Hypothetical situation:
Imagine you're a male actor in his late 20's/early 30's. You've done your fair share of movies and tv shows, and have an impressive 15 year resume behind you. You're now vying for some leading male roles in major movies, and you know that your image in the general public counts for alot. However, you have a major secret: you're gay. You've been in the closet for years, practically your whole life, and only a handful of people know, including the guy you're currently in a secret relationship with, your brothers and sisters, and your beards. What's a beard, you might be wondering? In Hollywood slang this is a person who pretends to be your significant other in public outings and special events such as movie premiers; their purpose is to cover your true sexuality and dissuade the public from realizing you're gay. Bearding happens in Hollywood all the time, and has for years, although only recently is it becoming well known.
Anyway, point is, you're with this woman who is a long time friend of yours (since high school) and is currently acting as your beard. You're not very happy with this arrangement because you feel uncomfortable with lying, and would much rather live openly in a relationship with your true partner (who is also bearding, btw). However, your managers and publicists have strongly advised you to dissuade from this mode of thinking; coming out would ruin your career, your chances of getting good roles in the future, they say. In fact, because the rumors about your sexuality have been steadily gaining momentum over the years, they advise you to kick the bearding up a notch and marry your beard. She's willing to do it for you, as a friend and a paid actress, but you feel unsure. Your heart is not in it, but your career is extremely important to you. Your partner has already decided to marry HIS beard, so this just leaves you to what you will with yours. Would you come out? Would you marry the beard? Would you ditch the beard but remain in the closet? Lemme know your thoughts ^^
Imagine you're a male actor in his late 20's/early 30's. You've done your fair share of movies and tv shows, and have an impressive 15 year resume behind you. You're now vying for some leading male roles in major movies, and you know that your image in the general public counts for alot. However, you have a major secret: you're gay. You've been in the closet for years, practically your whole life, and only a handful of people know, including the guy you're currently in a secret relationship with, your brothers and sisters, and your beards. What's a beard, you might be wondering? In Hollywood slang this is a person who pretends to be your significant other in public outings and special events such as movie premiers; their purpose is to cover your true sexuality and dissuade the public from realizing you're gay. Bearding happens in Hollywood all the time, and has for years, although only recently is it becoming well known.
Anyway, point is, you're with this woman who is a long time friend of yours (since high school) and is currently acting as your beard. You're not very happy with this arrangement because you feel uncomfortable with lying, and would much rather live openly in a relationship with your true partner (who is also bearding, btw). However, your managers and publicists have strongly advised you to dissuade from this mode of thinking; coming out would ruin your career, your chances of getting good roles in the future, they say. In fact, because the rumors about your sexuality have been steadily gaining momentum over the years, they advise you to kick the bearding up a notch and marry your beard. She's willing to do it for you, as a friend and a paid actress, but you feel unsure. Your heart is not in it, but your career is extremely important to you. Your partner has already decided to marry HIS beard, so this just leaves you to what you will with yours. Would you come out? Would you marry the beard? Would you ditch the beard but remain in the closet? Lemme know your thoughts ^^
