That's a cool bit of gay historical trivia! I first heard the term in 1990 from my new partner in New York City, where I first came out of the closet for real.

Lenny was 20 years older than me and for him (like for many gay men of his generation) The Wizard of Oz was gay allegory, and Judy Garland was a goddess who had ascended to heaven.

"Friend of Dorothy" was important code for identifying friends in a hostile climate. It was also an acknowledgement of a certain gay culture that thrived in the shadows of official oppression — a culture of bath houses where divas entertained, of piano bars, cabarets, and of parties where gay men met obstensively to indulge a passion for cinematic art, but really for each other.

"Friend of Dorothy" was code, a key to a demi monde that has faded over time as coming out has become less fraught.

Today, many out gay men don't recognize the saying. But it's a rich and important reminder of our history. Thanks for your story about it!