When we talk about coming out of the closet, the automatic association is that of revealing an aspect of our identity to those around us.
It’s about exhibiting, revealing, unveiling, de-masking.
But what if we looked at it from a different angle as well? What if we focused less on the ‘self/out’ pair, and more on the ‘other/in’ one? Intrigued? Here’s a suggestion for what that might look like and why it could be a good idea to start thinking that way.
Taking a quick peek at the history of the phrase ‘coming out of the closet’, you may be struck by how different words were emphasised at different points in time.
Initially, the focus was on the courageous act of ‘coming out’, representing the journey into a new, queer world. As time passed, however, there was a gradual shift towards ‘the closet’ part, emphasising the need to conceal oneself from society and the dangers associated with being too openly queer.