XPost: uk.politics.misc, uk.current-events.general, uk.media.newspapers   
   XPost: alt.politics.british   
   From: trevjon@btinternet.com   
      
   "Roger Dewhurst"  wrote in message   
   news:e2p28n$755$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...   
   >   
   >   
   > got a fake wife - of the kind   
   >> known in certain circles as a 'beard'.   
   >   
   > It seems that I am out of touch with the idiom.  What is a 'beard' in this   
   > context?   
   >   
   > R   
   >   
   >   
      
   A "Beard" is when a Homosexual, usually one in the public eye, who does not   
   want his sexual preferences to be known, enters into a sham hetreosexual   
   marriage to "cover" his real sexual preferences.   Sometimes (and I stress   
   only sometimes) the "wife" is a lesbian, and is doing exactly the same   
   thing, only in reverse.   
      
   A well known "Beard" was Phyliss Gates, who was married to Rock Hudson for 3   
   years (1955-58).  Bearing in mind that peoples reactions to homosexuality   
   have changed dramatically over the last few decades, a "Beard" is still a   
   "not uncommon" occurence in Politics, Business and the Music/Acting   
   profession. Although Rock Hudson's marriage didn't last very long, it was   
   long enough to act as "cover" for his real sexual preferences.  When he died   
   of an AIDS related disease in 1985 it's fair to say that it took many of his   
   fans completely by suprise, as he had managed to remain "in the closet" all   
   of his life, aided by this sham marriage, his wifes continued silence on the   
   matter, and many (false) rumours and anecdotes about his sexual conquests.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)