The term 'Friend of Dorothy' was an underground way for queer people to identify themselves when it was still illegal to be openly gay. Indeed, Judy Garland's influence and affect on her queer built into the language of LGBT people, and has been present years after her untimely death in 1969. Related: Judy Director Responds To Liza Minnelli’s Concerns Over The Biopic
Judy's legacy is still upheld by her LGBTQ+ fans, who have continued to pass down the traditions to future generations. Zellweger gives the credit to director Rupert Goold for making that sequence pack such an emotional punch. Renee Zellweger clearly knows the history behind her character all too well, and understood the importance of those new characters in Judy's story. And it's surprisingly not a scene about the struggles in her life, but that of the queer community in the 1960's.
And while Judy is largely focused on its subject, the character's dinner with these fictitious characters presents one of the films most heartbreaking scenes. Judy acknowledged her gay fans when so few would, with Stan and Dan explaining Britain's former anti-gay laws. Aside from being fans of Judy Garland's talents, the couple represents how much the late singer meant to her LGBTQ+ fans.
