Define 'closeted behavior.'
Pretending you're straight.
Keeping silent about interest in gay events or places or activities perceived as gay, or about a boyfriend when the people you interact with share those experiences with one another.
Personal example: I was called out on this in the early 1990s. After years of being out, and I mean Out, I switched careers back to banking, which I'd left in the 1970s when I came out because I couldn't go to the clubs and beaches and participate in the events I wanted to without fear of professional backlash. But even in the early 90s when I went to work at Goldman Sachs there was, literally, not one single out gay man or woman among the many I came in contact with at Goldman and other firms. Not one. So, without even realizing it I sort of edged back into the closet, for instance never mentioning my bf although we were living together as married couples do. My bf called sometimes and once overheard my assistant tell me my "friend" was on the line. And he called me on it: "your
friend?!" And he was right. Everybody else had pictures of their wives or husbands in their office, referred to them on Monday mornings when we talked about our weekends, etc. But I didn't. So I put up a picture of my bf and myself, and started referring to him. It was uncomfortable at first, for all of us. A work trip came up, to Bermuda. Wives and husbands were coming along. I arranged for my bf to come, and I was told it would make clients uncomfortable so I should leave him home and be discreet about my references on the golf course. Now, Henry, my bf and I do not make out in public, we behave as we were raised to believe adults should behave in public. So I told my boss my bf's coming and that's that. He came. We had a nice time, if somewhat uncomfortable because we were in the position of proving we could be included without being offensive. Over time my being gay was totally accepted at Goldman, my co-workers and some of their spouses came to adore my bf, and I was the go-to guy for closeted gays who hoped to come out. But in the beginning I was exhibiting closeted behavior.
Isn't it possible to be a man who loves other men without constantly proclaiming it to all and sundry? To paraphrase a line from a play, 'do we start the soup by announcing who and what we are?'
Not and be out of the closet. Not really.
We proclaim who we are in lots of ways all the time. Doesn't have to be a pink bandana bouncing from a back pocket. A man simply saying, "my boyfriend" or "my partner" and following with male pronouns does it. If you're quiet and shy, don't participate in conversation much, I guess it won't come up, but if you're constantly engaging with people as I do, references that indicate we're gay pop up pretty regularly, just as references that indicate someone is straight do.
And, yes, people on the left and on the right are capable of 'ganging' up on those with whom they disagree. That being said, I have followed enough political forums to feel comfortable in making the observation that the left/liberal/regressive personality seems much more suited to this kind of 'running with the pack' behavior, and they are infinitely nastier about it.
Well you're wrong.
Having been on the receiving end from both Bush Republicans and Obama Democrats, I can tell you they're equally nasty.
