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Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details.(September 2007) | The expression "being in the closet" has been used to describe keeping secret one's sexual behavior or orientation, most commonly homosexuality or bisexuality, but also including the gender identity of transgender and transsexual people. Being "in the closet" is more than being discreet or private, it is a "life-shaping pattern of concealment"[citation needed] where gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender individuals hide their sexuality/gender-identity in the most important areas of life, with family, friends, and at work. Individuals may marry or avoid certain jobs in order to avoid suspicion and exposure. Some will even claim to be heterosexual when asked directly. "It is the power of the closet to shape the core of an individual's life that has made homosexuality into a significant personal, social, and political drama in twentieth-century America". (Seidman 2003, p.25). Wall closet in a residential house in the U.S. It is common for a mirror to be placed on the inside of a closet door. ...
The Closet is a French film originally titled Le Placard. ...
Image File history File links Emblem-important. ...
Image File history File links Mergefrom. ...
Playing the pronoun game is the act of concealing sexual orientation in conversation by not using a gender-specific pronoun for a partner or a lover, which would reveal the sexual orientation of the person speaking. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Queer studies is the study of issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. ...
Image File history File links Gay_flag. ...
Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ...
Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ...
“Bisexual†redirects here. ...
A transgender person in New York Citys Gay Pride Parade Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at...
LGBT history refers to the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender cultures around the world, dating back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and sexuality within ancient civilizations. ...
LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Discrimination Violence This box: This timeline of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) history details notable events in the Common Era West. ...
Gay Liberation (or Gay Lib) is the name used to describe the radical lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered movement of the late 1960s and early to mid 1970s in North America, Western Europe, and Australia and New Zealand. ...
LGBT rights Around the world By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Discrimination Violence This box: LGBT social movements share related goals of social acceptance of homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgenderism. ...
This is a timeline of AIDS, including some discussion of early AIDS cases (especially those before 1980). ...
Christopher Street Parade Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures concern the culture, knowledge, and references shared by members of sexual minorities or transgendered people by virtue of their membership in those minorities or their state of being transgendered. ...
The sociological construct of a gay community is complex among those that classify themselves as homosexual, ranging from full-embracement to complete and utter rejection of the concept. ...
Gay pride or LGBT pride refers to a world wide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity. ...
For other uses, see Coming out (disambiguation). ...
Gay slang in linguistics refers to a form of English slang used predominantly among LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people. ...
A gay village (also gay ghetto or gayborhood) is usually an urban geographic location with generally recognized boundaries where a large number of gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual people live. ...
The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...
The word queer has traditionally meant strange or unusual, but it is also currently often used in reference to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and asexual communities. ...
Questioning is a term that can refer to a person who is questioning his or her sexual identity or sexual orientation. ...
World laws on homosexuality Legality of same-sex unions in the US. Legality of same-sex unions in Europe. ...
International recognition Civil unions and domestic partnerships Recognized in some regions Unregistered co-habitation Recognition debated Civil unions legal, same-sex marriage debated See also Same-sex marriage Civil union Registered partnership Domestic partnership Timeline of same-sex marriage Listings by country This box: Same-sex marriage is a term...
As unregistered cohabitation Recognised in some regions Recognised prior to legalisation of same-sex marriage Netherlands (nationwide) (1998) Spain (12 of 17 communities) (1998) South Africa (nationwide) (1999) Belgium (nationwide) (2000) Canada (QC, NS and MB) (2001) Recognition debated See also Same-sex marriage Registered partnership Domestic partnership Common-law...
LGBT adoption refers to the adoption of children by lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered people. ...
sodomy law is a law that defines certain sexual acts as sex crimes. ...
LGBT rights Around the world · By country History · Groups · Activists Declaration of Montreal Same-sex relationships Marriage · Adoption Opposition · Persecution Violence This box: The militaries of the world have a variety of responses to homosexual and bisexual orientations. ...
A Jewish cemetery in France after being defaced by Neo-Nazis. ...
This list indexes the articles on LGBT rights in each country and significant non-country region (e. ...
This article is about sexual practices (i. ...
Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ...
“Bisexual†redirects here. ...
This does not cite any references or sources. ...
A transgender person in New York Citys Gay Pride Parade Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at...
A transsexual (sometimes transexual) person establishes a permanent identity with the opposite gender to their assigned (usually at birth) sex. ...
Privacy has no definite boundaries and it has different meanings for different people. ...
GAY can mean: Gay, a term referring to homosexual men or women The IATA code for Gaya Airport Category: ...
A lesbian is a woman who is romantically and sexually attracted only to other women. ...
In human sexuality, bisexuality describes a man or woman having a sexual orientation to persons of either or both sexes (a man or woman who sexually likes both sexes; people who are sexually and/or romantically attracted to both males and females). ...
A transgender person in New York Citys Gay Pride Parade Transgender (IPA: , from trans (Latin) and gender (English) ) is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies that diverge from the normative gender role (woman or man) commonly, but not always, assigned at...
Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ...
The term 'closet' is also used in a more general way for any behavior that is potentially embarrassing, and thus kept hidden.
History of the closet metaphor in reference to sexuality "Heterosexual domination may have a long history, but the closet does not" (Chauncey, 1994). The closet dates from 1950s post-war America, when the deliberateness and aggressiveness of heterosexual enforcement increased. According to David Tettke, "The word closet was first used to mean secret or unsuspected as early as the 1600s, but not in relation to a person’s sexuality. Closeted also came into use around the same time and meant to keep something hidden or secret from others. Closet case, closet queen, or closet homosexual began to be used during the middle of the 20th century to mean that someone was hiding their homosexuality from others. Similar terms used around this time period were canned fruit, cedarchest sissy, and dry queen, which have now fallen into disuse."[1] The 1950s decade refers to the years 1950 to 1959 inclusive. ...
Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic - President George Walker Bush (R) - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from...
Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ...
"Gay people in the prewar years [pre-WWI]...did not speak of coming out of what we call the gay closet but rather of coming out into what they called homosexual society or the gay world, a world neither so small, nor so isolated, nor... so hidden as closet implies" (Chauncey 1994, emphasis added). In fact, "using the term 'closet' to refer to" previous times such as "the 1920s and 1930s might be anachronistic" (Kennedy 1996). (ibid, p.25 and 214) Look up Anachronism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Connection between the closet and neurosis Both scientific research and popular culture have purported the notion that there is a connection between being "in the closet" and neurosis. In modern psychology, the term neurosis, also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, is a general term that refers to any mental imbalance that causes distress, but (unlike a psychosis or personality disorder) does not prevent rational thought or an individuals ability to function in daily life. ...
In 1993, Michelangelo Signorile wrote Queer In America (re-released in 2003 by University of Wisconsin Press, ISBN 0-299-19374-8) in which he explored in depth the harm caused both to the "closeted" individual and to society in general by being in the closet. Signorile promoted the practice of outing: publicizing, intentionally or unintentionally, the sexual orientation or gender identity of another person who would prefer to keep this information secret. Often "outing" is used solely to damage the outed person's reputation, and has thus been controversial. Some activists argue "outing" is appropriate and legitimate in some cases—for instance, if the individual is actively working against gay rights. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...
Michelangelo Signorile Michelangelo Signorile (born December 19, 1960), is a gay American writer and a national radio host whose program is aired each weekday across the United States and Canada. ...
For other uses, see Society (disambiguation). ...
While outing often refers to an outdoor excursion, in the late twentieth century the term acquired an additional meaning: taking someone out of the closet - that is, publicising that someone is gay. ...
Classic models of homosexual identity development (i.e.: Dank, 1971; Cass, 1984; Coleman, 1989; Troiden, 1989), and most prominently, the Cass identity model, have perpetuated this suggestion in the social sciences. In the early stages of the coming out process, homosexuals are labeled confused and maladjusted in society. Only by going through this process, these models purport, can one become a well adjusted homosexual. The Cass Identity Model is one of the foundational theories of gay and lesbian identity development, developed in 1979 by Vivienne Cass. ...
For other uses, see Coming out (disambiguation). ...
Closeted individuals have also been reported to be at an increased risk for suicide.[2] For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ...
Classic research studies pertaining to "the closet"
The Tearoom Trade Laud Humphreys' classic Tearoom Trade experiment investigated the lives of men in the 1960s who engaged in sexual activity in public restrooms. After observing the behavior, he arranged to interview these men in their homes and found that, other than their homosexual activity, there was little to distinguish these men from typical adult males. Laud Humphreys (October 16, 1930 - August 23, 1988) is an American sociologist and author. ...
Related terminology - "Coming out of the closet" (often shortened to coming out) describes voluntarily making public one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
- The Grunge band The Fluid has a song called "Closet Case" based on homosexual activity, but also about other embarrassing aspects of a persons life.
- "Being out" means living a life in which you do not hide that you are not heterosexual, or more generally that you do not hide your sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Passing refers to the practice of a person pretending to be of a sexual orientation other than their real one, usually a homosexual or bisexual person who is pretending to be heterosexual.[3]
- The term Narnian has been used to describe someone who is metaphorically very deep in "the closet". This is a term that has been coined primarily by youth culture as can been seen in the following message board entry. (Narnia is a land in the books of C. S. Lewis which can be accessed by travelling through a magical wardrobe.)
"In Australia alone there are around 3 million gay people (last statistical estimation was 14% of 20 million people). Australia has approx .33% of the world's population (20 million out of 6 billion), so therefore this closet can hold at least 800 million people. It's a very big closet. Narnian in fact".[4] For other uses, see Coming out (disambiguation). ...
The Fluid were an American grunge band, from Denver, CO, formed in 1984. ...
Passing refers to the ability of a person to be regarded as a member of a combination of sociological groups other than his or her own, such as a different race, ethnicity, social class, gender, and/or disability status, generally with the purpose of gaining social acceptance. ...
The Land of Narnia, artwork from the 2005 movie For other uses of Narnia, see Narnia (disambiguation). ...
Clive Staples Jack Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963), commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis, was an Irish author and scholar. ...
Look up Wardrobe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
- The Glass Closet (Harlow, 2006) refers to those who may not be out, even to themselves, but whom others can plainly see are, in fact, in the closet.
- A person who is in the closet may be referred to as "closeted" or a "closet case." Calling someone a closet case is generally meant to be disparaging, and usually refers to someone (male) who seems to go to great lengths to prove or assert his masculinity.
- In Beyoncé's 2006 single "Irreplaceable" 'the closet' is referred to as a place where unwanted memories of past relationships can be suppressed.
- The term closet has been extended to indicate any identity or affiliation that a person keeps secret for fear of persecution or exclusion Acts of coming out are sometimes held back due to stigmas still present in today's society. (e.g., because of one's religion, lifestyle, political affiliation, etc.).
- The term "broom closet" was used on the TV show Charmed, referring to people who hide the fact that they are Wiccans.
- Otherkin adapted the expression, replacing the closet with "wardrobe".
- Brights are also urged to "come out", and Richard Dawkins refers to "closet brights".
- Often used by the media outlets the "steroids closet", or the "Barry Bonds closet", referring to athletes who keep their usage of steroids or other performance enhancing drugs a top secret for fear of punishment.[5]
Beyoncé in 2004 with her five Grammys. ...
For other uses, see charm. ...
For other uses, see Wicca (disambiguation). ...
Otherkin is the term for a group of people who consider themselves non-human or having a connection to a mythical archetype in some way, usually believing to be mythological or legendary creatures. ...
Symbol of the brights The brights movement was started by Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell in 2003 to provide a positive-sounding umbrella term, bright, to describe various types of people who have a naturalistic worldview, without casting that worldview as a negative response to religion (as the terms atheist...
Clinton Richard Dawkins (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ...
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964 in Riverside, California) is currently a left fielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. ...
Athletics, also known as track and field or track and field athletics, is a collection of sport events. ...
In chemistry and biology, Steroids are a type of lipid, characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings. ...
Criticisms of the closet metaphor Seidman, Meeks, and Traschen (1999) argue that "the closet" may be becoming an antiquated metaphor in the modern day for two reasons.
1. Homosexuality is becoming increasingly normalized and the shame and secrecy surrounding it may be declining.
2. The metaphor of the closet hinges upon the notion that stigma management is a way of life. However, stigma management may actually be increasingly done situationally.
See also Down-low (DL) is an African-American slang phrase implying secret information, as in Whats the down-low? or Keep it on the down-low, meaning Do not make it known. Down-low, in part because of its slang meaning, is also the name of an American black subculture...
This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. ...
A protest by The Westboro Baptist Church; a group identified by the Anti-Defamation League as virulently homophobic. ...
Manifestations Slavery · Racial profiling · Lynching Hate speech · Hate crime · Hate groups Genocide · Holocaust · Pogrom Ethnocide · Ethnic cleansing · Race war Religious persecution · Gay bashing Pedophobia · Ephebiphobia Movements Discriminatory Aryanism · Neo-Nazism · Supremacism Kahanism Anti-discriminatory Abolitionism · Civil rights LGBT rights Womens/Universal suffrage · Feminism Mens/Fathers rights · Masculinism Children...
The sociological construct of a gay community is complex among those that classify themselves as homosexual, ranging from full-embracement to complete and utter rejection of the concept. ...
National Coming Out Day logo designed by Keith Haring National Coming Out Day is observed on October 11 by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities and their allies. ...
Transgender is a very complex topic, where consensual and precise definitions have not yet been reached. ...
The relationship between religion and homosexuality varies greatly across time and place, within and between different religions and sects, and regarding different forms of homosexuality and bisexuality. ...
This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Trapped in the Closet is episode 912 (#137) of the Comedy Central series South Park, originally aired on November 16, 2005. ...
References - Chauncey, George (1994). Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940. New York: Basic Books. Cited in Seidman 2003.
- Humphreys, L. (1970). Tearoom Trade: Impersonal Sex in Public Places. Chicago: Aldine.
- Kennedy, Elizabeth. "'But We Would Never Talk about It': The Structure of Lesbian Discretion in South Dakota, 1928-1933" in Inventing Lesbian Cultures in America, ed. Ellen Lewin (1996). Boston: Beacon Press. Cited in Seidman 2003.
- Seidman, Steven (2003). Beyond the Closet; The Transformation of Gay and Lesbian Life. ISBN 0-415-93207-6.
- Seidman, Steven, Meeks, Chet, and Traschen, Francie (1999), "Beyond the Closet? The Changing Social Meaning of Homosexuality in the United States." Sexualities 2 (1)
Notes
Further reading Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick (b. ...
External links - National Coming Out Project
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