Wikipedia:Requests for mediation/Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow

 * Editors involved in this dispute
 * 1) – filing party


 * Articles affected by this dispute


 * Other attempts at resolving this dispute that you have attempted
 * Talk:Barry Manilow

Issues to be mediated

 * Primary issues (added by the filing party)
 * 1) Despite whatever editor Karst (or others) may say about my conduct... well... I'd note that despite my being a new user, the truth would seem to be more important. I can certainly learn to be more dispassionate in my interactions, but the truth does not change.  Pardon me, if you can, for making so many edits.  I'm still getting used to the process.

There is ample evidence that Barry Manilow married Garry Kief. Sources include:

New York Daily News Daily Telegraph Huffington Post Billboard People Daily Mail E! News
 * Wikipedia Same-Sex Married Couples*

There is even a video clip with his close friend, Suzanne Somers (televised on "Watch What Happens Live!"), making this claim. The link is provided above, in the Huffington Post article. The talk page shows that this has become an enormous issue, with some even claiming LGBT discrimination. When no source, no matter now intimate, is considered "reliable," then... in my opinion... the truth becomes irrelevant. In this case, it would seem that impression management and "image" are being favored over fact. There innumerable articles that substantiate the claim, including comments by Barry's ex-wife and, again, by Somers. At the very least, it would be responsible to allow editing of the article that acknowledges that many sources (cited) have claimed that the marriage took place. A tremendous number of Wikipedia articles have presented far less substantiated information. The very fact of the colossal controversy on the talk page should be concerning to Wikipedia. It merits investigation.

I'm concerned that the deletions may be contrary to Wikipedia's mission as an impartial provider of truth. Also, I'm concerned that, in this case, omitting the truth might be offensive to gay Americans.


 * Additional issues (added by other parties)
 * Additional issue 1
 * Additional issue 2

Parties' agreement to mediation

 * 1) Agree. Lorraine Maplewood (talk) 15:57, 5 March 2017 (UTC)
 * 2) Agree. Karst (talk) 16:40, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

Decision of the Mediation Committee

 * Reject. I'm going to reject this case on the authority given to me under prerequisite to mediation #9 that the "Committee has the discretion to refuse or refer back to other dispute resolution venues (e.g. dispute resolution noticeboard, third opinion, request for comment, or additional talk page discussion) a dispute which would benefit from additional work at lower levels of the dispute resolution process." It could also be rejected under prerequisite #4 for insufficient recent discussion. In this case the sourcing issue really needs more discussion on the article talk page, focusing on the requirements of the verifiability policy and the biographies of living persons policy. If those discussions fail, then the case should go to Third Opinion or Dispute Resolution Noticeboard before coming back here. For the Mediation Committee, TransporterMan  ( TALK ) 18:28, 5 March 2017 (UTC) (Chairperson)

I'd merely like to note that there is another Wikipedia page (for which I previously provided the link) that lists Barry Manilow and Garry Kief as a same-sex couple. It doesn't make sense to me that you can list it as such on one page and deny it on another.Lorraine Maplewood (talk) 20:01, 5 March 2017 (UTC)