# Were all four of Liza Minnelli's husbands gay? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 20, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216 "2003-12-20T22:16:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/1 "2003-12-20T22:16:50Z")
I know #1 and #4 were/are. What about #2 (Jack Haley, jr.) and #3 (Mark Gero)? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/2 "2003-12-20T23:01:41Z")
I’ve definitely heard rumors about Jack Haley, Jr. Not unlike the rumors I’ve heard about Jack Haley, Sr. Whether either one is/was verifiably homosexual, no clue. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Green\_Feather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@The\_Green\_Feather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Green_Feather)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/3 "2003-12-20T23:04:01Z")
Is she attracted to gay men or is she just clueless? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/4 "2003-12-20T23:04:37Z")
Besides, it could be argued that Liza just wants a guy just like the guy that married dear old mom. Let’s see…Vicente Minelli, Mark Herron… Heck, Liza’s Grampa Gumm was a closeted gay man. And her stepfather (Mark Herron) had an affair with her husband (Peter Allen)! Garlandland is a VERY gay place… ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/5 "2003-12-21T00:19:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Green Feather \* > \*\*Is she attracted to gay men or is she just clueless? \*\* Mary, it’s an old family custom! Her mother married gay men, her grandmother married a gay man . . . The fact that there are three generations alone is reason for hat-doffing. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/6 "2003-12-21T00:21:41Z")
As if hats were still in style. Pshaw! ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/7 "2003-12-21T06:23:46Z")
Theory: They may have _turned_ gay after seeing Liza naked. \ ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/8 "2003-12-21T07:58:41Z")
**LOL StinkFish** I think it hasn’t dawned on Liza, that in order for a gay marriage to work, _both_ partners have to be gay. Man, that family is as messed up as the Jacksons/ ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/9 "2003-12-21T11:48:03Z")
Vincente Minnelli had four wives and two children. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/10 "2003-12-21T11:58:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stink Fish Pot \* > \*\*They may have _turned_ gay after seeing Liza naked. \ \*\* And you _have_ seen her naked? Liza could be quite [sexy](http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/lizaminnelli/cabnewcover.jpg) when she was younger. Heck, she can even look sexy [today](http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/lizaminnelli/up.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/11 "2003-12-21T12:13:09Z")
I’m kinda curious how many years ago Walloon’s “today” picture was taken, or at least how much airbrushing it was subjected to. Anyhoo, Minnelli in her more-or-less present state can be seen on occasional episodes of Fox’s news Sunday-night comedy _Arrested Development_. She’s dating the rather nebbishy older brother of the central character (a man some 30 years her junior) and it would not surprise me at all if he was eventually revealed as gay. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/12 "2003-12-21T16:57:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*Vincente Minnelli had four wives and two children. \*\* He was still queer as a three-dollar bill. In Hollywood, the surface is NEVER to be trusted, especially in the 40s, 50s, or 60s. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/13 "2003-12-21T16:59:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*And you _have_ seen her naked? > > Liza could be quite [sexy](http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/lizaminnelli/cabnewcover.jpg) when she was younger. Heck, she can even look sexy [today](http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/lizaminnelli/up.jpg). \*\* If you’re using “sexy” in terms of what it meant in the language of the ancient Etruscans, who said the phonemes “sex-ee” when they meant to impart the concept “just as terrifying as all hell,” I see your point. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/14 "2003-12-21T17:45:11Z")
Yes, **jayjay** Hollywood is as phony as it gets. In the words of **Oscar Levant, “In Hollywood, you have to scrape away the tinsel to get at the _real_ tinsel”.** ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/15 "2003-12-21T17:57:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*And you _have_ seen her naked? > > Liza could be quite [sexy](http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/lizaminnelli/cabnewcover.jpg) when she was younger. Heck, she can even look sexy [today](http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/lizaminnelli/up.jpg). \*\* AAAH!!! That recent pic-what the hell? Enough make up, Liza? And holy freaking teeth, Batman! ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/16 "2003-12-21T18:51:20Z")
I’ll ask, **jayjay** , what evidence do you have that Vincente Minnelli was actually homosexual, and not just effeminate. “People thought he was” isn’t what I’m talking about. Clearly some people _thought_ he was. I’m asking for evidence that he really was. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/17 "2003-12-21T19:28:08Z")
**Walloon** , perhaps the fact that discovering Minnelli in bed with another man was what led to Garland’s first suicide attempt? (from “Get Happy” by Gerald Clarke) Or maybe the admittedly probably biased website glbtq’s bio of [Minnelli](http://www.glbtq.com/arts/minnelli_v.html)? Overall, though, the saying “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire” tends to be true. Especially when there’s a LOT of smoke, and the room is practically bursting with it when it comes to Minnelli’s sexual proclivities… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/18 "2003-12-21T19:30:26Z")
**Walloon** , what will you accept as “evidence” other than a declaration from Minnelli himself that he was gay? In _Get Happy_, Garland biographer Gerald Clarke identifies Lester Gaba as Minnelli’s longtime companion. He describes Minnelli as “homosexual, or mostly homosexual,” talks about two young male actors who told friends of Judy’s that they had been with Minnelli, discusses the common assumption at the studio that Minnelli was gay and the jokes surrounding Liza’s birth that given Minnelli’s “uncertain” sexuality Liza was the result of immaculate conception. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/19 "2003-12-21T19:31:58Z")
Better look up the term “immaculate conception”. It doesn’t mean what you think it does. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216/20 "2003-12-21T19:51:06Z")
**Otto** didn’t call it an immaculate conception. Minnelli’s and Garland’s colleagues called it an immaculate conception. **Otto** was just reporting what Clarke wrote that Garland’s studio colleagues were saying. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-all-four-of-liza-minnellis-husbands-gay/220216.md?page=2)