Friends of Dorothy

[Paul Mackin]

On Fri, 3 Mar 2000, jbor wrote:

> I wonder when the phrase "friends of Dorothy" was appropriated by queer
> culture? 

I'm pretty sure it's accurate to say the cult of Dorothy was fairly
widespread atleast from the mid-fifties. It was never coterminous with 
the still pre-efflorescent gay culture but for many it was a precursor to
being openly gay--an easier and safer public identity.

I had Dorothy-ite friends in the fifties whom I didn't know were
Gay until the sixties. In fact some of them didn't know themselves.

I'm not saying my limited recollections should be given too much
generality but I recall them for what they're worth.

		p.