How Bette Midler Became a Gay Icon

How did this woman, known for her flamboyant persona and soulful music, become a symbol of resistance, resilience, and liberation? And what unique blend of charisma, courage, and compassion allows her to be the cherished gay icon she is today?

We’re going to answer these questions through the lens of academic theorists who study gay culture.

Bring on the Camp, and Watch the Rebellion Unfold!

You know, there's just something about Bette Midler. She can make you laugh, she can make you cry, and boy, does she know how to put on a show! But what's that special Midler magic that has won over the hearts of the LGBTQ+ community? Enter stage left: Susan Sontag's 'Camp' aesthetics theory. Imagine the lovechild of excess and drama, all wrapped up in sequins and feather boas, and you've got a good sense of what 'Camp' is all about.

Our diva, Midler, is like the dictionary definition of 'Camp.' I mean, the woman is a walking firework display! In a world that can be grey and stifling, she's a technicolor explosion that makes you sit up and take notice. Or, as she put it in an interview with The Guardian: "I have always tried to target the outsider. Because I was an outsider."

When Glam Meets Grit: The Midler Moxie

Got a minute? Let's chew over Judith Butler's divine femininity and androgyny theory. It says we all perform gender – it's not something we just have. So, when Midler takes the stage, with her larger-than-life femininity and heady mix of power and androgyny, it's like she's painting a masterpiece with gender norms as her canvas. A masterpiece that leaves the LGBTQ+ community saying, "Sign us up for the next art class!"

Midler: The Unsinkable Diva

But what's a diva without a little drama? Enter Diana Fuss's Identification and Resilience theory. It tells us that we humans love a good 'overcoming adversity' story. Well, Midler's got that story in spades. She's a tough cookie who's stared down the trials of her career and said, "Is that all you got?"

In a tell-all with Rolling Stone back in '85, she laid it all bare: "I went for years with no recognition, no salary, no home, lived on doughnuts." Now if that doesn't get you cheering for Team Midler, nothing will. This woman's resilience in the face of adversity is the stuff of legends, and it's a tale that rings loud and clear in the hearts of the LGBTQ+ community. Because, let's face it, they know a thing or two about overcoming.

That's So Midler: A Journey to Liberation

Ready for a deep dive into Adrienne Rich's Liberation Theory? Trust me, you're going to love it. It's all about this concept of a "lesbian continuum" - which is just a fancy way of saying that women's relationships can be a whole lot more fluid than traditional norms would have you believe.

Guess who's living proof of this theory? Yep, it's Bette Midler! She's been breaking free from heteronormative shackles in a way that makes Houdini look like an amateur. A dash of femininity here, a dose of masculinity there, and always a big, warm hug for the LGBTQ+ community. In a New York Times interview, she put it best: "I have my gay men to thank... they lifted me up and carried me, physically and metaphorically."

Midler, the LGBTQ+ Mirror

Ever looked in a mirror and thought, "I wish I could be as confident as my reflection"? That's Lacan's Mirror Image Theory for you. Basically, we see parts of ourselves in others, leading to identification and sometimes even full-blown idolization.

As a fierce defender of gay rights and a relentless critic of discrimination, Midler is the mirror that the gay community likes to look into. Her refusal to be boxed in, her hustle against societal norms, and her determination to carve her own path reflect the struggles and aspirations of many LGBTQ+ individuals.

Midler: The Iconic "Other"

When Simone de Beauvoir talked about women as the "Other", I'm pretty sure she was thinking about someone like Midler. As a woman, a performer, and a vocal champion of gay rights, Midler is basically an "Other" superhero.

But here's the thing: Midler doesn't just exist outside the heteronormative structure - she dances on its outskirts, singing at the top of her lungs. In a 2014 Advocate interview, she said, "We’re all outsiders in a way. We’re all alone and can become very lonely."

The Boundary-Pushing Midler

Hold onto your hats, folks, because we're diving into the world of Jack Halberstam's Transgressive Theory. It's all about taking the rules of society, crumpling them up, and shooting them into a metaphorical trash bin.

You know who loves doing just that? Bette Midler. Whether it's her cutting-edge performances or her fearless lifestyle, she's always there, strutting over societal norms like a catwalk model. She once told Vanity Fair, "I never knew what I wanted to do, but I knew the kind of woman I wanted to be—a woman who ran her own life and didn't take any nonsense". And that, folks, is how you do transgression with style.

Queer Icon: From Bathhouse Betty to Worldwide Fame

Now, let's take a trip down the memory lane of Queer Iconography Theory and find out how our very own Bette Midler rose to gay icon status. Spoiler: It started in a place called the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse in New York City. Yep, you read that right. Bathhouse Betty wasn't just born overnight!

In the '70s, amidst steam and chatter, Midler charmed an audience of gay men with her fierce talent and unabashed style. It was in this unlikely venue that she formed a bond with the LGBTQ+ community—a bond built on acceptance, adoration, and freedom.

And the love story didn't stop there. Over the years, Midler has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, using her star power to spotlight the community's causes. As she told The Advocate, "We're a family. Some of us are more flamboyant than others, but that doesn't make us any less a family." And that, dear readers, is how you become a gay icon.

Gay Icons of the 1930s and 1940s

Gay Icons of the 1950s and 1960s

Liza Minnelli

Marilyn Monroe

Gay Icons of the 1970s and 1980s

Diana Ross

Dolly Parton

Cher