The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was Keep; for rationale please see Wikipedia talk:Articles for deletion/List of LGBT couples. JERRY talk contribs 02:16, 27 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

List of LGBT couples[edit]

List of LGBT couples (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views) – (View log)

First off, it's potentially slanderous as there are no sources. Secondly, Wikipedia is not a directory. No sort of critical encyclopaedic article exists about LGBT couples that is assisted by a list whose parameters are broad and vague. List of people whose only common trait is that they're with another guy/girl? Too massive a scope to ever be complete or close to it, and smacks of List cruft. See also: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of interracial couples, Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of interracial, interethnic or intercultural couples. David Fuchs (talk) 23:56, 9 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

By the reasoning provided by the list, any LGBT couple could stick themselves in. As for the cruft arguement, this isn't about LGBT; it's about LGBT couples. For example, interracial marriage is notable, of course. But we don't have a list of interracial couples. David Fuchs (talk) 00:44, 11 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
No, not everybody could add their names. The list is still bound by WP:Notability (people)#Lists_of_people. And that list of interracial couples was deleted two years ago has little consequence here; I don't think such a list would be so quickly deleted today anyway. The arguments that applied in that deletion debate largely don't apply here and we have no idea what the article actually said. Interracial marriage has also been legal for 40 years in the U.S., so an interracial couple in 2008 isn't anywhere near as notable as a same-sex couple. Torc2 (talk) 01:06, 11 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
This isn't a smackdown between gay marriage and interracial marriage; evidently your grasp of history is limited if you think just because an event is historical, it has no more notability. If gay marraige were legalized tomorrow worldwide, would we then delete the list? David Fuchs (talk) 16:34, 12 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I'm sorry are you trying to insinuate that there is something wrong with being LGBT? however? well there are plenty of lists like this< for instance "list of vegans" but all additions must be sourced for that>>> perhaps we should make everything sourced only???? -- Ļıßζېấשּׂ~ۘ Ώƒ ﻚĢęخ (talk) 00:04, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Then bring those articles to AfD, too. Call me a bigot if you want, but I'm not going to get dragged into personal accusations and attacks over AfDs. Conspire away. David Fuchs (talk) 01:01, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Actually, WP:OTHERSTUFF is a perfectly sound argument if the articles are actually analagous and comparable. The essay is faulty opinion and should not be relied upon to dismiss an argument. Instead you need to explain why the comparison isn't valid. Torc2 (talk) 00:37, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Hardly. The essay means that saying 'list of monkeys' or whatever should be kept because a similar list also exists is foolish, because what is on wikipedia isn't always what should be wikipedia. I could go AfD that list and then where would your arguement be if it got deleted? David Fuchs (talk) 20:53, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
If you went and AfD'd that list, my argument would be totally supported, because you'd be acting consistently. If I point to another article that has survived AfD and is comparable to an article currently up for AfD, and I point out that the arguments recognized for keeping that article apply here, that's absolutely valid. WP:OTHERSTUFF is completely wrong in its assertion that pointing to precedence is faulty. It even contradicts itself within the section and is contradicted by other sections within that essay. It's badly written and poorly thought out, and reflects the authors' frustrations more than actual logic. Torc2 (talk) 21:32, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Torc2, I hope that you are not willfully misapplying what WP:OTHERSTUFF actually says. OTHERSTUFF does not assert "that pointing to precedence is faulty." It states that an argument based solely on the mere existance or non-existance of another article is not a sufficient/valid arguement for keeping/deleting another article. Lasalle202 (talk) 22:17, 23 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I am not misapplying it at all and I don't much care for the accusation. Until I changed it a week ago, the pseudonyms in OTHERSTUFF were King and Queen Precedent. That doesn't bode well for the argument that OTHERSTUFF didn't argue against precedent. Whatever its intent was, clearly it has come to be used as a counterargument against any comparisons or appeals to precedent. Torc2 (talk) 23:25, 23 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

note Refs soon won't be a problem, i've begun adding them and will remove un-refables. -- Ļıßζېấשּׂ~ۘ Ώƒ ﻚĢęخ (talk) 01:32, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

this will take about a week at my moderate pace, but feel free to help out. -- Ļıßζېấשּׂ~ۘ Ώƒ ﻚĢęخ (talk) 23:10, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Keep if referenced. WP:NOT#DIR isn't a good argument here, since these are (or will be) all notable LBGT couples, whose orientation is culturally or historically significant. Torc2 (talk) 01:47, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Could you explain how it's historically significant? We don't have a list of Elizabeth Taylor's husbands, after all. David Fuchs (talk) 02:44, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Sourcing is only one of the issues raised. Do you have any argument to refute the other issues with the list? Neıl 23:25, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
We don't? Torc2 (talk) 02:57, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Sourcing is only one of the issues raised. Do you have any argument to refute the other issues with the list? Neıl 23:25, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Sourcing is only one of the issues raised. Do you have any argument to refute the other issues with the list? Neıl 23:25, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • comment - You're voting to delete over content issues? Torc2 (talk) 19:22, 10 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • How is it a duplication? That's like saying the article on water is just a duplication of hydrogen and oxygen. Torc2 (talk) 19:11, 11 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
It is duplication because everyone (or nearly everyone?) under the LGBT couples list would be duplicated on the list of LGBT people. If there were a list of water-related articles (another bad idea), it would not contain even most of the hydrogen or oxygen related articles. Queerudite (talk) 02:15, 12 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • The fact that they are a couple is vastly different information than the fact each individual is LGBT. It's not a duplication of information at all. Torc2 (talk) 02:35, 12 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
How does a list telling me Ellen Degeneres is in a civil union allowing for LGBT marriage/rights to be more easily addressed? Any pertinent info this list might have (first gays to be married, et al) is independent of their current status, and should be covered in the gay marriage/civil union articles- that is the encyclopaedic portion. All the other info will be in the respective persons' articles on Wikipedia. So what does this bring to the table beyond list cruft, because the list does not "allow the article [to] more easily address encyclopedic topics"; there's nothing of the sort. David Fuchs (talk) 16:32, 12 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Respectfully disagree. The history of human rights is marked by putting the humanity back into the issue. It's easy to hate, and therefore discriminate, against a faceless "them", it's much harder to do so when you're telling Del and Phyllis that their committed devotion to each other of 60+ years still can't be a legal marriage. You do bring up a good point that maybe this should be tied to some specific articles about gay marriage as a specific list to aid those articles. Benjiboi 18:57, 12 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

*Comment. Added ((subst:afd)) to article, we're still using that right? Benjiboi 04:07, 12 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Sourcing is only one of the issues raised. Do you have any argument to refute the other issues with the list? Neıl 23:25, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Sourcing is only one of the issues raised. Do you have any argument to refute the other issues with the list? Neıl 23:25, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Sourcing is only one of the issues raised. Do you have any argument to refute the other issues with the list? Neıl 23:25, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion so that consensus may be reached.
Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, JERRY talk contribs 17:46, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Errr, Laurel and Hardy was removed, also, the article is under improvement... references are being added. -- Ļıßζېấשּׂ~ۘ Ώƒ ﻚĢęخ (talk) 21:52, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Errr, Laurel and Hardy were removed just now, by me. And as I said, referencing is a secondary issue. As for "under improvement", I will note the article has been around for almost 3 years already ([1]) and leave the reader to draw their own conclusions. Neıl 21:58, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Thing is Neil, unlike the other examples you cite, Same-sex unions are extremely notable at present as there has been much discussion by governments over their civil status, hence, unlike the others, it is a notable topic in and of itself. cheers, Casliber (talk · contribs) 22:00, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I am not disputing that same-sex union itself is a notable topic. It is no more controversial, however, than interracial marriage was in its time (and still is in many parts of the world), and of course we have an article on interracial marriage, just as we should, and we do, on same-sex unions and same-sex marriage. Your point defends the existence of the parent article, not the list, which is not in question. Neıl 22:12, 20 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
You may note that people were killed for being the "wrong" color then much as people are killed for being sexual and gender minorities today. Seems a plenty notable issue and being part of a couple seems downright defiant. And indeed makes headlines. Benjiboi 03:13, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
Feel free to create a List of Interracial Couples in the age of segregation then. It could be populated with the couples that were notable at the time. I'd stay away from the Otherstuff arguments though. Torc2 (talk) 18:38, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
I gave you the link - Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/List of interracial couples. Why was this rightly and readily deleted and the LGBT one - effectively the same article but spuriously connecting people based on their sexuality rather than their ethnicity is not going to be? "Other stuff" arguments at this point are valid - we would not have a List of straight couples so why would we have a list of LGBT ones? Neıl 09:50, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment. It's unlikely that a LGBT couple together for only a day will generate a reliable source and be included on this list. However some clarity might make sense. Benjiboi 04:40, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Well, I was exaggerating a bit to emphasize my point, but the fact of the matter is that merely earning the label of "couple" doesn't mean much. Also, you actually might be able to find reliable sources less than 24 hours after the fact when we're talking about Hollywood celebrities, politicians and the like. Afterall, the media loves to report on new celebrity pairings, be they straight, gay or otherwise. - Koweja (talk) 04:53, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Possibly but the list is limited to notable LGBT people so I don't see listcreep as a big issue. I feel it needs to be better organized but that will only, in theory, improve it. Benjiboi 05:01, 21 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • Comment. AfD is not clean-up. Per WP:AfD If you can improve an article through regular editing it is not a good candidate for AfD. You and i share some concerns on the organization but I feel stongly that those issues don't negate that the article can be improved and is plenty encyclopedic and is exactly the kind of article wikipedia excels at. Benjiboi 00:31, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • reply My point is not that AfD should be used for 'clean-up'. My piont is that I don't see how any clean-up could bring this article to encyclopedia standards. The weaknesses seem too great and I have not seen anything other than generic claims that it could be done, without any specifics of how/what will be done- which still leaves me unconvinced. Lasalle202 (talk) 17:11, 22 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
  • reply Fair enough, you do, however, realize it's hard to get inspired to do a major overhaul when your work is likely to be deleted within a few days. In reviewing the article my take is that a sortable table would benefit presenting the information most. I also like the idea of showing some aspects of longevity of LGBT couples in the text as well as other examples of why the subject is still considered noteworthy. Benjiboi 00:30, 23 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]
The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.