Judy garland gay icon

American actress and singer Judy Garland (–) is widely considered as a gay icon. The Advocate has called Garland "The Elvis of homosexuals". [1].

To many gay men, Garland is the mother of all icons. But why? While Garland was still alive, critics made ham-fisted attempts to answer this question. A review of her Palace Theatre. Judy Garland was an entertainer of the highest order, a deeply troubled movie star, and, even during her lifetime, a gay icon. That last one might seem like a head-scratcher a century after her. American actress and songstress Judy Garland is a gay icon.

She rose to iconic status in the s. At that time, many gay individuals admired her talent as a performer, and her value as a camp figure. [1] She was often parodied in drag revues. Garland's role as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz may be the foundation stone of her iconic status. To mark what would have been Judy Garland's th birthday, we take a look back at the sparkling career of a gay icon.

I guess the stage was my only friend: the only place where I could feel comfortable. It was the only place where I felt equal and safe. The rise of the diva is steeped in history, and their nuanced relationship with their queer fans has been around for just as long. Of course, each diva has their own fanbase and I simply cannot cover all of them, so I will be taking a closer look at just one of my all-time favourites, Judy Garland.

Judy Garland had gone through multiple divorces as well as a mental health issues and suicide attempts in the public eye. Her struggles were juxtaposed by her tenacity and her ability to not only survive, but to flourish on the stage. This unapologetic determination to continue surviving resonated with her queer audience, as well as other marginalised groups.

It is almost impossible to articulate her sound, and there is nothing quite like it, especially in this album. Judy at Carnegie Hall is a recording of her performance at the renowned venue, where the year-old sang the roof off in front of her loyal fans, including Marilyn Monroe. The album was released a couple of months later, winning 5 Grammy awards. It is like a time capsule that takes you right to that night in — you can listen to her voice explode on stage in her dramatic numbers, whilst listening to her gentle and kind voice in between songs when she talks to the audience.

It is truly astonishing.

judy garland as dorothy

At face value, it seems arbitrary that the Over the Rainbow singer would have been such an influence in the queer world, but upon investigation, it is no surprise. I sing to people! There are also debates over how much her death played into one of the most influential social movements in history — Stonewall. Her untimely death occurred on the 22nd of June due to an accidental overdose on medication she had been taking since she was young, just six days before the start of the Stonewall riots.

Judy Garland as a gay icon. The Bristorian.