Who is the "most famous Lesbian in the world?"

[liamstliam]

The New York Times has an excellent analysis on where same-sex marriage stands, based on the appearance of Ellen DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi, on Oprah.

I would have recommended it anyway, but I did have a little furrowing of the forehead when Ms. de Rossi was quoted as saying Ellen was "the most famous lebian in the world."

Here's the context:

A decade ago, she had trouble getting work, a development that she and many observers chalked up to her being “the most famous lesbian in the world,” as Ms. de Rossi described her on “Oprah.”

But now she’s on the cover of the current issue of O magazine, exclusive real estate usually inhabited by Ms. Winfrey alone. She’s a pitchwoman not only for American Express but also for Cover Girl makeup, a heartland product if ever there was one.

Now, observations aside, who do you think is the most famous Lesbian in the world.

(I think we can do this without getting too tied up in "Well, she's really bisexual," for whatever value of "she" we mean.)

Anyway, my immediate thought, being a man of a certain age, was Martina Navatrilova, the great tennis player.

Is it an age thing?

A "general public vs. those of us who know a lot of Lesbian/Bi folks" question?

Where does your mind go on this one?

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

It is a puzzling question - but not an interesting one, to me.

To answer it: I think that most "famous" gay people are famous for what they do, and when the inevitable celebrity slosh follows them around, it turns out they are gay. But while they are not afraid to be known as gay, they are not "primarily" gay.

Ellen DeGeneris has, since her TV show, been as famous for being gay, and has successfully exploited her sexual preference, as she has been famous for her skills and talents. She is also quite disarming: charming, funny, unassuming. She, as a professional character, is alarmingly unchallenging as a person.

I don't know Ms DeRossi's intentions or nuanced meaning, but I think a case can be made that Ellen is equally famous or infamous for her sexual preference than her large-scale talent, because her talent is in being pleasant but non-threatening as a host, or comedian.