Friend Of Dorothy
In gay slang, a "friend of Dorothy" (occasionally abbreviated FOD) is a term for a gay man. The phrase dates back to at least World War II, when homosexual acts were illegal in the United States. Stating that, or asking if, someone was a "friend of Dorothy" was a euphemism used for discussing sexual orientation without others knowing its meaning. A similar term "friend of Mrs. King" (i.e. Queen) was used in England, mostly in the first half of the 20th century.
Read more about Friend Of Dorothy: Origins, Misunderstanding, Current Usage
Famous quotes containing the words friend of, friend and/or dorothy:
“We are all dead men on leave.”
—Eugene Leviné, Russian Jew, friend of Rosa Luxemburg’s lover, Jogiches. quoted in Men in Dark Times, “Rosa Luxemburg: 1871-1919,” sct. 3, Hannah Arendt (1968)
“When one by one our ties are torn,
And friend from friend is snatched forlorn;
When man is left alone to mourn,
Oh! then how sweet it is to die!”
—Anna Letitia (Aikin)
“Long as there’s lunch counters, you can always find work.”
—Mother and Aunts Of Dorothy Allison, U.S. waitresses. As quoted in Skin, ch. 2, by Dorothy Allison (1994)