Comment: How Dolly鈥檚 Coat of Many Colors became an LGBTQ+ anthem Published on: 29 September 2021 Writing for The Conversation, James Barker discusses how the title track from Dolly Parton's album of 50 years ago still resonates with many LGBTQ+ fans. , Dolly Parton has many LGBTQ+ fans and has long been considered an enduring queer icon. Parton has on multiple occasions in support of LGBTQ+ rights and has also been vocal in . She has also called out Christians for , saying: 鈥淚f you鈥檙e gay, you鈥檙e gay. If you鈥檙e straight, you鈥檙e straight. And you should be allowed to be how you are and who you are.鈥� Parton鈥檚 outspoken can first be seen way back in 1991 on the album Eagle When She Flies, which features the song , with its lyrics: 鈥淪ome are preachers, some are gay, some are addicts, drunks and strays. But not a one is turned away when it鈥檚 family.鈥� But it is the title track on her Coat of Many Colors album, released 50 years ago this September, that resonates with . The song describes an episode from Parton鈥檚 childhood growing up in rural poverty where her mother sews her a coat out of different coloured rags. For the young Parton, this gives her a sense of pride in herself as well as helping her stand out and from her parents (which with 12 siblings was no mean feat). But upon going to school the other children just see the rags and make fun of her. From Shame To Pride Parton from through feeling proud wearing the coat to shame at the hands of the other school children. She attempts to resolve this by reasserting a sense of pride: 鈥淥ne is only poor only if they choose to be.鈥� Far from blaming those who have no money for their misfortune, this line is about redirecting shame. The song鈥檚 reworking of shame is what enables it to travel and resonate with so many different listeners. In the recent BBC biopic, Dolly Parton: Here I Am (later released on Netflix), Parton the song as her 鈥減hilosophy鈥�, saying: 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to be different. You know, it鈥檚 OK to not be like everybody else. In fact, it鈥檚 not only OK, it鈥檚 wonderful that you are who you are.鈥� This transformation of shame into pride has long been a strategy used throughout . And the wearing of the coat of many colours has striking visual similarities with the LGBTQ+ pride flag 鈥� an image that has become increasingly resonant as Parton鈥檚 LGBTQ+ advocacy has become more pronounced. 50 years on has now reached the ripe old age of 50, but it鈥檚 still as relevant now as when it was released in October 1971. Nominated for album of the year at the 1972 Country Music Association Awards, it also appeared at Number 257 on Rolling Stone鈥檚 2020 list of the . The album was released when Parton was still heavily connected to her musical partner Porter Wagoner. And Coat of Many Colors showed she was fast . The album was a defining moment for Parton to assert her agency and independent identity as an artist. Coat of Many Colors continues to be one of Parton鈥檚 most popular songs, as shown by the to it during live shows. The song also connects with audiences worldwide 鈥� Parton has a lot of fans in and 鈥� due to its relatable story of family, struggle and acceptance. But as wonderful and historically significant as this song is, the Coat of Many Colors album has more than just one song of note. Further gems Parton wrote on the album. All of them showcase the refinement and evolution of Parton鈥檚 craft from the comic representations of sexuality in Traveling Man, where a young girl falls in love with her travelling man only for him to , to the evocative pastoral imagery of the mountain landscape where she grew up in Early Morning Breeze and . A key song that captures the essence of Parton鈥檚 philosophy is Here I Am, which Parton recently re-recorded with Sia for the Netflix film . A gospel-inflected country song, Parton鈥檚 vocals and lyrics enable its message to travel wide. Parton acknowledges the hardship of people鈥檚 situations so that her message of belief is not invalidating. Through Parton鈥檚 storytelling, others from all walks of life that are facing difficulties can identify with the emotional content of the song and hear the resounding message of hope. Indeed, Parton鈥檚 crossover appeal, from country music fans to pop audiences, and her set a precedent that artists today who straddle multiple genres still build on 鈥� artists like , and most recently . Parton has herself indicated that she would like to be remembered . Not to disregard the significant impact Parton has had on the LGBTQ+ community via her , but an understanding of Dolly is much more enriched by a deeper understanding of her songwriting. , PhD Candidate in Music, This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the . 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