Commentary – ‘I learned that from Dolly:’ What She Taught Me About Being Unapologetically Gay and Appalachian

Following Dolly Parton's death at 80, an Appalachian writer reflects on her decades of quiet LGBT advocacy, including entering a lookalike contest at a West Hollywood gay bar, early AIDS activism, and an Oscar-nominated song for a 2005 film centered on a transgender character.

The piece credits Parton with modeling how to embrace both a marginalized identity and a regional Appalachian identity without apology, citing a 1977 interview in which she deflected a ‘hillbilly’ label with humor while defending her community's intelligence and pride.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.