Judy Garland who plays Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz is seen as a Uber gay icon, hence the reference is used to refer to gay social scene.
by Revanchie October 8, 2022
Homosexual; a gay or queer man.
Gay historians say that the term came into popular use in the 1950's as gays and lesbians developed a special connection with Judy Garland, whose ballads of hope and despair and whose relentless spirit, and tragic history, mirrored their struggles in everyday life. She wasn't the first diva or drama queen, but certainly the one who resonated the most to a generation of gays and lesbians. Garland's most famous role -- as the ever-optimistic and wistful Dorothy in the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" -- gave gays and lesbians a "secret" code word which they could use to refer to themselves. At cocktail parties or company gatherings where one could not be comfortably "out and proud," gays would inquire discreetly of each other, "Are you a 'Friend of Dorothy?'" The wink-wink admission of "I am, too!" would likely lead to fabulous and fast bonding in an age when gay bars were clandestine, and in some cases dangerous.
Today, the term is used mostly by Baby Boomers and an older generation of gays and lesbians; the gay members of MTV kids and Generations X and Y would probably not recognize the meaning of "FOD" unless they learned it from some older friends!
Gay historians say that the term came into popular use in the 1950's as gays and lesbians developed a special connection with Judy Garland, whose ballads of hope and despair and whose relentless spirit, and tragic history, mirrored their struggles in everyday life. She wasn't the first diva or drama queen, but certainly the one who resonated the most to a generation of gays and lesbians. Garland's most famous role -- as the ever-optimistic and wistful Dorothy in the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz" -- gave gays and lesbians a "secret" code word which they could use to refer to themselves. At cocktail parties or company gatherings where one could not be comfortably "out and proud," gays would inquire discreetly of each other, "Are you a 'Friend of Dorothy?'" The wink-wink admission of "I am, too!" would likely lead to fabulous and fast bonding in an age when gay bars were clandestine, and in some cases dangerous.
Today, the term is used mostly by Baby Boomers and an older generation of gays and lesbians; the gay members of MTV kids and Generations X and Y would probably not recognize the meaning of "FOD" unless they learned it from some older friends!
by SteveinNY May 26, 2008
From "Wizard of Oz", the lion declared "We're friends of Dorothy, using what can only be described as a 'camp' or typically effeminate voice.
by Dennis November 27, 2003
Murray: Your man Christian is a cake boy.
Cher, Dionne: What?
Murray: He's a disco dancin', Oscar Wilde readin', Streisand ticket holdin' friend of Dorothy, know what I'm sayin'?
Cher, Dionne: What?
Murray: He's a disco dancin', Oscar Wilde readin', Streisand ticket holdin' friend of Dorothy, know what I'm sayin'?
by that black chick u all love July 14, 2005
A code to identify someone or oneself that is gay.
The friends of dorothy from the movie "the wizard of oz"are commonly considered within the gay community as gay.
The friends of dorothy from the movie "the wizard of oz"are commonly considered within the gay community as gay.
by Another Gay Guy September 6, 2009
"i heard that gary was friends with dorothy."
by Carah Sollins August 8, 2006
by Ian Chode April 3, 2003