Why is Judy Garland an icon for the homosexual community?

[4_Legs_Good]

Sorry for the stupid question, but this has been bugging my wife for some time, and we've never been able to figure it out, so I figured people here probably know.

Thanks!

david

[22181]

1. I don't know much except...

It seems to be based on the wizard of oz. Somewhere over the rainbow and all that. Also, in the same manner as "Friends of Bill W." representing alcoholic groups by code name, they use "Friends of Dorothy" as their gathering name.

[Deja Q]

14. We all want to live in Oz...

But Dorothy had to choose reality.

We're the same way. We're forced to live in reality though we dream of living in a happy little world where good wins over evil.

[Zeke]

15. The Answer Is...

Her father was gay.

That's the truth.

[smirkymonkey]

38. So were her husbands...

[MissAnnThrope]

28. The Rainbow Flag

Was adopted long after Judy Garland became an icon.

[Dookus]

2. ahhh...

the eternal question.

There are a lot of reasons. First and foremost was that us gay folk just LOVE a good musical, and she was in the best of them.

She was also quite a fan of gay people - married a couple and was always supportive of us.

She was also quite a sad, tragic figure, and we're just suckers for that stuff. She wore her emotions on her sleeve.

Finally, the day of the Stonewall riots was the day of her burial.

Oh, and she gave us Liza Minnelli.

[Placebo]

5. Amen.

We're suckers for a great tragedy! Not to mention our fascination with all the actresses of that age, bette davis, joan crawford etc...

I advise you watch "Die Mommie Die!" its hillarious, and kind of sums it all up. (though it's not about judy garland) :)

[sundog]

16. oh -- is "Die Mommie Die" on dvd yet?

I've been itchin to see it! I love campy stuff...

[ronnykmarshall]

18. Yes it's on DVD!!!

[sundog]

20. Is it really good?

I'm quite sure my local video store in the middle of the New Mexico desert will not be featuring "Die Mommie Die" prominently in the new releases section... looks like I'll have to summon netflix...

Did you ever watch any of those Andy Warhol/ Paul Morrisey movies from the early 70's? I love those too...

[ronnykmarshall]

21. It's a mess!

I good one at that!

[sundog]

32. I love films that campy films that are a mess...

"Showgirls" also tops my list

[Placebo]

22. It's absolutely HILLARIOUS...

you can't go wrong with "Die Mommie Die!" if you love the campy stuff.

And Andy Warhol is my idol, I love his films! I went to see a bunch when they were showing them here in Chicago a few years ago.

[sundog]

31. I love that Warhol flick...

"Women in Revolt" with Candy Darling & company... I just saw it recently -- like a car wreck, you just can't turn away

[jonnyblitz]

48. frankenstein in 3D is always good by warhol. n/t

[Gildor Inglorion]

9. I actually saw Judy live in concert in 1968...

in Baltimore. I was in the Army at the time. She was tragic, never did sing, barely could stand, incoherent...what a sad waste of a great talent. Woody Allen and Tony Bennett performed also. Quite an interesting evening. Whenever I get to feeling really OLD, I remind myself that Woody & Tony are still performing.

[ronnykmarshall]

17. I'll second that!

[Westegg]

29. I'm straight---and I dig Judy. Talent's talent...

...I'd always heard that connection between her death and the Stonewall riots was more than coincidental. (Maybe someone can help me out with this?) I'd heard that the night she died, gay men were celebrating her life in the Village. There'd been a memorial service for her at Campbell's Funeral Home uptown, and many fans had attended. And so, based on the sheer number of folks in the Village, joined by a common cause (her life and death), and the emotion of the day, the gay community felt empowered to stand up to yet another raid by the police.

If this is more apocryphal than fact , well, it's still a good story. I live a few blocks away from Stonewall so I'm very intrigued by this legend.

[jonnyblitz]

47. I must not be really gay. I cant handle musicals or Judy (or Barbra).

give me Tool and Marilyn Manson....

[Bluebear]

3. Speaking strictly for myself...

I don't believe there is a homosexual community anymore than there is a 'white community' for instance. The Red Sox are more my icon than Judy Garland. :)

[cardlaw]

4. Maybe it's just cause she's

F*CKING AMAZING! lol

Who the hell knows why we like her. :)

[VoteDemocratic2004]

6. I have a marketing Idea

Do you know how they have the rainbow in gay areas and Judy Garlands song was Somewhere over the Rainbow?

Both is tied in to each other and they should create some merchandise with Judy Garlands name on them with a rainbow in the background.

Hell, bad idea.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

7. Page 17, paragraph 4, section 2...

The Gay Agenda.

Didn't you get the revised copy?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. We really like "Zing, went the strings of my heart"

Besides, she's Liza's mom :D

[RodneyCK2]

10. Hmmmm....

I guess the question to ask is why shouldn't she be? She was talented, charismatic, a wonderful dancer, singer and all around entertainer. I believe it was the documentary on PBS that stated she was like no other female singer of the time. At times, she could belt out songs like a man, in Sinatra's style. Over the Rainbow is America's all-time favorite musical song. She was just great, even though she suffered inside.

Why do gay people identify with her? I suppose for her talent and her tragic personal story. I would imagine a lot of people identify with her, gay or straight.

I like her and I am gay. I am sure someone else can chime in to better explain.

[Obamarama]

11. Beats me...I'm gay and I couldn't really tell you....

I think she was more of an icon for previous generations of gay men as opposed to the current generations.

I know she died on the night of the fabled Stonewall Riots in NYC, when a bunch of drag queens in a bar stood up to the police when they tried to arrest them, which makes her icon status even stronger.

While I will readily admit she was a talented woman, I personally really never cared much for her roles, her singing, etc... On the other hand, my straight-as-they-come father LOVED Judy Garland, so I guess that shatters stereotypes.

I never got into the whole Marilyn Monroe and Barbara Streisand worship thing either that gay men are so well known for.

Time to revoke my gay card, I guess.

EDIT: Two of her husbands were gay, so I guess she had a thing for gay men in addition to gay men having a thing about her.

[Bluebear]

13. We'll just form a side coalition.

lol

[Atlas Mugged]

46. I'm with you...

I'm gay and never understood the obsession. And most youger gays barely know, or care, who she was.

[Az]

12. I suspect

It may have something to do with the relative ease that female inpersonators have imitating her. He had very strong features which ease the transformation. Her voice was also in a convieniant range for tenors to adjust to.

Strikingly beautiful, talented, and all within replicable range of the male form. Just a guess is all.

[Misunderestimator]

19. I heard she was bisexual....

:shrug:

[RodneyCK2]

24. I don't think so...

although she did marry a gay man. LOL

[Placebo]

25. Everyone is...

:loveya:

[RodneyCK2]

26. Very true....

HAHAHAHAHA....

[Leilani]

23. She was known to be supportive...

ahead of her time...

she discovered Peter Allen & helped make him a star.

I loved Peter Allen, so talented. & died too young!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. that was Liza..no?

[ronnykmarshall]

33. Judy discovered him

Liza married him.

[Leilani]

34. No, it was Judy.

She discovered him on a trip to Australia, & brought him to the states. I think he did some shows with her...but she pushed his career.

Liza fell in love with him, & they got married.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. thanks you guys...never knew that but loved "I go to Rio"

[Tosca]

30. Because....

Gay men identified with her. Next question.

[no_hypocrisy]

36. I think gays and Judy Garland share a theme of wanting to be themselves

but the world won't let them.

Every time Judy Garland reached for what she believed would make her happy, it was snatched away. Her father was banished from her family by her mother. L.B. Mayer literally took away her lunch in the studio commissary and made her eat only chicken broth in order to control her weight. Mr. Mayer also started her on uppers and downers in order to get 40 (estimated) films a year from her. Her mother wouldn't let her date Artie Shaw because he was too old and married. She sneaked out anyway. Artie turned around and married Judy's friend and rival at MGM, Lana Turner. Judy found out by reading the papers. And this is when she was still not yet 21 years old!

My point: in a world that insists on a standard and a pattern of who it expects you to be, you will be hounded and punished for your defiance to be an individual. But you won't give in. You'll die because of it perhaps, but you haven't traded your soul for a lie.
And that's the reason for the loyalty of the gay community.

[m-jean03]

37. Dan Savage used to play "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"

from time to time on his old radio show. I've always taken the gay community's use of that song at face value. You know, dreaming of that glorious day when there will be no more homophobia, no gay murders and hate crimes, no FMA pushers, and no Rick Santorum?

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high,
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

One day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why, oh why can't I?

Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then, oh why can't I?

[Stargleamer]

39. For a clue, listen to Judy belt out "The Trolley Song"

"buzz, buzz, buzz went the buzzer....from the moment I saw him I fell." and "And it was grand, just to stand, with his hand, holding mine!! 'til the end of the line!!!".

I believe the adoration of Judy stems from an appreciation of camp, a fine sympathy for her and her life, and an identification with her.

Also, btw, Judy, like many lesbians and gays, was a life-long Democrat.

[oxymoron]

40. I think it's because she was amazingly talented.

And we have very good taste.

[nose pin]

41. Because, she's

FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!

[PartyPooper]

42. Well, "The Man That Got Away" did it for me.

:D

[arwalden]

45. Yep... The Studio Version, The Live Version AND The Screen Version

are truly wonderful!! Gives me goosebumps every time... and even NOW as I type this message I get a chill just thinking about it.

-- Allen

[HEyHEY]

43. I'm betting it's the last name

;-)

[bookfreak]

44. Why Judy Garland? Why Barbara Streisand?

I've been wondering about them both for a long time. Being a dyke I understand why *we* enjoy the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge, but why do gay guys get off on these big diva women?

Like "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop", the world may never know...

[trigz]

49. Is she? Well that's a major difference between myself and gays then...

...I simply can't stand her, and I hate musicals worse than hangovers. Strange really.