Why Virtual Closet?
Six reasons for you to take part in this amazing experience and empathise with the LGBTQ+ people.
To acknowledge people's uniqueness which make them amazing
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To encourage LGBTQ+ people to think positively about their lives
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To learn about the "closet" within the LGBTQ+ community
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To share your own point of view on LGBTQ+ matters with the world
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To reflect about the LGBTQ+ coming out process
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To start a new dialogue with people who need help with their "closet"
. . . . . .
Why is it important to talk about the closet?
Closets are the perfect setting for any horror movie. But not only in fiction, a closet can be a dangerous place to be in.
The only difference to real life is that the dangerous are not necessarily inside the closet, but a result of being in it yourself. The closet can kill.
According to statistics in 2015, around 5,000 LGBTQ youth now
take their lives each year and 500,000 LGBTQ youth attempt suicide every year.
72 countries criminalise same-sex relationships
(and in 45 the law is applied to women as well as men)
52% of young LGBT people reported
self-harm either recently or in the past compared to 25% of heterosexual non-trans young people
Studies show that lesbian, gay and bisexual people show higher levels of anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings than heterosexual men and women.
Closeted individuals frequently cannot acknowledge to themselves, let alone to others, their homoerotic feelings, attractions and fantasies. Their homosexuality is so unacceptable that it must be kept out of conscious awareness and cannot be integrated into their public persona. Consequently, these feelings must be dissociated from the self and hidden from others.
Side Effects
of "being in the closet"
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Chronic Depression
Self-disgust and Self-hatred.
Low Self-esteem and Negative Self-view
Alcohol/Drug Abuse and Suicidal Thoughts
Virtual Closet and the Coming Out process
. . . . . .
"Coming Out" is the term used by the LGBTQ+ people to describe their experience of discovery, self-acceptance, openness and honesty about their LGBT identity and their decision to disclose, i.e. to share this with others when and how they choose.
Over three-quarters (77%) of LGBT youth say they know things will get better.
9 in 10 LGBT youth are out to their close friends. (91%)
LGBT youth out to their immediate families are more likely to report being happy than those who are not out.
Coming-out makes you fell free.
The stages of coming out
Discovery
This is where you start to question if you might be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because of feelings you’re having.
Acceptance
This is when you start to accept that you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Telling the first person is a sign of acceptance.
Integration
this is when you begin to get comfortable expressing your lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity and living your life accordingly. Getting into a same-sex relationship is a sign of integration.