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

[aerynne.livejournal.com]

Considering that my reaction was "who the heck is Martina Navatrilova?", I'd be voting for Ellen. I don't know that she actually makes the "most famous" cut, but I definitely am more aware of her than your example, even though I'm not a TV watcher. I'd guess it's a generational thing.

There's also the question of whether she's the most famous lesbian or just the woman most famous for being a lesbian. I'd say, for example, that Jodie Foster is more famous than Ellen DeGeneres, but when I think of "famous lesbians", Ellen DeGeneres comes up first.