I’m not defending anybody, just pointing out that the vast majority of the time a cigar really is just a cigar. Joel made a lot of gay jokes in his set, and people laughed at all of them, getting suspicious that one was an “outing” is kind of silly. I don’t know and don’t care if Graham is gay, it’s his voting record I oppose and that gets neither better or worse with who he beds. It’s a joke, just a joke, reading more into it is just sad obsessive behavior.
Is there anyone in DC who doesn’t (wink, wink) know Graham’s leanings. That, IMO, would be the basis of the humor to the joke.