friend of Dorothy
Gay, in slang
Friend of Dorothy is a coded way of saying a man is gay.
The phrase originated as discreet slang when homosexuality was dangerous to acknowledge openly, allowing gay men to identify each other or signal their identity to those who understood: Is he a friend of Dorothy?
The expression alludes to Dorothy from *The Wizard of Oz*, a cultural touchstone for gay men.
Now largely historical, it survives as a nostalgic or playful reference.
Satisfaction from one's achievements
- solidarityUnity among allies
- kinshipState of being related
- belongingState of fitting in
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
safe space · found family · chosen family · ballroom · drag · camp · subculture · Stonewall
Kansas girl's odyssey
- gay iconFigure revered by LGBTQ community
- 1930sFourth decade, twentieth century
- WWII1939-45 global conflict
- gay liberationMovement for LGBTQ rights
Judy Garland · archive · oral history · legacy · nostalgia · generational · vintage
Attracted to same sex
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
- queerUnusual or non-normative
- homosexualAttracted to same gender
- closetedKeeping part of oneself secret
rainbow · lavender · discreet · hidden · signal · recognition · safe · underground
pride
Satisfaction from one's achievements
- solidarityUnity among allies
- kinshipState of being related
- belongingState of fitting in
fellowship · safe space · found family · chosen family · ballroom · drag · camp · subculture · Stonewall · gay bar
Wizard of Oz
Kansas girl's odyssey
- gay iconFigure revered by LGBTQ community
- 1930sFourth decade, twentieth century
- WWII1939-45 global conflict
Judy Garland · gay liberation · archive · oral history · legacy · nostalgia · generational · vintage
gay
Attracted to same sex
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
- queerUnusual or non-normative
- homosexualAttracted to same gender
closeted · rainbow · lavender · discreet · hidden · signal · recognition · safe · underground · wartime
friend of Dorothystraight
Not curved or crooked
heterosexual · breeder · hetero · het · straight arrow
friend of Dorothycloseted
Keeping part of oneself secret
in the closet · out · out and proud · straight-laced · square
friend of Dorothyhomophobe
One prejudiced against gays
gay basher · anti-gay · bigot · square
friend, friends, friendly, friendliness, friendship, friendless, unfriendly, befriend, befriended