The Golden Girls turn 30: Their top 5 gayest moments
The Golden Girls. (NBC)
Thirty years ago today, The Golden Girls premièred on television.
The series – starring Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan as four women sharing a Miami home, still retains cult status – winning a legion of gay fans during and after its years of broadcast.
The Golden Girls are still beloved by people of all ages
Betty White, who played lovable ditz Rose Nylund, said she still gets fan mail from viewers in their 20s.
This may be due to their lack of fear to tackle a host of controversial subjects, such the AIDs crisis, marriage equality and LGBT rights.
To celebrate the legendary show, PinkNews counts down The Golden Girls top 5 gayest moments…
5. This RuPaul Homage
Although this isn’t technically an official Golden Girls moment, its as good as.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the show, some RuPaul favourites will be paying homage to the Girls by hosting a marathon of classic episodes – and by dressing up as them!
4. Estelle Getty’s refusal to discriminate
The actress said in an interview that she was choosy about what her character would say.
“I have a thing about gratuitous pain,” she said.
“Why would you make fun of somebody who’s fat or who’s cross-eyed or who’s bald? And I won’t do gay-bashing jokes.”
3. Bea Arthur’s charitable work
Bea Arthur left $300,000 to a shelter for gay homeless teenagers in her will.
The actress – who died in 2009 – was a long-term benefactor to the Ali Forney Centre, which is a New York-based homeless LGBT charity.
The charity recently named a youth centre in honour of the actress’s generosity.
2. Betty White supports gay rights
In 2010, the 93-year-old (and only surviving Golden Girl) said people should learn to mind their own business.
“I don’t care who anybody sleeps with. If a couple has been together all that time – and there are gay relationships that are more solid than some heterosexual ones – I think it’s fine if they want to get married.
“I don’t know how people can get so anti-something. Mind your own business, take care of your affairs, and don’t worry about other people so much.”
1. This classic clip on marriage equality
Need we say more?
