closet case

English

From closet +‎ case. First use appears c. 1946 in the Washington Post.

closet case (plural closet cases)

(slang) A person who conceals or denies their sexuality or gender identity.
Synonym: closet queen
- 1979 December 15, Rick Hillegas, “Workers World Party (response)”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 21, page 5:
  Even self-styled liberated gay and straight people sometimes call outspoken bigots "closet cases".
- 1986 February 25, Ray EMD & S Admin 223-5027, “More on Stereotypes/gays in Film”, in net.motss‎^[1] (Usenet):
  Now this one portrays the drill instructor as an extreme/suicidal if he ever admits it closet case.
A person who is shunned, ignored, or considered to be an embarrassment.
- 1956 September 24, Frank Scherschel, Gary Villet, “Fraternity Rushing”, in LIFE Magazine‎^[2], page 144:
  Closet case at Delta Upsilon is shunted to the basement....
- 1964, Paul H. Babbitt, “APPRAISAL OF PARENTAL ATTITUDES”, in Journal of Rehabilitation‎^[3], volume 30, number 1, pages 20–21:
  Under-expectation on the part of the parent... can range from a complete refusal by the father to accept the fact that the child does exist (a closet case)...

gay person who pretends to be heterosexual