Prompt Cast
The Origin and Significance of the Term "Friend of Dorothy" in the LGBTQ Community
TLDR The term "Friend of Dorothy" originated during World War II as a slang term for gay men, with the true "Dorothy" being Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz. The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland have become significant symbols in the LGBTQ community, with Garland's death believed to have influenced the Stonewall riots and the civil rights movement for gay people.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
"Friend of Dorothy" is a slang term for a gay person that originated during World War II, but the origin of the phrase itself is unknown.
02:24
The term "Friend of Dorothy" originated during World War II and was used to refer to gay men, with potential candidates for the original Dorothy being socialite Dorothy King and writer Dorothy Parker.
04:38
The third potential "Dorothy" was Dorothy Dean, an African-American socialite in New York who was part of the gay community and had connections to Andy Warhol and his gang, as well as working at Maxis, Kansas City, a popular hangout for the cool crowd in the 60s and 70s.
07:12
Dorothy Gale from L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz book series is the real "Dorothy" being referred to in the episode.
09:51
The Wizard of Oz is significant in the LGBTQ community because Dorothy's journey from a black and white world to a colorful one, and her acceptance of her "queer" friends, resonated with those who felt alienated, and Judy Garland, the star of the film, is considered a top gay icon.
12:03
Judy Garland is considered a gay icon and her death is believed to have had an impact on the Stonewall riots and the era of civil rights for gay people.
14:20
Before the decline of slang, there was a witch hunt to root out gay people in the military, with the intelligence services trying to find the supposed "friends of Dorothy" who were aiding and abetting gay men in the military, but they never actually found her.
Categories:
Society & Culture
