to work through it. Time helps. Support helps.

[Doodley]

28. I am sorry you went through all that.

I can only imagine the anger, the disillusionment and distrust that I would feel if I was treated so badly. But be assured there are many more people that would welcome you with open arms for who you are.