Friend of Dorothy
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In gay slang a Friend of Dorothy is a term for a gay man.
The term dates back to a time in the early 20th century when homosexuality was against the law in both the United Kingdom and in the United States. Saying at a social gathering that another man was a "friend of Dorothy" was a way of discussing sexual orientation without other people knowing what you were discussing.
The origin of the term is unknown and there are various theories. Most commonly it has been linked to the film The Wizard of Oz because Judy Garland, who starred as the main character Dorothy, is often noted as a major icon in the gay community. Another theory is that the Dorothy referred to is in fact Dorothy Parker who befriended many gay people. [citation needed]
The English bellringing society The Friends of Dorothy Society of Change Ringers takes its name from this euphemism.
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