A Deep Dive into the Queerness of “The Golden Girls”

The hit sitcom from the 1980s embraced and emphasized the fundamental humanity of queer people.

These days, it’s common knowledge that the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls was way ahead of its time in terms of its politics. It tackled some of the thorniest issues of the Reagan/Bush era, from nuclear proliferation to artificial insemination, from poverty to elder care, from homelessness to interracial marriage.

And, of course, there’s the show’s frequent engagement with queerness.

Queerness was a part of the show from the very first episode, in the form of the short-lived gay cook Coco. Though he only appeared in one episode, he remains a fan favourite and a tantalizing hint of the directions the show might have taken had he remained a part of the cast.

The first real engagement with queerness, however, comes when Dorothy’s old college friend Jean comes to town for a visit. Jean has recently been widowed by the death of her partner, Pat, and things take a turn when Jean starts to fall in love with none other than simple, naive, child-like Rose. In a moment of vulnerability, Jean confesses her feelings to Rose, and while things get a bit tense for a few minutes, they ultimately agree to be friends.