# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/41 "2015-04-09T17:38:13Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > There’s more shocking news, though! That nice boy Liberace, who loved his mother so, might be a little light in the loafers, too! He was just … _theatrical_, that’s it. Theatrical. > [@JKilez](#): > > I guess half of all musicians releasing music in the 70’s were gay then. They weren’t? Mandy was his dog, btw. IOW eeewwww. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/42 "2015-04-09T17:46:18Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Ditto. I am not particularly astonished, but nor did I assume he was. He just seemed like the epitome of a “showbiz” performer. If flamboyancy alone is the tell, next we will be learning that Elvis was gay. Me 4, if I’d ever cared enough to do the due diligence I might have concluded it was likely, but I hadn’t. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/43 "2015-04-09T17:48:42Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I haven’t followed entertainment news much, what exactly has Barry Manilow done publicly that would have let me know that he’s gay? As far as I know he’s just a writer and singer of songs I don’t particularly care for, but if that’s the criteria to suspect someone is gay then most of the music industry is gay. Same here. I know a few guys who “flit about”, eschew sports, cut women’s hair, etc but also are married and have kids. One guy I know who everyone assumes is gay has had numerous flings on the side (with women other than his wife). ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/44 "2015-04-09T17:55:54Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Mandy was his dog, btw. IOW eeewwww. Manilow [didn’t write Mandy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_(song)). And it wasn’t about the writer’s dog either. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/45 "2015-04-09T18:00:27Z")
Ok, I completely lack gaydar. My first indication that I might be gay myself would be in the middle of having sex with another man. I’d realize “Wow, so I’m at least bisexual, who knew?”. But somehow, from the moment I understood what a gay person might actually behave like (yes including from the most manly motherfucker you’ve ever met to the most wilting wallflower), I never doubted that Manilow was probably at least mostly gay. He must put off some tremendous waves if _I_ can perceive them . But remember, gay != mellow pop. That’s a choice the man made. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/46 "2015-04-09T18:12:34Z")
If you hadn’t sussed this one out already, your gaydar is unplugged. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/47 "2015-04-09T18:16:55Z")
Anybody have a link to Manilow talking (not singing)? Barry Manilow was before my time, so I’ve never particluarly cared about him one way or the other, but yeah, he sets off my gaydar. Richard Simmons pegs the meter, of course. Altho he’s so over-the-top I could almost believe it’s all just an act. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/48 "2015-04-09T18:21:42Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > I haven’t followed entertainment news much, what exactly has Barry Manilow done publicly that would have let me know that he’s gay? As far as I know he’s just a writer and singer of songs I don’t particularly care for, but if that’s the criteria to suspect someone is gay then most of the music industry is gay. I didn’t KNOW, but since he spent years performing at bathhouses with Bette Midler, I always assumed. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/49 "2015-04-09T18:29:06Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Manilow [didn’t write Mandy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandy_(song)). And it wasn’t about the writer’s dog either. Well, then, so long as it’s somebody _else’s_ dog… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/50 "2015-04-09T19:21:35Z")
Don’t worry, I’m sure this is just a phase Mr Manilow is going through, and he actually loves me as much as I love him. We’ll be together someday, Barry, I just know it! ---
**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, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/51 "2015-04-09T19:39:26Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Same thing with me when I found out that Elton John and the Village People were gay. Actually, at least two of the original Village People were straight. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/52 "2015-04-09T19:43:03Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I honestly had no idea. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/53 "2015-04-09T20:04:01Z")
People have forgotten his background. Manilow was Bette Midler’s pianist in the NY Gay Bathhouse scene for years. The Continental Baths was one of the main places. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Baths)lists a bunch of artists that got there start playing that scene. I always assumed he was Gay because I never saw any girlfriends mentioned in the gossip papers. Not that it matters. I’m glad he’s found a lifelong partner. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/54 "2015-04-09T20:37:19Z")
So a man can’t even marry another man without getting “labeled gay?” So much for modern social progress. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/55 "2015-04-09T20:44:19Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > So a man can’t even marry another man without getting “labeled gay?” > So much for modern social progress. Hey, Barry is so secure in his heterosexuality, he doesn’t need to sleep with women to prove it. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/56 "2015-04-09T21:05:55Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Mr. Manilow’s sexuality never crossed my mind prior to yesterday. Agreed. Just never registered. Prior to now, if pressed, I probably would have guessed he was married to a model from the 90s. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/57 "2015-04-09T21:35:38Z")
> [@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. She’s gay too?! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/58 "2015-04-09T21:38:21Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Same here. I know a few guys who “flit about”, eschew sports, cut women’s hair, etc but also are married and have kids. One guy I know who everyone assumes is gay has had numerous flings on the side (with women other than his wife). [Lyle!](http://snltranscripts.jt.org/91/91plyle.phtml) ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/59 "2015-04-09T21:38:23Z")
One of those people whom I never gave a second’s thought about their personal love life. ---
**Author:** ![bryanmaguire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d07c76/32.png) [@bryanmaguire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bryanmaguire)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217/60 "2015-04-09T21:40:51Z")
> [@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. Oh he did. Mandy Patankin. Quite dishy back in the day [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sitting-down-barry-manilow-might-be-gay/717217.md?page=4)