Gay Icons Explained: Judy Garland - Forty-Something Gay, ep60

Episode 60 Gay Icons: Judy Garland (The First In A Series) Recently I had some younger gays write to me asking about the genergaytion gap that exists between younger and older gay men. I think one of the things new gays dont understand is how the gay icons can be clichés and still relevant today. In this series, watch my take on the gay icons. First up of course is Judy Garland! Read and watch more Scott at http://www.somelikeitscott.com

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People & Blogs

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• gay
• homosexual
• judy
• garland
• movie
• musical
• mgm
• roger
• edens
• stars
• icons

[phlashba]

Thanks for the great effort to educate our younger brothers and sisters!

Check out this great piece from The Atlantic which also addresses this subject:

"The Queen is Dead" from August 2000 (can't get link to post)

[somelikeitscott]

@phlashba Thanks - will definitely look this one up!

[Garlandfan94]

What I'd like to know is Judys opinion on homosexuals...obviously back then that wasn't something accepted as much, and being she's mine and I'm sure a lot of peoples icons, I'd love to know...anyone know?

[somelikeitscott]

From all reports, she was indeed very accepting of gay men. Her father was implicated in some homosexual behavior, the man who took her under his wing at MGM Roger Edens and really developed the Garland sound was gay and she brought Peter Allen (also gay) to the states who eventually married his daughter. If you ask me, I think she was just fine being surrounded by gay men.

[sennichi98]

MGM didn't name her...she chose it herself before the MGM years.

[somelikeitscott]

I sit corrected - from Wikipedia...In 1934, the sisters, who by then had been touring the vaudeville circuit as "The Gumm Sisters" for many years, performed in Chicago at the Oriental Theater with George Jessel. He encouraged the group to choose a more appealing name after the name "Gumm" was met with laughter from the audience. "The Garland Sisters" was chosen, and Frances changed her name to "Judy" soon after, inspired by a popular Hoagy Carmichael song.

[wes1889]

the gay flag is a rainbow because of judy garlands somewhere over the rainbow...making it through the end...also she used to sing at gay nightclubs...and she died just a few days before the stonnewall riots...i think that plays more to the reason she is a gay icon...i mean her amazing voice is there and her hard life...and struggles yes but, there is more to it....

[Nerdicaful]

Judy Garland was always so gorgeous to me. It's hard to believe she was a ragamuffin at the beginning of her career. I wonder what she looked like before Hollywood got a hold of her.

[carlosthomasfernande]

generGAYtion gap LMAO

i'm surprised you didn't mention that Judy had died the week of the Stonewall raids which provoked the Stonewall Riots which sparked the Gay Rights movement and is commemorated each year in Pride parades every June. What grief and rade the gays must've been suppressed under at that time. Judy is dead - and here they were getting kicked out of their bar... they fought back... for judy.

oooh and this is coming from a 29 year old gay -- shady

[carlosthomasfernande]

generGAYtion gap LMAO

[puffpuffy]

Liza sang that verse in Cabaret before Judy died because she use to sing it at her concerts way b4 the movie

[ginger1961]

NIce analysis of the icon status. I enjoyed your presentation.

[saadaya]

it's kind of hard to rationalize away the fact that MANY (not all) gay men idolize bitchy females! lol why else would mommie dearest be a gay classic? have you seen the mommie dearest slap redux video? that's one of the gayest videos on youtube!

[AntinousIsGod1]

I adore Judy Garland. She is my second favourite idol in the world! Judy really captures your attention immediately and has so much power in her voice. She projects emotion so well. She also really speaks to me in her movies. I love her. We can all identify with the feelings of losing guys we love and longing for "The Boy Next Door".

And of course "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" is my all time favourite song. I love The Wizard Of Oz.

Please make a video about Marilyn Monroe as a gay icon!

[Eddy1963]

I think Judy Garland evokes emotions in people (her singing, acting, personal life) and in general gay people have to deal with emotions (in so many facets) on a deeper level than the average guy. It's that sort of reckoning that comes with someone that you are just sure can understand and know where you're coming from. It's the same reason that her performance of Dorothy is so identified with by children. They can relate with this scared and lost child who just wants to go home