and I think her daughter Liza eclipsed her after a while.

But yes, the people who populated the Judy cult are largely no longer with us due to the 80s holocaust begun by a virus and exacerbated by a "Christian" president.

I feel there is a disconnect between the generations (one that shouldn't be there). The young of today really had no idea what happened not so long ago.

It just makes me sad.

I feel the same way about very young women, who don't really know how precious hard-earned women's rights are

My parents were a little sad that I rejected the music of their youth for the music of my own, even though I was as likely to listen to Glen Miller as I was to opera or the Stones (yeah, I was a weird kid).

However, I've met drag performers who don't know who the hell Craig Russell was and what made him so incredibly special.

Now that is sad.

Not to me. Personal preference.

amazing how many of those tykes know beatles songs

btw not a judy fan, although she had some catchy tunes. she was before my time, g ay icon wise lol

He, like me, is gay. Sometimes he affects a melodramatic tone and exclaims, "Judy Garland, girl!" But other than that, no gay person I know referenced her, ever. We talk about Liza, only because she was on Arrested Development, and there is no connection to Judy with this. I personally am not really aware of the Judy Garland-gay affinity or how it came about decades ago.

I have another gay acquaintance who likes Mae West - a lot. I find it odd, to be honest. But, then again, I find the current gay affinities odd in many cases.

>>>I asked, “Did your mother ever listen to Judy albums around the house?”

“She liked ’80s hair bands. Poison, Aerosmith, Journey. But I bet my great-grandmother listened to her.”

I asked, “Is this a dagger I see before me?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Personally I like Joni Mitchell,” he continued. “She’s real. Not so dramatic. Down to earth.”

Who wants down to earth, I wanted badly to respond, when you can be transported over the rainbow? Instead I asked Brodie if he’d ever heard gay guys refer to themselves as “Friends of Dorothy?”

“Why would they do that?”

“Because gay men once identified, very powerfully, with Judy Garland: her wit, gravitas, glamour.”

It’s a concept that Brodie seems to find embarrassing. “I guess I’m just not interested in glamour,” he said. “I’m interested in artists who can tell me about real life.”>>>>>>>


FWIW, I always found the Judy-thing a puzzler. And worshipped for a long time at the altar of JM. I never connected being gay with either.

Sort of like van Gogh...seriously...and also F. Scott Fitzgerald...

adores Judy Garland. For him I think this was partially cultural. Just from his attitudes I can pick up how hard it was to be gay in the 1950s and 60s. If Garland's pathos helped gay men to cope, that's fine. But I'm a lesbian in my 50s who grew up listening to rock music and I'm a fan too. For me it's not cultural. She had an incredible natural talent. If all you're familiar with is Over The Rainbow, watch her sing Old Man River and have your eyes opened. If she's a part of our cultural heritage, then we have pretty good taste.

I grew up in the 80's an adore Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. My son who is gay loves Lady Gaga. This is true of straight kids too though. I do think it is also natural in some ways that gay kids have a harder time learning our history. It is not taught in schools much and most families teach traditions they know--which wouldn't normally include gay things.

partner loves her, he is in his 70's. I like her too, but I adore Maria Callas

Last edited Mon Oct 15, 2018, 12:45 AM - Edit history (2)

"Friend of Dorothy" a way to identify one another