Small rooms or cabinets for storing clothes and personal items; also used figuratively for secrets someone hides.
From Old French 'closet,' a diminutive of 'close' meaning 'enclosed space.' The phrase 'coming out of the closet' created powerful metaphorical use for hidden identities.
The phrase 'come out of the closet' is a powerful metaphor that turned a storage space into a symbol of hidden identity—language shows how metaphors can carry emotional weight and historical meaning for entire communities.
The phrase 'coming out of the closet' originated in LGBTQ+ communities and is intrinsically tied to non-binary and queer histories. The metaphor carries weight from decades of forced secrecy, particularly affecting women, trans people, and gender non-conforming individuals.
Use 'closet' with sensitivity in LGBTQ+ contexts. Avoid metaphorically using it for unrelated secrets without acknowledging its significance.
["secrecy (for non-LGBTQ+ contexts)","hidden identity (when necessary)","the closet (with historical awareness)"]
Women and trans people have led visibility and liberation movements that reclaimed and transformed the language of identity. Respecting this etymology honors their activism.
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