Judy Garland is known for many things.... her voice, her classic beauty, her unshakable place in the entertainment industry for years to come... and an icon for lesbians and gays?
While many people may not be familiar with this side of Judy, many gay men saw her as one of the most iconic gay figures in the public eye in the mid-20th century. Garland herself was not gay; however, according to about.com, a "gay" magazine, The Advocate, called Garland the "Elvis of homosexuals". While there is much speculation as to why she was such an important figure for this group of men, through most of my research I have found the most common reason to be that she was forced to always portray an air of strength- please keep in mind this woman was in the limelight from the age of TWO! Homosexual men were no where near as accepted back then as they are today- they too had to put on an air of strength, even when judged harshly by the media, and the rest of society.
I think that these homosexual men associated with her struggles, and through this "bond" she became an icon for them.
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