You are right, there is a huge difference between Judas Priest and all that fruity hair crap. Priest had way more edge than that dog squeeze.
And yes, it was completely ridiculous that no one seemed to realize Halford was a complete flamer, looking back on it. I mean come on. But saying it would have bought you into plenty of fights in tough bars in 1984. He was wearing stuff like a bullwhip in a holster, holy moly already.
Freegards
I only listened to the music back then, and only later did I see early footage of Judas Priest before they made it big (where Halford’s outfits - before the S&M get-ups - were even gayer if that was possible; almost like Freddie Mercury).
I saw an interview with him after he came out, and he described how people would press forward to get whipped while he was on stage; he said “everyone needs a good thrashing”...Eeeeew!