This is a term used for contemporary homosexuals who hide their identities by living in the closet. This is why revealing one’s homosexuality is referred to as a “coming out”.
Gay men and women have difficulties acknowledging their homosexuality, either to themselves or to others due to their psychological complex. This is why a lot of gay people conceal important aspects of themselves such as their love life or a significant other. It’s like living the good lie.
Closet individuals cannot reveal to themselves, let alone to others their homoerotic feelings, attraction or fantasies. This is why these individuals continue to remain in the closet. They never marry or openly date because their hidden desires are only expressed behind closed doors. Their homosexuality is so unacceptable that it must be kept out of conscious awareness and cannot be integrated into their public persona. Consequently, these feelings must be dissociated from the self and hidden from others.
I have more respect for men who are openly gay and conservative, then those tall, dark, handsome, big bulky men who are closet homosexuals and allude their truth. And while a homosexual or lesbian lifestyle might be popular and unshocking in today’s society, some chose to live quietly gay to protect their professional images and lifestyle.
This may all be fine for some but don’t claim to be straight, when you’re really GAY and living in the closet.
Side note: The picture in this post does not relate to its topic, it was chosen ramdomly to fit the subject at hand.