A beard describes a person who is used to conceal another person's sexual orientation, a common practise in the golden age of Hollywood for celebrities considered 'a little bit queer'. Leni and Brendy discuss famous cases of bearding among high-profile members of the LGBT+ community, how internalised homophobia and the effects of a heteronormative society played a role in bearding and what beard arrangements look like today.  This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koala. Visit koala.com for $150 off purchases over $1000 using code 'wordofthegay' at checkout.  This episode of Word of the Gay is also sponsored by the Wine Gallery. Visit thewinegallery.com.au for $25 off your first order using code 'wordofthegay' at checkout. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher.  Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wordofthegaypod, Facebook at Word of the Gay & Instagram @wordofthegaypod. Send word suggestions and other correspondence to [email protected].  Word of the Gay is a Lipp Media production.