Today is a momentous occasion: the 27th anniversary of the debut of Golden Girls, that fantastic legend of a TV show starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty. Big surprise, the folks in New York's whimsicle Big Gay Ice Cream Shop are huge fans of Bea Arthur — one of their popular cones, with vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche and crushed 'nilla wafers, is named after the beloved actress — and also the generous contribution she left in her will to the Ali Forney Center.
The nonprofit organisation, which provides housing for queer youth in New York is using her contribution to open the Bea Arthur Residence for Homeless LGBT Youth in a former East Village crack den.
In celebration of Golden Girls and the Earth Mother generosity of Bea Arthur, all the proceeds from today's sales of Bea Arthur cones at the shop, as well as tips, will be donated to Ali Forney (note, only the shop and not the ice cream truck). Similarly, Melt Bakery will donate the proceeds from its Rue McClanahan ice cream sandwich. It's just about 80 degrees in New York today, perfect ice cream weather!
