Starting as early as World War 2, people would say they either were or were looking for a “friend of Dorothy”. The phrase was a safe way to talk about being a part of the gay community at a time when those relationships were illegal. So why that phrase? Historians say Judy Garland has long been considered a gay icon with her role as Dorothy, someone who accepts everyone, playing a big part in that status. Other researchers think “a friend of Dorothy” is a reference to Dorothy Parker, the critic who wrote A Star is Born. She publicly included openly gay men in her famous social circle.
Whatever its origins, “friend of Dorothy” illustrates several of the most important functions of folklore that serve members of the LGBT+ community. The phrase helped to maintain the stability, solidarity, cohesiveness, and identity of the group within the larger culture at a time when those qualities were much needed. (xx)
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (2022 - )
S01E06 · Stealing Home
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