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Loading ...Visibility Matters: Lindsay Lohan and the New Definition of “Out”
Visibility Matters is a new monthly column by AfterEllen.com Founder Sarah Warn about larger trends affecting lesbian/bi women in entertainment and the media.
I stopped keeping up with media’s obsessive coverage of 22-year-old Lindsay Lohan a few years ago, just before she entered rehab for the first time.It wasn’t just because I lost interest in Lohan. In the last few years, the press has become obsessed with reporting on, and arguably creating, depressing news stories about young women engaged in self-destructive or self-obsessed behavior.
Television shows, entertainment and gossip websites, newspapers and magazines were overflowing with reports on Britney Spears’s marriage troubles, ongoing custody problems, and career missteps; the latest feud between Paris Hilton and her Simple Life co-star Nicole Richie; or Lohan’s public battle with her father, her drinking problems, and her inability to show up to work on time.
Around that time on AfterEllen.com, I instituted what I only semi-jokingly referred to as the "no Britney, Paris, or Lindsay" rule, which was intended to keep our writers from covering these topics (and others like them) on the site. Not only because they’re boring, annoying, and repetitive, but because I don’t take pleasure from reading or writing about young women self-destructing.
So when the first rumors and photos began circulating about a relationship between Lohan and 31-year-old DJ Samantha Ronson a few years ago, I ignored them — because of the aforementioned rule, and because I was skeptical.
As the months wore on and the stories persisted, I realized there might be some truth to the rumors, after all, but thought Lohan was just doing the bi-for-show thing that I have seen so many female celebrities do over the years (see: t.A.T.u, Drew Barrymore, Madonna, Bai Ling, etc.).
I began to reconsider recently when it finally became clear to me that the two were most likely involved in a serious relationship, and that Lohan had begun to turn her life around. She is now working successfully again (guesting on Ugly Betty, starring in the indie film Labor Pains), and instead of stories about DUIs, rehab, and workplace reprimands, the tabloids and gossip blogs only have Lohan’s ongoing feud with her father and speculation about her relationship with Ronson to write about. (OK, and still the occasional punching of a paparazzo — Rome wasn’t built in a day).
Ugly Betty co-star star Eric Mabius told OK! magazine this week that the actress was "fun to work with" and that "it was nice to see her girlfriend Sam visiting the set and offering her that support."
Lohan with Ronson at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
on Sept. 6, 2008
All of which is good news, but puts me and other entertainment journalists with ethics (yes, we do exist) in a bit of a quandary.
As a French journalist in the LGBT press (about to launch Yagg, a new website for French-speaking gays and lesbians, and anyone else who wants to come), I can only agree with you, Sarah. The line between out and closeted isn’t as easy to define as it used to be, which is both good news and making our job more difficult. But that’s part of the challenges – and excitement – of being a journalist, and not simply a way for celebs and politicians to publish their press releases.
“Around that time on AfterEllen.com, I instituted what I only semi-jokingly referred to as the “no Britney, Paris, or Lindsay” rule, which was intended to keep our writers from covering these topics (and others like them) on the site. Not only because they’re boring, annoying, and repetitive, but because I don’t take pleasure from reading or writing about young women self-destructing.”
Like naturally the only thing one can do is to make fun and hate-on someone when they fall. Like when these women were self-destructing, that that’s ALL they were ever doing or capable of, that that defined them. And they just deserved to be consigned to the scrap-heap. That they did not need support in their hour of darkness, and did not deserve best wishes spoken aloud more than ever. Like for example, when Paris was sent to jail for three weeks and practically the whole world was howling with derision, she couldn’t use any words of charity in letters sent to her from friends and fans like me.
“I still reserve the right not to write about young female celebrities who represent all the wrong things, though. I’ll just call it the “No Britney, Paris or Tila” rule now.”
The writer says because Lindsay has turned her life around, with a little help from her friend, apparently a gay partner, and that it’s is a good thing. So Lindsay is off the s*** list and can now be written about again. Paris and Britney have turned their lives around as well, but apparently they still deserve to be kept down. And since Lindsay’s reserved spot in infamy is now freed up, let’s just damn another woman to hell.
I have been not been a fan of Tila Tequila… until now, that is. Thanks afterellen.com, for showing this fighter of lost causes, which way the hate blows most.
I’m glad for Lohan and Ronson. They both have to battle the media AND their careers while putting smiley faces on themselves. If I could make a suggestion to them: I don’t think either woman has completed their education. Now would be the time to enroll in a college and get a degree. It doesn’t have to be so intense that it would jeopardize their careers. Lindsey could experiment with different roles. She’s at the point in her career that people would approve and just want to see how she handles them.
This does kind of represent the goal, doesn’t it? Like 365gay.com, the marriage equality movement, librals in generals really, we all want people to truly treat same-sex relationships the same as different-sex relationships and announcing “Yeah, we’re lesbians” would be like Brad and Angelina going “Yeah, we’re straight”… it just sounds stupid. MAYBE the reason they didn’t say it is because they’re trying to point out that it doesn’t matter?
Now if only we can get that misogynist, lesbian hating PerezHilton to stop making repugnant remarks about Linsay and Samantha.
This same stuff has been reported so much better by Grrlplanet…I like that site better – it’s more fun, more interesting, and cooler.
I’m glad that you’ve made this decision, Sarah. The fact that you don’t necessarily have to flat-out state “I’m Gay!” is a sign of progression, and it’s good that AE is able to adjust with the times.