ms_mom_1965 Posted April 11, 2006 #1 Share Posted April 11, 2006 This must be a really stupid question, since it seems everybody knows but me, but who is Bill W? I've seen "Friends of Bill W" several times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
selucrey Posted April 11, 2006 #2 Share Posted April 11, 2006 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Wilson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big_duck Posted April 11, 2006 #3 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Another name for AA meetings. Bill W was the founder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoinCruisin Posted April 11, 2006 #4 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Founder of Alcoholics Anon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMedik Posted April 11, 2006 #5 Share Posted April 11, 2006 This must be a really stupid question, since it seems everybody knows but me, but who is Bill W? I've seen "Friends of Bill W" several times. ms_mom_1965, I didn't know either. :o What's worse is that I thought they just typed the wrong name and meant friends of Bob....as in Carnival's executive...:p BTW, 1965 was a good year! Maybe it's just us? :confused: :eek: :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenjens1023 Posted April 11, 2006 #6 Share Posted April 11, 2006 I knew about Bill, but who is Dorothy? She had meetings of friends on the cruise I just took, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoinCruisin Posted April 11, 2006 #7 Share Posted April 11, 2006 I knew about Bill, but who is Dorothy? She had meetings of friends on the cruise I just took, Gay/Lesbian cruisers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ESMBDS Posted April 11, 2006 #8 Share Posted April 11, 2006 For years I thought "Bill W" happened to be another passenger on all of my cruises until I figured it out! How naive!! Stacey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlethepearl Posted April 11, 2006 #9 Share Posted April 11, 2006 I used to think some weirdo was taking all the same cruises as me.... After about the 3rd one I got wise....Andy Wise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L2J Posted April 11, 2006 #10 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Gay/Lesbian cruisers... Yes, but "who" was/is Dorothy? I can see it now....all the FODs are also friendly with Bill and will be conducting sunrise services on the lido.:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoinCruisin Posted April 11, 2006 #11 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Yes, but "who" was/is Dorothy? I can see it now....all the FODs are also friendly with Bill and will be conducting sunrise services on the lido.:eek: Dorothy, as in the Wizard of Oz, as in Judy Garland... who was very popular with gay audiences... I believe that is also how the rainbow came about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L2J Posted April 11, 2006 #12 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Dorothy, as in the Wizard of Oz, as in Judy Garland... who was very popular with gay audiences... I believe that is also how the rainbow came about? Well you learn something new everyday :p I don't know if I've ever seen that movie or not.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPete Posted April 11, 2006 #13 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Isn't that the movie that doesn't have even one strong male Character? :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2funcruzin Posted April 11, 2006 #14 Share Posted April 11, 2006 I used to think some weirdo was taking all the same cruises as me.... After about the 3rd one I got wise....Andy Wise You must live in the Memphis, TN area to say that! lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlethepearl Posted April 11, 2006 #15 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Cordova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capsu78 Posted April 11, 2006 #16 Share Posted April 11, 2006 Hold it... Is that where the rainbow comes from? I did learn something today! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittybork Posted April 12, 2006 #17 Share Posted April 12, 2006 Isn't that the movie that doesn't have even one strong male Character? :eek: The scarecrow was the strong male character. It just took him a while to find out how strong he was. What was used first, Dorothy or the rainbow? How did that association come about? I don't see the connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoinCruisin Posted April 12, 2006 #18 Share Posted April 12, 2006 The scarecrow was the strong male character. It just took him a while to find out how strong he was. What was used first, Dorothy or the rainbow? How did that association come about? I don't see the connection. Dorothy was first. The connection, as stated above, is that Judy Garland was an icon to the gay community back in the day (and still is)... AA was founded the same year that the Wiz of Oz came out, at that time, it was shameful to be either an alcoholic or gay, friends of Bill W seemed an appropriate way to refer to those with problems with alcohol, many speculate there was a correlation between the two... Not exactly sure how it came about... Now, the rainbow didn't come about until I believe the 70's, and that was because of a flag... soon, it became a symbol that people could put in their windows, yards, bumper stickers, etc, to show gay pride. Now, if it has something to do with Dorothy, I don't know... I did a good deal of research in college for a paper on discrimination... and I have several gay friends, so this is my basis... I really have no concrete evidence, so don't ask me to back it up! LOL!! Oh, btw... Dorothy seemed to be the strongest male character in the movie :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittybork Posted April 12, 2006 #19 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I understand the connection between Dorothy and the rainbow: the song: "Somewhere over the rainbow." What I don't get is the connection between gays and Dorothy (Judy Garland). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoinCruisin Posted April 12, 2006 #20 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I understand the connection between Dorothy and the rainbow: the song: "Somewhere over the rainbow." What I don't get is the connection between gays and Dorothy (Judy Garland). Can't explain it... seems to have always been like that. Mainly gay men, seem to love Judy... She was/is a huge icon in the gay community (again, it seems to be mainly men... which I believe FOD was originally used for men only) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittybork Posted April 12, 2006 #21 Share Posted April 12, 2006 I found this, but I don't know how accurate it is Judy Garland was hugely popular among gays during her lifetime. Her concerts were major gay meeting places, and in her later years, she made money singing at gay piano bars. Garland's father was gay, as were her studio-executive mentor and two of her five husbands. She had many gay friends and went to parties where she joked that she was the only woman present. But her appeal was based on more than her own acceptance of gays. As Dorothy, Judy Garland portrayed a misunderstood kid from a small town who has an amazing adventure in a Technicolor world. The central message of The Wizard of Oz is that you will find what you're looking for inside yourself. That message resonated with gays of the era who yearned to come out into a colorful world and live what was inside of them. http://ask.yahoo.com/20030909.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TinAngel Posted April 12, 2006 #22 Share Posted April 12, 2006 The issue is simple yet complex. Depends on how old one is, Ms. Judy Garland was an actress and singer in the 1940's to 60's. Many of her duets were with gay men. But she was also a pinup gal for GI's in WWII and Korea. The girl you wanted so much to help you to live through those difficult years. That "Rainbow" stuff has crossed long ago into "civil rights" areas. Guess we are all really "friends of Dorthy" - people. She did not live long enough to really know how important of a "Star" she was. Tragic. She like, Mickey Rooney did so much during WWII. Great Americans ask your Grandparents if you still can or your folks. For sure she is a icon to gays, women, many veterans and the gals they left behind. (hundreds of thousands of women lost their loves) Sort of a "Saving Private Ryan" tribute from me. As I always tell people: if you shouldered a rifle in the military no person has the right to question your service to our country. Judy served well this country. Good she is beloved by many; very good indeed. She stands for "Freedom". Freedom is what "Friends of Dorthy" is about just one olde soldiers view... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snakedoctor Posted January 30, 2009 #23 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Never like Judy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie48 Posted January 30, 2009 #24 Share Posted January 30, 2009 This must be a really stupid question, since it seems everybody knows but me, but who is Bill W? I've seen "Friends of Bill W" several times. Bill W is just another quitter :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuyahoga11 Posted January 30, 2009 #25 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Bill W is just another quitter :rolleyes: Very tacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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