Beard is a slang term, American in origin, describing a person who is used, knowingly or unknowingly, as a date, romantic partner (boyfriend or girlfriend), or spouse either to conceal infidelity or to conceal one's sexual orientation.[1][2] The term also refers, in some areas, to anyone who acted on behalf of another, in any transaction, to conceal a person's true identity.[3][1] The term can be used in heterosexual and non-heterosexual contexts but is especially used within LGBTQ+ culture.[3][4] References to beards are seen in mainstream television and films, and other entertainment.
The usage of the term beard, also known as lavender dating or front dating, dates to the 20th century, prior to the gay rights movements.[2] This was at a time when homosexual relationships had not yet gained public acceptance in the Western world.[2] Often, in the early to mid-20th century, a beard companion was used by homosexual individuals to conceal one's sexual orientation through the disguise of a heterosexual relationship. This relationship typically was between a lesbian and a gay man in an attempt to dispel rumors of homo-orientation.[2] In some situations, such as that of Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicholson, the pair in the beard relationship may have children together despite a lack of sexual attraction.[2] Today, the term beard or lavender dating is used less as a result of greater acceptance of homosexuality in both the United States and Western Europe, but is still occasionally used by young individuals from traditional communities or conservative countries.[2]
Concealing infidelityedit
In early usage of the term, a beard scenario involved concealing infidelity in a monogamous relationship.[4][5] In a typical scenario, X and Y are in a supposedly exclusive relationship, but X is actually cheating with Z. However, to prevent Y from learning about X's infidelity, W, the "beard", pretends to be paired with Z. Such a scenario is a central premise of Woody Allen's 1984 film Broadway Danny Rose. The titular talent agent is the beard, pretending to date Tina, a single woman who is actually having an affair with married singer Lou Canova, Danny's client. By posing as Tina's date, Danny can bring her to Lou's performance without drawing attention from Lou's suspicious wife. The term "beard" is a running gag, used four times (e.g., "I'm only the beard") when Tina's ex assumes Danny is Tina's previously mysterious lover.
Concealing sexual orientationedit
Though beard entered wider use in the 1960s,[citation needed] many of the reported lavender marriages of the 1920s in Hollywood, and the similar reported romantic marriage of Rock Hudson (mid-1950s) employed the same usage. In Hudson's case, Phyllis Gates acted as his beard to avert the damage that the disclosure of Hudson's homosexuality[6] might have caused to his career. In a 2011 interview, Betty White stated that she often served as a beard to Liberace to counter rumors of his homosexuality.[7] Such relationships can cause legal and emotional issues for both parties, particularly when they end.[8][9]
^ ab. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. 2014-06-03. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
^ abcdefFaderman, Lillian (2008). "Four - Hiding in Plain Sight: Lavender Dating in the Mid-Twentieth Century". In McAuliffe, Mary; Tiernan, Sonja (eds.). Tribades, Tommies and Transgressives; History of Sexualities. Vol. I. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 78–86. ISBN9781443807883.
^ abGreen, Jonathon (1998). "beard". Cassell's Dictionary of Slang. London: Cassell. ISBN9780304344352. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
^ abGreen, Jonathon (2005). Cassell's Dictionary of Slang. p. 83. ISBN9780304366361.
^Eric Partridge; Tom Dalzell; Terry Victor (2006). The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English: A-I. p. 114. ISBN9780415259378.
^Tyrkus, Michael (1997). Gay & Lesbian Biography. St. James Press. ISBN978-1558622371.
^"Betty White: Bea Arthur was not fond of me". YouTube. CNN. May 4, 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
^"Va. Supreme Court recognizes unmarried same-sex couples are legal too". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
^Gross, Jane (2006-08-03). "When the Beard Is Too Painful to Remove". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
April 10, 2024
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Beard is a slang term American in origin describing a person who is used knowingly or unknowingly as a date romantic partner boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse either to conceal infidelity or to conceal one s sexual orientation 1 2 The term also refers in some areas to anyone who acted on behalf of another in any transaction to conceal a person s true identity 3 1 The term can be used in heterosexual and non heterosexual contexts but is especially used within LGBTQ culture 3 4 References to beards are seen in mainstream television and films and other entertainment Contents 1 History 2 Concealing infidelity 3 Concealing sexual orientation 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory editThe usage of the term beard also known as lavender dating or front dating dates to the 20th century prior to the gay rights movements 2 This was at a time when homosexual relationships had not yet gained public acceptance in the Western world 2 Often in the early to mid 20th century a beard companion was used by homosexual individuals to conceal one s sexual orientation through the disguise of a heterosexual relationship This relationship typically was between a lesbian and a gay man in an attempt to dispel rumors of homo orientation 2 In some situations such as that of Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson the pair in the beard relationship may have children together despite a lack of sexual attraction 2 Today the term beard or lavender dating is used less as a result of greater acceptance of homosexuality in both the United States and Western Europe but is still occasionally used by young individuals from traditional communities or conservative countries 2 Concealing infidelity editIn early usage of the term a beard scenario involved concealing infidelity in a monogamous relationship 4 5 In a typical scenario X and Y are in a supposedly exclusive relationship but X is actually cheating with Z However to prevent Y from learning about X s infidelity W the beard pretends to be paired with Z Such a scenario is a central premise of Woody Allen s 1984 film Broadway Danny Rose The titular talent agent is the beard pretending to date Tina a single woman who is actually having an affair with married singer Lou Canova Danny s client By posing as Tina s date Danny can bring her to Lou s performance without drawing attention from Lou s suspicious wife The term beard is a running gag used four times e g I m only the beard when Tina s ex assumes Danny is Tina s previously mysterious lover Concealing sexual orientation editThough beard entered wider use in the 1960s citation needed many of the reported lavender marriages of the 1920s in Hollywood and the similar reported romantic marriage of Rock Hudson mid 1950s employed the same usage In Hudson s case Phyllis Gates acted as his beard to avert the damage that the disclosure of Hudson s homosexuality 6 might have caused to his career In a 2011 interview Betty White stated that she often served as a beard to Liberace to counter rumors of his homosexuality 7 Such relationships can cause legal and emotional issues for both parties particularly when they end 8 9 See also editAlter ego Closet Jew Defense mechanism Down low sexual slang Dramaturgy sociology Ego dystonic sexual orientation Fag hag He never married Heterosexual relationships among LGBT people Hollywood blacklist Lavender marriage Medieval singlewomen Minority stress Passing Persona psychology Pronoun game Shibboleth Stigma management UndercoverReferences edit a b beard definition of beard in Oxford dictionary British amp World English Oxford Dictionaries Oxford University Press 2014 06 03 Archived from the original on 25 July 2014 Retrieved 2014 06 09 a b c d e f Faderman Lillian 2008 Four Hiding in Plain Sight Lavender Dating in the Mid Twentieth Century In McAuliffe Mary Tiernan Sonja eds Tribades Tommies and Transgressives History of Sexualities Vol I Cambridge Scholars Publishing pp 78 86 ISBN 9781443807883 a b Green Jonathon 1998 beard Cassell s Dictionary of Slang London Cassell ISBN 9780304344352 Retrieved 14 September 2021 a b Green Jonathon 2005 Cassell s Dictionary of Slang p 83 ISBN 9780304366361 Eric Partridge Tom Dalzell Terry Victor 2006 The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English A I p 114 ISBN 9780415259378 Tyrkus Michael 1997 Gay amp Lesbian Biography St James Press ISBN 978 1558622371 Betty White Bea Arthur was not fond of me YouTube CNN May 4 2011 Archived from the original on 2021 12 13 Retrieved April 5 2021 Va Supreme Court recognizes unmarried same sex couples are legal too Washington Post Retrieved 2016 05 06 Gross Jane 2006 08 03 When the Beard Is Too Painful to Remove The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2016 05 06 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Beard companion amp oldid 1208594823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
