A talented, theatrical teen impersonating gay icon Judy Garland and singing torch songs to disarm the school bullies might sound far-fetched even by Glee standards, but for one African American young man named Lindon Warren it’s just another day.
Young Lindon has an incredible ability to not only channel Garland. But he’s also talking and acting like her. His Liza Minnelli impression is spot on, too.
Now Lindon is the subject of a short film by life-long Garland fan Gary Riotto, an actor and youth worker who was struck by the positive and inspirational message of Lindon’s story after first seeing a YouTube clip of him singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Riotto contacted Lindon about the possibility of working together and within twenty minutes had received a very enthusiastic response. The resulting short film is called Finding Judy.
Director Riotto says of his film: “When I first saw a clip of Lindon singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow I knew that a film about him needed to be made. Our young people need to know that they are valued, loved and celebrated for their uniqueness.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Finding Judy will be showing at LGBT film festivals throughout the summer.
ewe
He is a STAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an honor to watch. True entertainment. A Class Act.
Manny
Are there any gay black men that act like men.LOL…
Dan
I saw Finding Judy at the Boston LGBT Film Festival! It’s an AMAZING film!
Bobby
THis is so great. I love this guy. Can’t wait to see the film at the NewFest in NYC. Check out the Finding Judy facebook page. There are so many great Judy Garland clips there. I’m in Judy heaven.
LGBTyouthCounselor
I had the privilege of screening this film for an upcoming LGBT youth conference. The director’s dedication to embracing LGBT youth and celebrating them is to be applauded!
2sizeU
This kid is incredible! Anyone know how I can see the movie?
Aiden
@Manny: Oh stop it your too much, no really, just stop.
2much4u
@Manny: Who even said this kid was gay?
SnAke7
hollywood dream man! want someone to make a movie of me. i can sing!
Suezee
We are gonna see this guy on America’s Got Talent!
jason
Are there any black, same-sex attracted men who act like men? Yes, but they’re not gay. They’re bisexual. Almost all black men are bisexually oriented, even the ones who identify as straight.
As for Lindon, isn’t he wonderful? I don’t care that he might be considered effeminate. He’s empowered, and that’s the main thing. He’s got more moxie than any rapper or hip-hop cretin.
Jeffree
@jason: You wrote: “almost all black men are bisexually oriented” Are you implying a connection between race & sexual orientation? Are you saying there are differences in orientation between Black, Asian, white, and Native Americans? Please provide cites for those studies.
Note: you referred to orientation, as opposed to behavior or identification.
pb
I want to see this movie! Generations later Judy lives on in the body of an African American teen. Fascinating!
LOL?
straight up hater
Randy
@jason:
What an utterly ignorant comment. The majority of black men are not bisexual. Assigning a sexual orientation to hundreds of millions of people because of their so-called race is ridiculous. What scientific evidence is there to support your statement?
As for your “acting like men” statement, the homophobia there is axiomatic.
It’s all well and good that you want to be a bisexual activist but your need to tear down others, be it effeminate gay men, or women, is just sad.
Randy
OK, I’ve never understood the whole Liza and Judy thing. Why do people expect all gay guys to love them?
PB
@randy people don’t expect all gay guys to love judy and liza it’s just a lot of gay guys are drawn to powerful, talented and sometimes tragic female figures. diana ross, barbra streisand, billy holiday, madona, lady gaga. maybe those women express themselves in ways that some gay men wish they could. they sometimes identify with them.
DONISE STEVENS
I closed my eyes and listened to him. It is not good singing, but anytime any young people of any race or orientation are championed, I am elated.
ewe
@Randy: Judy Garland died June 22, 1969. The Stonewall Riot occurred on June 28, 1969. I have always heard that all those people in the bar were mourning her passing and all of a sudden were sick to death and fucking fed up when the cops came in to harass them that night hence; JUDY’S spirit provoked the modern day Gay Rights Movement. That is why she is revered. Plus here voice was flawless. Her ease and ability to hit notes is genius.
ewe
@Randy: Judy Garland is also timeless. Look at the way she dresses. She is just as current today as back then. She is beauty.
Valeri
I know Lindon personally. We went to school together and believe it or not…he’s actually NOT GAY. The reason he likes Judy Garland is because he has always loved history and everything that has to do with it. Dont get me wrong but he does do a lot for the gay community. He got into Judy b-cuz he saw a movie about her when he was little and it was different from any other bio he’d seen about anyone else. This was in 3rd grade. He had a crush on my friend Ashley and she said she saw the Judy movie one day and asked Lindon if he had seen it. He saw the first half of it but missed the second half but when she asked him about the second half he lied and said he saw the second half to impress her. After he lied and said he saw it he looked for the movie in video stores and couldn’t find it. He then gave up looking for the movie with the fake people in it and started watching the REAL Judy Garland. He and Ashley never got together cuz she moved and we actually both moved to the next town over that same year. That is the real story of how he likes her cuz I had to put up with it all. First he’d be talking about Ashley then the next secong about Judy. Im very proud of Lindon and am glad to say I know him 😉
ewe
@DONISE STEVENS: It is great performing though. Look at someone like Mick Jagger. Now that is not good singing. He looked rediculous panting and repeating the same line over and over for what seemed like forever.
marni
i love lindon!!
Valeri
@DONISE STEVENS Lindon is a very accomplished singer in Opera,Jazz,R and B,ect…He won an intense Opera Competition in the summer of 09 with out any kind of vocal training other than a few voice lessions. I loved hearing him sing in the school chior he is an awesome Baritone singing man. If Lindon could persue an Oprea career he’d be a great star as that too. His voice fills the room and gives me goose bumps,…and other things.Lindon has a great ear. I can remember one time he did know the words to an Italian Oprea song and he was fustrated with it. So he just sat down and took time to just listen to the words and music and he leearned the whole song in about 20 mins and blew the whole school away. His youtube videos NEVER do him justice. You can tell its all JUST FOR FUN!! Something he did for himself and just put it on the web. When he is a whole different person. He doesn’t just do Judy, he does Louis Armstrong too and a couple other male voices, and even his friends too.The Judy thing is just 1 and I say ONE of his AMAZING TALENTS!! Bottom line…DON’T JUDGE HIM BASED ON YOUTUBE VIDEOS…ITS WAAAYYY MORE THAN THAT!!
Cindy
Who cares wether the kid is gay or not! High School girl and others stop talking for him. He is hysterical and talented and that is all that matters! Everyone else is just trying to steal some of the attention he is getting.
Valeri
Thank You Cindy You said all that I tried to say in so many words!!
Valeri
This is one of my favorite videos of Lindon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCD0Xf_ZJdU&NR=1
Cindy
I am looking through his videos now and I like the ones where he is singing best! http://www.youtube.com/user/puffpuffy#p/u/23/-bnfpnITyfg
I really want to see this movie about him now.
SG
“but for one African American young man named Lindon Warren it’s just another day”
What does his race have to do with this? He’s a young GAY man. You describe gay men who happen to be white as gay men period. You should do the same for gay men who are not white.
call me stupid
but isn’t the point simply highlighting that he is a young african american man who channels a white female iconic singer?
Jeffree
@call me stupid: Nope, the point is that he can “channel” lots of voices, including Louis Armstrong. That level of talent ils very rare (sit thru enough bad celeb impressionists & you’ll agree). Someone with those skills can usually do just about any one they want to, regardless of gender, race or age.
Valeri
@SG: Lindon IS NOT GAY…READ MY LAST COMMENT!!
Benji
The gay or not gay is a stupid debate and all those partaking look foolish. Instead we should be asking for more Lindon, Finding Judy and Gary Riotto!
angie
I am in LOVE with this young man!
sheneal
this kid is gonna be a star. i want me this me movie!