how common are fake relationships

Do you mean, how common is it for people to invent relationships... to talk about a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn't actually exist?

 

So, how common is it to have a beard basically? I'd say that "beards" are almost as prevalent as gay people themselves are. I mean, gays are just hated by most cultures, so it makes sense that unless that gay person is celibate or brave enough to be out and proud, they'd date at least one person for a "beard" in their lifetime...

 

It's probably very common, especially in countries where LGBT is nearly outright banned. Just to please their family and friends, or to con them into thinking that they're straight, dating the opposite gender for the hell'a it would be common.

Though, if the partner doesn't know the person's real sexuality...I can imagine a very messy breakup.

 

Actually a gay friend of mine almost helped a girl by pretending to be her boyfriend, since her parents wouldn't pay for her college since she was a lesbian. But I guess it wouldn't have been convincing enough so it didn't happen.

I don't know how common it is, although I have heard fake marriages being somewhat common in less accepting countries, so people can lead a straight lifestyle for their family and friends, but not have to actually participate in the marriage.

 

In some places in the world, fairly common.

My aunt was in one for a long time because people were not very accepting where she grew up. Luckily she managed to come out eventually and is now happily married to a woman. ^^

 

I knew a lesbian woman who kinda did this. Part was probably to hide her sexuality from her family. Most of them being very conservative and unaccepting of lgbt related topics. I think she also wanted to make it work and wanted a baby. It didn't work out for her, but she got a girlfriend and last I heard they moved away together and are happy.

So yea it happens.

 

Before I was fully out I had a fake relationship with a girl just to please my parents, though the relationship ended when I decided to fully come out and my now ex girlfriend relized she was lesbian...

 

It happens in a decent portion of the world, I'd imagine. I'm sure it used to be prevalent in some western countries, too.

I feel like a good plot for a movie or book would be about a lesbian and a gay guy who get into a fake relationship to please their families and later find freedom and find their true partners etc..etc...

 

Isn't Ryan Seacrest guilty of having a beard or two?

 

Pretty common, I'd say