Friend Of Dorothy

[+ Avalon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_of_Dorothy

 

In another thread the expression "Friend of Dorothy" was mentioned. Here is info on that expression.

[+ Tarte Gogo]

[Rudynate]

Please don't tell me you havent heard that expression. Now it's just quaint, but it used to be code for saying someone was gay in mixed company.

[bnm73]

Please don't tell me you havent heard that expression. Now it's just quaint, but it used to be code for saying someone was gay in mixed company.

There are a significant number people who don't know what "Stonewall" is, much less phrases like "fruit fly," "chicken hawk," or "passion fruit." Gayness is so much more in the open that they don't necessarily learn about the history and culture.

Edited August 18, 2018 by bnm73

[Rudynate]

There are a significant number of younger kids who don't know what "Stonewall" is, much less phrases like "fruit fly," "chicken hawk," or "passion fruit." Gayness is so much more in the open that they don't necessarily learn about the history and culture.

 

I'm sure that's true. And it's evidence of how far we've come that younger gays have never heard these words and expressions that are nothing less than a language of oppression. I know SF is singular, but here, sexual orientation doesn't even need to be talked about-it's just a minor detail of who a man is.

 

The OP, though, is a man of a certain age, and it's surprising that he didn't know the expression

[+ Gar1eth]

There are a significant number people who don't know what "Stonewall" is, much less phrases like "fruit fly," "chicken hawk," or "passion fruit." Gayness is so much more in the open that they don't necessarily learn about the history and culture.

 

I don't know 'fruit fly'. It sounds derogatory to me like something a straight person would use disparagingly. I don't know 'passion fruit' either. It puts me in mind of what you might call a lesbian.

 

Gman

[bnm73]

I don't know 'fruit fly'. It sounds derogatory to me like something a straight person would use disparagingly. I don't know 'passion fruit' either. It puts me in mind of what you might call a lesbian.

 

Gman

A "fruit fly" is similar to a "fag hag"....she hangs around "fruits" (usually hairdressers/aetheticians, in the contexts I've heard).

 

A "passion fruit" is a hyper-masculine, "str8-acting" gay person.

[+ Gar1eth]

There are a significant number people who don't know what "Stonewall" is, much less phrases like "fruit fly," "chicken hawk," or "passion fruit." Gayness is so much more in the open that they don't necessarily learn about the history and culture.

 

I don't know 'fruit fly'. It sounds derogatory to me like something a straight person would use disparagingly. I don't know 'passion fruit' either. It puts me in mind of what you might call a lesbian.

 

Gman

 

A "fruit fly" is similar to a "fag hag"....she hangs around "fruits" (usually hairdressers/aetheticians, in the contexts I've heard).

 

A "passion fruit" is a hyper-masculine, "str8-acting" gay person.

 

And here I've been a passion fruit all my life but never known it.

 

Gman

[+ WilliamM]

I'm sure that's true. And it's evidence of how far we've come that younger gays have never heard these words and expressions that are nothing less than a language of oppression. I know SF is singular, but here, sexual orientation doesn't even need to be talked about-it's just a minor detail of who a man is.

 

The OP, though, is a man of a certain age, and it's surprising that he didn't know the expression

 

I agree. But, @Avalon uses Wikipeda frequently (too often) so he may have known the meaning of a friend of Dorothey.

[+ Avalon]

When some hear "Dorothy" today they might think of "The Golden Girls".

[+ Avalon]

I agree. But, @Avalon uses Wikipeda frequently (too often) so he may have known the meaning of a friend of Dorothey.

 

Wikipedia is my friend!

[+ Gar1eth]

When some hear "Dorothy" today they might think of "The Golden Girls".

 

Luckily in this case the changing of Dorothys from Gale of Kansas to Zbornak (née Petrillo) of Miami (and formerly of NYC) doesn't change the meaning of the phrase at all.

 

Gman

[+ FrankR]

When some hear "Dorothy" today they might think of "The Golden Girls".

Indeed - that is exactly what I did!!! Season 2 Episode 5... Very memorable. Especially Blanche's reaction, for all the wrong reasons! Love it!

[+ Avalon]

Indeed - that is exactly what I did!!! Season 2 Episode 5... Very memorable. Especially Blanche's reaction, for all the wrong reasons! Love it!

 

Thank-you for the recommendation. The lesbian episode. I'm watching it now on YouTube.

[Rudynate]

When some hear "Dorothy" today they might think of "The Golden Girls".

 

I always assumed it was in reference to Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.

[MikeBiDude]

When some hear "Dorothy" today they might think of "The Golden Girls".

Mmmmm, probably not as many as you think. Now if you said “Maude”!

[JayCeeKy]

I saw an article in The Advocate ( https://www.advocate.com/ ) titled "15 Old-Timey Names for 'Gay.' Some of these epithets I never heard of:

 

1. Mary

2. Friend of Dorothy

3. Light in the Loafers

4. Bent

5. Poof

6. Flit

7. Bugger

8. Fairy

9. Pansy

10. Fruit/Fruitcake

11. Uranian

12. Nancy boy

13. Pillow biter

14. Shirt lifter

15. Invert

[+ Avalon]

Mmmmm, probably not as many as you think. Now if you said “Maude”!

 

Big fan of "Maude". My favorite scene was when her husband Walter was feeling down so she invited an old friend to come and visit. They hadn't see each other in a long time. When they hugged the friend said "I'm so happy that I could die" and then dropped dead.