A tribute to Judy Garland, born 90 years ago today

We can’t seem to forget Judy Garland – thank God.

Our beloved gay icon was born 90 years ago today in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and left us far too soon just 47 years later.

Whether she was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Esther in A Star is Born, in a movie with Mickey Rooney or singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to Margaret O’Brien in Meet Me in St. Louis, she mesmerized us.

She continued to dazzle in the 60s with her legendary concerts and the glorious one-season run of The Judy Garland Show on CBS.

Miss Garland always had a large base of fans in the gay community and there is a widespread belief that there is connection between her death and funeral on June 27, 1969 and the Stonewall riots, the flashpoint of the modern Gay Liberation movement which started in the early hours of June 28.

In the first video below, Miss Garland is interviewed by Irv Kupcinet in September 1967 and expresses a disdain for attacks that were made against homosexuals, especially her audience.

Then enjoy a few of her classic numbers that live on forever including one with her equally great daughter Liza Minnelli.