Dolly Parton as a gay icon
American singer-songwriter and enduring LGBTQ+ icon.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District · via Wikipedia: Dolly Parton as a gay icon · CC BY-SA 2.0
Dolly Parton, the American singer-songwriter, became a prominent gay icon through decades of advocacy and support for the LGBTQ community. Her influence extended far beyond country music, as she joined HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns, spoke out for LGBTQ+ rights, and embraced drag culture and queer representation in her work. Her music and campy persona resonated with LGBTQ+ artists and audiences, who saw her as a symbol of love and acceptance.
- Field
- Singer-songwriter
- Nationality
- American
- Known for
- Gay icon, LGBTQ+ advocacy, country music
Lore & Background
Parton's warm reception among LGBTQ+ audiences was consistent with her broad appeal, and she said she appreciated being considered a gay icon. She was close with her gay friends and helped loved ones with the process of coming out. From the 1980s, she publicly supported LGBTQ+ people despite the risk of backlash from her largely conservative country music audience amid the AIDS crisis. Her production company co-produced the documentary *Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt* about the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, which won an Academy Award. She contributed to the charity album *Red Hot + Country* and joined the awareness campaign 'Break the Silence'.
Reader's Guide
Parton's significance as a gay icon rests on her consistent advocacy and the queer resonance of her work. She supported marriage equality and voiced support for the trans community after anti-trans measures became law in Tennessee. Her song 'Coat of Many Colors' spoke to LGBTQ+ fans through its story of bullying, shame, and pride, with Parton calling it her philosophy that it is wonderful to be who you are. She used 'Jolene' to connect with LGBTQ+ fans, often singing 'drag queen' instead of 'Jolene' in concert, and the song's focus on another woman's beauty invited homoerotic readings. Her album *Eagle When She Flies* included the lyric 'Some are preachers, some are gay... But not a one is turned away when it's family.' She wrote 'Travelin' Thru' for the film *Transamerica* about a trans woman, earning an Academy Award nomination. Parton described herself as a drag queen and said, 'It's a good thing I was born a woman or I'd a been a drag queen.' She is frequently impersonated by drag performers, including on *RuPaul's Drag Race*, and collaborated with LGBTQ artists. At her death, LGBTQ+ institutions and establishments paid tribute to her, reflecting her legacy in the community and its drag subculture.
More in Places & Venues
Elsewhere in Dolly Parton
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced