# Are you sitting down? Barry Manilow MIGHT BE GAY. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2015, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217 "2015-04-09T15:47:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/21 "2015-04-09T16:44:03Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > IMO, none of that is really indications that someone is gay. I’ve heard him speak, watched him move and seen some of his album covers - you’re reading way too much into superficial items. Who else can you predict is gay based on their album covers? Gaydar: You either have it, or you don’t. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/22 "2015-04-09T16:49:18Z")
Yeah, I guess that’s the only answer I have, too. If you can’t tell the Elvis was straight and Barry Manilow gay, it’s just some _je ne sais quoi_ that separates them. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/23 "2015-04-09T16:50:51Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I have a vague memory of him playing music in a gay bath house at the beginning of his career, possibly with Bette Midler. You mean Bette Midler is gay, too??? OMG:eek: [quote=“Happy\_Lendervedder, post:10, topic:717217”] He never indicated he was gay before, and he actually never pinged my (albeit flawed) gaydar. Writing easy listening songs isn’t necessarily an indicator that a man loves the tender embrace of another man, fyi./QUOTE] Yeah, take a look at[Burt Bacharach](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Bacharach). He was married to Angie Dickinson fer cryin’ out loud! ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/24 "2015-04-09T16:52:13Z")
That still doesn’t mean his albums go on the same shelf as Tchaikovsky, Poulenc or Saint-Saëns ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/25 "2015-04-09T16:55:43Z")
When I was 12 I thought he was gay but that was just because I didn’t like his style of music and I thought at the time that calling someone gay was a terrible insult. Sorry about that; I’m better now. When I heard him talk, I suddenly thought I was wrong and he was straight. I mean, he has a New York accent. Gay guys don’t have New York accents do they? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/26 "2015-04-09T16:58:22Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I honestly had no idea. I just thought he was one of those flamboyant straight guys. So he didn’t really have a big thing for Mandy after all? Damn, the whole world is a lie. Yes,yes he did. Mandy _Patinkin_! I don’t recall when it dawned on me that Mr Manilow is gay - it’s definitely been quite a while- but I didn’t always know. Back in the 70s pretty much all performers could be said to have a gay look. As he’s gotten older it’s become more and more obvious to me. Perhaps those that are surprised just haven’t been paying much attention. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/27 "2015-04-09T17:00:12Z")
> [@Eddie\_F](#): > > Gaydar: You either have it, or you don’t. If it weren’t for the fact that most people’s gaydar is hopelessly wrong, you’d have something. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/28 "2015-04-09T17:03:08Z")
So when are Tom Cruise and John Travolta marrying each other? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/29 "2015-04-09T17:03:50Z")
I’ve known he was gay for what seems like forever, but I couldn’t tell you why. He seems like a kind man and I hope he’s happy. ---
**Author:** ![Eddie\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@Eddie\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eddie_F)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/30 "2015-04-09T17:04:54Z")
> [@dasmoocher](#): > > So when are Tom Cruise and John Travolta marrying each other? When the Church of Scientology cuts off Tom’s steady supply of beards, most likely. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/31 "2015-04-09T17:07:27Z")
[Actually, he has a bit of an old lesbian vibe these days.](http://www.jokeblogger.com/sites/default/files/category_pictures/Barry-Manilow1370397061.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/32 "2015-04-09T17:08:46Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I’ve known he was gay for what seems like forever, but I couldn’t tell you why. He seems like a kind man and I hope he’s happy. Maybe it was his penchant for bottled water. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/33 "2015-04-09T17:10:38Z")
Now that I know this, what do I do? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/34 "2015-04-09T17:11:29Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > So he didn’t really have a big thing for \*\*Mandy \*\*after all? No - it was originally written about a guy named **Andy**. Count me as someone who assumed he was gay all this time, and never really cared or gave it much thought. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/35 "2015-04-09T17:18:25Z")
Mr. Manilow’s sexuality never crossed my mind prior to yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/36 "2015-04-09T17:19:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Now that I know this, what do I do? > > Regards, > Shodan Adjust accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/37 "2015-04-09T17:22:25Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I didn’t know he was gay. I never really thought about it. I’m not surprised, but I wouldn’t really be surprised to hear anyone is gay unless they’re known for their sex life or something. Same thing with me when I found out that Elton John and the Village People were gay. It just never occurred to me to consider it. There were plenty of flamboyant people, right? It was just their personality. In retrospect, of course, it becomes obvious that I should have picked up on it. But I didn’t. And that’s hindsight bias in action. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/38 "2015-04-09T17:23:38Z")
I honestly thought Simmons never confirmed if he was gay or not ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/39 "2015-04-09T17:33:05Z")
The rumor I’ve heard about Simmons is that he’s secretly straight. He just has a flamboyant persona that makes people assume he’s gay and he plays into that. Officially, he’s always refused to state whether he’s straight or gay. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/40 "2015-04-09T17:36:08Z")
I’m just glad someone finally put “The Barry Manilow Challenge” on You Tube. SFW. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyicK9gk5Xs) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217.md?page=3)