Places where "the Closet" is the best option

[RaeofLite]

Ok, so you're "out". But there are some situations where it probably isn't safe enough to admit that you're "out". Such as certain areas of town, or to shady people or if your gut tells you so.

My experience: I was outside at work, and one of the workers in the vineyard/orchard area came over and came really close to "my space". I didn't know this guy so I tried to back off. He asked me if I had a boyfriend. Seriously... he probably had some sense of gaydar... since my hair is short, I was wearing gender neutral shorts/tank etc. But the point is something told me to closet myself. I trust my gut so I said "yeah" adding-" And he's pretty tough". He asked if I loved him and I said yes.

I felt a bit guilty for lying outloud but I guess it seems that sometimes it's safest to do that. I know another way is to just say "that's personal" but the way I handled it was instictive I guess.

It creeped me out...

Do you have any stories where you had to momentarily closet yourself and feel you want to share?

[Jekko]

I know you did that right choice because whenever you feel or sense negativity it's best to avoid it and lie you're way out.
I'm pretty sure i've been in that situation but can't recall right now.

Anyway, always trust your intuition.

[SshhhSTFU]

I've done that a couple of times at work as well.
At first it bothered me a little, but there are definitely times where lying may be the best way out.

[Otsuke]

I was down to New York city with some friend and we decided to take a Taxi. It was ONE day before the day against homophobia.

Anyways... we took the taxi and the guy began talking about things and I don't know how everything ended like that but he began to say: I hate gays! If I have one in my cab, I'll just kill him or her. These kind of ANIMALS disgust me they should never be on earth and blah blah...

I wasn't really scared, to be honest. I really wanted to say him: You know what? Yesterday was the day against the homophobia and I am actually a person who is victim of homophobia, which is a CRIME. But my friend was really surprised and whispered me to shut up so I stayed silent.

Everyone was pissed of when we got out of the cab... I was laughing XD

[Maddy]

There have been situations where I've felt like it's safest to keep my mouth shut or lie. A while ago I was waiting in a big queue for a taxi at about 2:30 AM, and I was on my own. I took off my rainbow wristband, and when this really creepy guy who kept hitting on me asked if I had a boyfriend, I said yes. I think it was the safest thing I could do, all I wanted was to get home and not have any attention drawn to me.

I haven't been in that kind of situation yet. My dad is paranoid that someone in our town will want to kill or harrass me and made sure I remember how to use all the guns we own. lol I'm like right, blowing someones head off will be no prob dad.

[Markio]

I was in a class once, shortly after I came out to myself, and the issue of gay marriage came up. One student said forcefully that it was a choice. I deeply regret not saying anything, but my roommate was in the room and if I told the truth I would have to live with him for another semester.

Oh, and right now, I'm at home, and my mom watches the church channel. And I'm financially dependent. So I'm closeted.

[edogs334]

This one time at work I was transporting a patient. We got to talking and she spontaneously asked if I had any girlfriends. The question caught me so off-guard that I said "umm..no, I don't have any right now." I really felt like I should have said "actually, I don't have any boyfriends at the moment." She was one of those people who probably would've taken it without that much shock.

There have been a few moments that I truly felt uncomfortable revealing my sexuality- like when I went to a weekend meeting at a local sports club in town. I expected it to be mostly guys around my age and demographic- quite the opposite however. It was mostly older guys (over 40) who smoked and drank beers (if you knew the kind of sport, it would make sense- I'm not naming it on here for obvious reasons). One of the guys used the word "gay" in a derogatory way and needless to say I wasn't comfortable around them at all (from that point on). Man, if only half the world's people knew that soooo many more gay people exist than they could ever fathom. They just don't know exactly who we are.

[shimmersky]

Safety comes first. Don't feel bad for protecting yourself.

[carrie90]

I was at a football game and the rival team started flirting with our squad it usually happens it's all about the guy's syking out one another and just the jock ego in general and one of the guy's asked me out and like I kinda froze and just said "I have a boyfriend" and the guy asked "is he on the field" I said "no he doesn't like football he's on the wrestling team"

So yes I have been in a similar situation

[redsapphire]

I was walking home from school with two girls from my class, and they started talking about how they didn't see how a girl could like another girl and it didn't make sense, oh and how bisexuals were just liars who wanted the best of both worlds and were just attention seekers and shouldn't be given the time of day. Actually it was just one girl who was mouthing off, later on in the school year I found out that the other girl was also bi, needless to say we both kept our mouths shut during this walk, but sort of wish that I had said something to put that girl in her place.

[Elven]

While in class, a girl said that this celebrity (I forget) turned out to be Bi and alot of my friends that are girls were shocked and she said that he has kids too and I asked them why its such a big deal and one of my better friends said it was because Bi's always cheat -_- She actually likes gays more than Bi's apparently..... then we got onto a discussion on Gays and Lesbians with some other people and they said how it is wrong for them to have children though I inconspicuously managed to convince them adopting was OK by saying is it better to have a family that loves them or rot in a childrens home (always works) and then they went on about how it was not a choice and I attepted to question this and the answer was well why wouldent it be..... -_-

[Jack2009]

actually most of the negativity is in my own family than in the public

i'm not out either

[EM68]

At work with some of my co workers. Some people I know I can not trust and they make homophobic remarks and made fun of gay marriage.

[starfish]

There are times that I just don't feel like having the gay conversation, so I don't challenge there assumptions.

A good example was at a family dinner a few weeks back. My aunt asked I have had any luck with the hot girls at the gym. I said I just go to the gym to workout, so no I haven't even tried.

[Daniel]

In the little town I went to school at I received a lot of hatred from homophobic people. There were time I would have people come after me physically even though I was closeted. At first in school I would report them but the principal never really did anything. Outside of school I would just do my best to hide at home or always be with my parents.

At work I am a member of the union which promotes equality for everyone and my coworkers are actually really cool. I only ever had one group of customers come in and start harassing me about me being gay before they were escorted out by the manager who caught them. I didn't even report them.

[Étoile]

Mine is kinda different.

In another class, one of my classmates jokingly said that she was a lesbian. Someone thought she was serious and asked her if she was. She said no then they started arguing if being gay was right or wrong after the girl who questioned her said it was disgusting. Apparently, the whole class jumped in the conversation and it erupted into a 30-minute debate. I so wish I was in that class to debate with them. It would have been a perfect opportunity to come out.

Pretty much just around my family in general

[Possibly Maybe]

I once was stuck in trafic with a Jehova witness taxidriver. He decided to brainwash me during the trip that should have been of about 10 minutes and ended up being about 35 minutes or more. What made me more mad, is that i respect these people, because even though it's not my cup of tea, they can believe in whatever they want. I hope they are happy, just don't try to convert me!! I already thought he was very rude for having a religious argument with me, because it's just one of those topics you should avoid with anyome you meet for the first time. The man kept going on about the creation of the world, and I kept shuting up, listen to him, thinking about when would the trip be over. Then the man turned his attention to me, and asked me if I had a boyfriend. I lied through my teeth and said yes (it wasn't totally a lie, i could have one:P ).

[RaeofLite]

Wow some interesting stories some of you guys have.

To those who are still mostly closeted, it's alright. Just try not to suffocate in there forever, eh? You should be proud to be who you are. When you're old enough or financially stable etc be proud Move to a place where you won't get bashed etc.

I went to Pride last week and I was amazed at how open some people could be. I think I'll move there. Smalltowns suck..