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Grex > Glb > #14: Friends of Dorothy | |
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| Author |
Message |
mta
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Friends of Dorothy
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Aug 25 23:57 UTC 1997 |
I was recently involved ina discussion of the origins of the codeword
"Friends of Dorothy", and while I had heard it used often I was never
really clear on the subtleties.
The reference was to a Manahatten doyenne by the name of Dorothy who was
an editor for a well known magazine. She was the source of much
information about the social calendar in the homosexual community and
people came to use her name in looking for information about the big
parties happening while they were in town.
Eventually, the code spread beyond New York through the mistaken
assumption that "Dorothy" referred to the Judy Garland character in the
Wizard of Oz. (Garland has long had a following in the gay community.)
Anyone else know any other details? Anyone familiar with its current
interpretation?
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| 16 responses total. |
bruin
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response 1 of 16:
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Aug 26 00:45 UTC 1997 |
I do recall that the Stonewall riots of 1969 came about as the gay
community was honoring the memory of Judy Garland, who died several days
before the aforementioned incidents.
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orinoco
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response 2 of 16:
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Aug 26 01:14 UTC 1997 |
Hmm...I've never heard much (read "at all") of any of this. But I suppose
I'm not as up on culture and history and whatnot as I should be...
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mta
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response 3 of 16:
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Aug 26 02:58 UTC 1997 |
I discovered that Dorothy's last name was Dean so maybe I'll do a web
search for more information about here.
One of my questions is does "Friend of Dorothy" refer only to
homosexuals or also to hangers-on in Gay society? Presumably it once
meant anyone who traveled in those circles in Manhatten, but has it
become more restricted?
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void
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response 4 of 16:
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Aug 26 09:31 UTC 1997 |
it pretty much refers only to gays. a more recent and more inclusive
term is "family," which refers to anyone in the l/g/sometimes bi
community (i have personal reasons for disliking that term, though).
haven't heard "friends of dorothy" in a long, long time.
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mta
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response 5 of 16:
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Aug 29 00:01 UTC 1997 |
Is there an analogous phrase in the lesbian community?
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kristi
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response 6 of 16:
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Aug 29 03:40 UTC 1997 |
what is analogous? i might be able to help...but i'm kinda dumb when it comes
to big words
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void
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response 7 of 16:
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Aug 29 06:52 UTC 1997 |
"analogous" means similar. not one that i'm aware of, mta, but that
doesn't mean there isn't one. it used to be that longterm lesbian
relationships were referred to as "boston marriages," but i haven't
had time yet to track down the etymology of the term.
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mta
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response 8 of 16:
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Sep 2 23:53 UTC 1997 |
Hmm, that's interesting -- Boston Marriage, eh? I love language!
It does so many cool tricks. <grin>
Thanks Void.
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font
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response 9 of 16:
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Feb 10 12:30 UTC 1998 |
*boston* marages? Does this say anything about the city? (even if out of
date?)<just curious>
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orinoco
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response 10 of 16:
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Feb 10 17:46 UTC 1998 |
(Maybe some sort of especially lenient common-law marriage law?)
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void
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response 11 of 16:
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Feb 12 07:44 UTC 1998 |
dunno. since my computer committed suicide, i haven't even been able
to use lynx to do any web-searching, and my time is so crunched that
going to the library is nigh impossible.
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font
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response 12 of 16:
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Feb 12 09:08 UTC 1998 |
<stay tuned folks, this aint over yet>
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keesan
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response 13 of 16:
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Feb 14 01:35 UTC 1998 |
Druid, we have extra computers that you can have cheap, old PCs.
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font
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response 14 of 16:
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Feb 16 09:58 UTC 1998 |
are there enough to share? <grin>
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keesan
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response 15 of 16:
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Feb 17 02:49 UTC 1998 |
There is a glut of old PCs around, all of which can be used for accessing
grex. Our offer was to put together a computer, monitor, keyboard, modem
and communications software for $36, the money to go to grex. If you want
more than the real basics, we can pick it up for you at Kiwanis, you pay.
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void
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response 16 of 16:
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Feb 19 03:53 UTC 1998 |
thanks for the offer, keesan, but i'm working on building my own
computer. besides, i still need to call you about that bike. :)
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