She was created by a gay man.
Her singing was gently cultivated by gay men. (And later, Kay Thompson)
She married gay men.
She spawned daughters who married gay men.
She became a gay icon.
Her daughter, Liza, became a gay icon.
Some have allowed themselves to avoid her because of the gayness that seemed to shadow her and those chumps missed out on a whole hell of a lot.
Those who love Judy Garland can sometimes become overwhelmed by the tremendous sadness that seemed to find her. Those who love her can sometime become angry that too many self-serving people plundered and looted her and then deny... deny... deny that it ever happened. And many cringe at the thought that a frustrated, overly ambitious mother handed over her youngest to a studio willing to starve her, strap down her burgeoning womanhood, and drug her to get a little more out of her, while many of their other 'stars' possess less talent than a length of a baby's fingernail. But that isn't the beginning, middle or end to who Judy Garland was and what she meant and continue to mean to people.
She was beautiful and infinitely talented, with charm, vulnerability, inner strength and fire. If you haven't seen a Judy Garland movie or heard a Judy Garland recording, or watched a Judy Garland special, show or concert footage, please do. She was incredible.
Here's a clip from a show I saw on PBS a few years ago; mercifully, 'chunkylumps' from YouTube uploaded it. This was part of a show she did with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. PBS really should reair this special during its pledge drives because it was really that good.
She would've been 87 years old.
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