Yes, “beard” is a well-known colloquial term for a woman who is married to or in an apparent sexual relationship with a homosexual man. It’s not unknown for them to produce children, since men can do a sex act with absolutely anyone or anything, even if their preference is for anal with a man or boy.
Thanks, Tax-chick! I have heard about this happening but I never knew there was a “word” for it. Makes you wonder about the women, doesn’t it? Were they the type who were “asexual” or the type of person not to question why their husband didn’t want them sexually? I know in my Mom’s day and age, an unmarried man was “looked at” as being possibly odd. If he wanted to move up in his career or be accepted, he would have to be married. Even in her small town, there were men who married (and had ongoing affairs with other men).