Dolly Parton and Tim Curry die the same day; both remembered as LGBTQ+ icons

The useful part

And, though the news came at different times, they both died on the same day. Because both were also LGBTQ+ icons, some communities are taking these losses extra hard. Singer Dolly Parton speaks onstage at the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards on April 10, 2011.

How it works

• Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Dolly Parton showed that kindness is what you do to being a talented entertainer, Dolly Parton was a staunch supporter of workers and unions.
• For decades, Dolly Parton spoke very openly about her love for gay friends — particularly Lily Tomlin, with whom she worked multiple times.
• Following her tragic passing on Tuesday, the world has also seen a series of anecdotes in which transgender folks — especially women — share stories of Dolly directly or indirectly helping to pay for their...
• Didn't know this until today but Dolly Parton had a transsexual man named Jason Pirro work as her Hollywood chauffeur in the 1980s, per an interview he gave to The Sun in 1990.
• pic.twitter.com/vBzqw7rCBA — Undead Media VHS (@undeadmedia_) August 26, 2026 Following Dolly Parton's passing, some have tried to brand her as "neutral" in America's various culture wars.

What to take from it

In the 2010s, many public figures and organizations did this — either because it was safe to do, or to farm for positive PR, or both. Her Imagination Library helped boost child literacy — which extended to mailing braille books to blind children. She could have become a billionaire if she'd cared more about numbers than she did about people, but she chose to make the world a better place instead of pointlessly hoarding wealth.

Example or evidence

• Or, more recently, when Dolly defended trans folks' right to use the bathrooms and generally exist in public during that first failed wave of concocting a bigoted narrative to win elections.
• An actor of television and film, who lent his voice to animation and video games for decades, he left an indelible imprint upon arts and culture.
• Whether our first exposure to him was as Nigel Thornberry or Captain Hook or in Muppet's Treasure Island or Dragon Age:
• Tim Curry didn't have a theme park with inclusive bathrooms or a famous pansexual goddaughter.

Details worth keeping

Both of these talented, widely beloved icons entertained generations. There are millions of people who love Dolly for all of this and more. Dolly was doing this amidst the rank homophobia of the '80s and '90s.

Related coverage

• Washingtonblade: 'Queen of Country' died on Tuesday in Nashville
• Metroweekly: The country music icon supported marriage equality, defended transgender people, and made acceptance central to her message.
• Thepinknews: Dolly Parton, the iconic, incredible, philanthropic musical legend sadly passed away aged 80 on Tuesday 25 August.
• Buzzfeed: We genuinely can't catch a break this week. View Entire Post ›