Friend of Dorothy
The phrase dates back to at least World War II, when homosexual acts were illegal in the United States. Stating that, or asking if, someone was a friend of Dorothy was a euphemism used for discussing sexual orientation without others knowing its meaning. Some believe that it is derived from The Road to Oz, a sequel to the first novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
About Friend of Dorothy in brief
The phrase dates back to at least World War II, when homosexual acts were illegal in the United States. Stating that, or asking if, someone was a friend of Dorothy was a euphemism used for discussing sexual orientation without others knowing its meaning. The precise origin of the term is unknown. Some believe that it is derived from The Road to Oz, a sequel to the first novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. There are numerous references to LGBTQ characters and relationships, including a possible innuendo about bisexuality – when Dorothy asks Scarecrow which way to go on the yellow-brick road he says, ‘Of course some people go both ways’ In the film, Dorothy is accepting of those who are different. The struggles faced by Dorothy, Toto, and friends, especially against the Wicked Witch of the West and her flying monkeys can metaphorically mirror the difficulties of coming out. Many see Garland’s portrayal as a \”queer journey, an escape from the puritanical, morally rigid, black-and-white small-town life to Technicolor city existence with fabulous friends” The classic song, Over the Rainbow, that Dorothy sings, was possibly the most memorable performance of Garland’s career, and the song contributed to the evolution of the rainbow flag as a gay icon.
The song could also empathize with the personal struggles of Judy Garland, as a persecuted people they identified with suffering. She was the triumphant diva paving the way for the stormy trajectories of Elizabeth Winehouse, Amy Houston, Whitney Houston and Lindsay Lohan. She suffered crippling stage fright, yet beamed on stage. Onstage, she was expressing her ‘came out’ as the real person she meant to be. She also endured her enduring popularity among LGBTQ fans, and endured her ‘doubts’ about her capabilities, yet still endured her stage fright. Her suicide attempts and use of alcohol and pills to self-explicate were likely related to mental health problems, possibly related to childhood trauma, possibly complex PTSD, possibly untreated, and possibly untreated. She had a’mamey’ personality, but she was also a real person, expressing herself through her stage skills, and was a real LGBTQ person. She endured her struggles, but also endured these challenges, and also pressed forward, pressing forward, explaining her struggles to LGBTQ people, and enduring her popularity among her fans.
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This page is based on the article Friend of Dorothy published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 04, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
