The death of US Senator Lindsey Graham at 71 has been followed by a wave of reactions online, but one post in particular has attracted major attention. Influencer, author and activist Jesse James Rose shared a controversial Instagram tribute claiming she had a personal encounter with the Republican politician while she was a college student.
Graham died after what his office described as a 'brief and sudden illness.' Preliminary findings later reported that the senator's cause of death was linked to an aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease.
Following the news, Rose uploaded a three-photo Instagram post with a caption: 'Eulogy for a Horny Hypocrite.' She made allegations about a past encounter with Graham and reignited online conversations around long-standing rumours about the senator.
Inside the Viral 'Eulogy' for Lindsey Graham
Rose's Instagram post quickly spread across social media because of its shocking claims and its outspoken tone. She alleged that she knew Graham from her college years and claimed he paid her for sex before she transitioned.
She wrote that many people knew Graham as 'the homophobic senator from South Carolina,' but said she remembered him differently.
'To me he will always be the man who paid a twinky pre-transition college student (🙋🏻♀️) a fat stack of cash to do unspeakable things to him in a hotel room while he wore red lingerie 😌,' Rose claimed.
She also used the post to discuss wider issues around LGBTQ+ people, sex work and political hypocrisy. She argued that some people criticise queer and trans individuals while privately seeking their company.
'It is a canon trans event to have far right freaks bankrolling you & then turning around and voting against you,' she wrote. She added that people often judge sex workers without understanding the situations they face.
She also claimed that the money from the alleged encounter helped her financially at a difficult time, saying it contributed to her ability to avoid student debt and build security.
The post ended with a direct message to Graham, accusing him of harming the LGBTQ+ community while saying she would continue supporting queer and trans people. 'Lindsey, rest in hell for what you did to our community,' Rose stated.
Who Is Jesse James Rose?
Jesse James Rose is a transgender actress, author and activist known for using online platforms to discuss LGBTQ+ rights and social issues. She has built a following through digital content and advocacy work, often sharing personal experiences connected to the transgender community.
Her post about Graham gained attention partly because of her existing online presence and partly because it addressed a subject that has been surrounded by speculation for years.
Rose also referenced the nickname 'Lady G,' a term that has circulated online in connection with unverified rumours about Graham's private life. However, those rumours have never been confirmed, and there is no verified evidence supporting claims about Graham's personal relationships.
Lindsey Graham's Record On LGBTQ+ Rights
Lindsey Graham was a Republican senator from South Carolina whose political career included several controversial positions on LGBTQ+ rights. He opposed same-sex marriage before the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling legalising it nationwide and said he supported the 'traditional definition of marriage.'
His views on LGBTQ+ issues often placed him at odds with advocacy groups, particularly over marriage equality and other protections. Yet, his record was not entirely one-sided, as he supported a 2013 workplace non-discrimination bill that included LGBTQ+ protections.
