By Richard Stauffacher Mon, June 22, 2009, 12:01 am PDT

"Over the Rainbow" (by AZRainman) On June 22, 1969, the world lost a singular performer. The untimely death of Judy Garland sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, but one group in particular reacted deeply to the loss. Gay men had always been an important part of her fanbase and, apocryphal or not, her death is often considered the flashpoint that sparked the Stonewall riots, ushering in an age of gay liberation. Recent years have seen a Judy backlash in the queer community. Many modern gays bristle at the outmoded images of effeminate queens swooning over Garland's campy and tragic melodrama. Today, the anxiety of coming out has been eased by the mainstreaming of gay and lesbian life through music, movies, and such TV shows as "Will and Grace" and "The L Word." Debates over "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and same-sex marriage have propelled LGBT issues out of the closet and into the limelight. Whether pro- or anti-, people are talking openly about homosexuality -- something that couldn't be done in the 1950s and '60s, when many homosexuals personalized the dichotomy of Judy's vulnerable and tragic offstage persona and the dynamic diva in the spotlight. This generation no longer connects to the extravagant emotionality of camp (so integral to the experience of older gays), rendering inert the old icons. We'd venture that most young gay men have a deeper affinity for Britney over Judy, emo over opera, and Abercrombie and Fitch over antiquing. As times change, so does our iconography, but what lies beneath is pretty much the same. We call upon even the most self-actualized Judy-hater to consider her most enduring and widely-loved performance as a lost and lonely kid discovering that acceptance cannot be found from without, but must be discovered within one's self. That's the kind of iconic message that all "friends of Dorothy," young or old, can relate to. Suggested Sites... Judy Garland Museum - official site of the historic birthplace and museum dedicated to Judy Garland. "There's no place like home!" The Judy Garland Database - exhaustive resources including biography, photograph gallery, FAQ, and an index of Garland's film, musical, television, and radio work. Judy Garland - The Live Performances - tribute to Garland's television and concert career, with reviews, Q&A, photographs, and timeline. Stonewall Veterans' Association - celebrating the Stonewall Rebellion of June 1969, when gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenderists, and friends decided to fight back. People With a History - online guide to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans history.

Directory categories: Judy Garland, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT), LGBT Issues and Causes, Stonewall Riots, The Wizard of Oz

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