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The Golden Girls Turns 40: Four Decades of Laughter, Legacy, and LGBTQ+ Love
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
On September 14, 2025, The Golden Girls—a sitcom that first aired in 1985—officially turned 40, cementing its place as a cultural touchstone that has bridged generations and communities worldwide . The show, starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, follows the lives of four older women sharing a home—and plenty of cheesecake—in Miami. Its clever writing, unforgettable characters, and willingness to tackle taboo topics have made it a perennial favorite, especially among LGBTQ+ audiences who have found both solace and joy in its depiction of chosen family.
Disney, which now owns the rights to The Golden Girls, has rolled out a series of events and experiences to celebrate this landmark anniversary. Festivities began with “The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Script Reading & Conversation” at the ATX Festival in Austin, Texas, where fans and industry insiders revisited classic moments and discussed the show’s ongoing impact .
In Los Angeles, the Disney+ Throwback Experience featured a Golden Girls–themed area—The Lanai Closet—styled after the show’s iconic set, allowing fans to immerse themselves in nostalgia. Disneyland Resort’s Pride Night, a highlight for LGBTQ+ fans, also joined the party: guests recreated iconic scenes and shared custom cheesecake, a nod to the beloved dessert featured throughout the show .
Commemorative merchandise has also taken center stage, including limited-edition candles and collectibles. At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, an exclusive figurine box set featuring Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia was released, and Fisher-Price launched a short-form content series starring the Golden Girls in their Little People Collector form .
Coming this fall, ABC News will air an anniversary special with interviews from the show’s creator Susan Harris, Emmy Award-winning producer Tony Thomas, and many original writers and producers. The special promises to revisit the show’s legacy and pay tribute to the four trailblazing actresses whose performances defined an era .
From its earliest days, The Golden Girls resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ audiences—a fact acknowledged by fans, critics, and even the show’s creators. The series’ core themes of friendship, acceptance, and chosen family echo experiences that are central to queer life, particularly for those who have faced alienation or struggled to find community within their biological families .
Stan Zimmerman, one of the original writers, recently reflected on the show’s enduring popularity in the LGBTQ+ community: “Especially in the LGBTQ+ community, this was a show that they could sit down with their grandparents and all laugh at together. When you laugh at something, it kind of opens your heart and your mind at the same time” .
The show didn’t shy away from social issues. Storylines addressed topics like same-sex marriage, HIV/AIDS, and discrimination, at a time when such themes were rarely touched on in mainstream television . For many queer viewers, these moments were not only validating but also radical, showing that the struggles faced by LGBTQ+ people were worthy of discussion and empathy.
The Golden Girls broke ground by centering older women—still a rarity in television—but its most lasting gift may be its illustration of chosen family: the idea that bonds of love and support can be every bit as strong, or stronger, than those of blood. This message has particular resonance in the LGBTQ+ community, where chosen families often serve as a vital source of belonging and affirmation .
The series has also maintained its popularity with younger generations thanks to streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+, where over 1 billion hours of the show have been streamed globally . Fans often cite the show’s “endlessly quotable” dialogue, iconic theme song (“Thank You for Being a Friend”), and the comfort of its humor as reasons for returning to the series again and again .
Forty years after its debut, The Golden Girls continues to inspire new generations of fans and creators. Its influence can be seen in countless contemporary shows that embrace queer storylines, celebrate diversity, and highlight the importance of friendship and found family. For LGBTQ+ communities, the show remains more than just a sitcom—it’s an emblem of resilience, humor, and the power of living authentically.
As Disney’s celebrations continue and fans worldwide honor four decades of laughter and love, The Golden Girls stands as a reminder of television’s potential to create community and foster understanding across differences. In the words of the show’s legendary theme song: thank you for being a friend.
