--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The difference between being in the…" description: "\"The difference between being in the closet and out of the closet as a gay man is such a huge shift. I feel so connected still to that 22-year-old, but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/jonathan-groff-4035_closet_the-difference-between-being-in-the-clos_1847683.png" --- # The difference between being in the closet and out of the… ![“The difference between being in the closet and out of the closet as a gay man is such a huge shift. I feel so connected still to that 22-year-old, but the idea that I was not open with that part of my life - which I am now so open about - is sort of surreal.” quote by Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/jonathan-groff-4035_closet_the-difference-between-being-in-the-clos_1847683.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/jonathan-groff-4035_closet_the-difference-between-being-in-the-clos_1847683.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ac/jonathan-groff-4035_closet_the-difference-between-being-in-the-clos_1847683.png) > “The difference between being in the closet and out of the closet as a gay man is such a huge shift. I feel so connected still to that 22-year-old, but the idea that I was not open with that part of my life - which I am now so open about - is sort of surreal.” [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes the profound personal transformation from hiding his sexual identity to embracing it openly, highlighting both continuity and surrealness of the experience. **In simple terms:** He talks about moving from secrecy to openness about being gay. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity despite fear. Themes identity coming out personal growth authenticity surrealism Mood hopeful reflective empowering Type personal narrative inspirational When to use this quote - LGBTQ+ support groups - therapy sessions - public speaking - educational workshops Key Concepts psychology social acceptance L development Questions to Reflect On - How has openness changed your relationships? - What challenges remain after coming out? A Different Perspective Not everyone experiences the same ease of transition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [22 Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/22-year-435650/) [Closet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closet/) [Closet Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closet-gay-420447/) [Difference Closet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference-closet-2402648/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-man/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [My life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-life/) ## Related quotes > [Coming out of the closet as a gay man didn't cost me anything, but deep down it wasn't who I was. It was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lux-pascal/coming-out-of-the-closet-as-a-gay-man-didn-t-cost-me-anything-but/) [Lux Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lux-pascal/) > [“I don't get it, if there was a closet full of gay guys, then why would any of them want to "come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crocker/i-don-t-get-it-if-there-was-a-closet-full-of-gay-guys-then-why-would/) [Chris Crocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crocker/) > [I am not in the closet. I am not coming out of the closet. I am not gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-not-in-the-closet-i-am-not-coming-out-of-the-closet-i-am-not-gay/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It's important for closet gay athletes everywhere, not just at the professional level, but more importantly athletes at the younger level in high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fujita/it-s-important-for-closet-gay-athletes-everywhere-not-just-at-the/) [Scott Fujita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fujita/) > [Is anyone really surprised by the fact that President Obama came out of the closet for gay marriage? What was most surprising is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bristol-palin/is-anyone-really-surprised-by-the-fact-that-president-obama-came-out/) [Bristol Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bristol-palin/) > [“I was gay because I didn’t know if it would jeopardize my plans for priesthood and nobody wanted an out-of-the-closet gay priest at their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-benedict/i-was-gay-because-i-didn-t-know-if-it-would-jeopardize-my-plans-for/) [Charles Benedict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-benedict/) > [If public figures came out of the closet, then the LGBT kids who saw them on TV would feel safe before they even knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/if-public-figures-came-out-of-the-closet-then-the-lgbt-kids-who-saw/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I think I started out okay but with AIDS came a great deal of silence about gayness and this period of lose and morning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-i-started-out-okay-but-with-aids-came-a-great-deal-of-silence/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I have always been attracted to gay guys so I always thought I am gay man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-paytas/i-have-always-been-attracted-to-gay-guys-so-i-always-thought-i-am-gay/) [Trisha Paytas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-paytas/) > [I identify as a gay man all the time, but I also like to identify as queer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-identify-as-a-gay-man-all-the-time-but-i-also-like-to-identify-as/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [To play a repressed gay man, I had to explore what life was like in an era of sexual repression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-play-a-repressed-gay-man-i-had-to-explore-what-life-was-like-in-an/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [I often laugh and say I should go down to the Department of the Interior and register as an endangered species. I'm a gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/i-often-laugh-and-say-i-should-go-down-to-the-department-of-the/) [David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/) > [Alan Carr is an out and proud gay man but there isn't a famous bisexual equivalent - it's a lot rarer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lycett/alan-carr-is-an-out-and-proud-gay-man-but-there-isn-t-a-famous/) [Joe Lycett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lycett/) > [Any gay man in America redeals a deck at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-sean-greer/any-gay-man-in-america-redeals-a-deck-at-some-point/) [Andrew Sean Greer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-sean-greer/) > [Once I came out of the closet, it was sort of that thing of 'The truth will set you free.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/once-i-came-out-of-the-closet-it-was-sort-of-that-thing-of-the-truth/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## More by Jonathan Groff > [If I've had roadblocks along the way for being gay, I'm not aware of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/if-i-ve-had-roadblocks-along-the-way-for-being-gay-i-m-not-aware-of/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I'd moved to New York to pursue a career in theatre, and it's very practical how you do it - I just went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-d-moved-to-new-york-to-pursue-a-career-in-theatre-and-it-s-very/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [While I was in high school, I saw Sutton Foster in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' and she was the one that was most inspiring to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/while-i-was-in-high-school-i-saw-sutton-foster-in-thoroughly-modern/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved 'Weekend,' and it meant a lot to me when I saw it in the movie theater. I think 'Looking' feels more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-weekend-and-it-meant-a-lot-to-me-when-i-saw-it-in-the-movie/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Coming out, for me, was slightly painful. It was a relief, but it was also painful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/coming-out-for-me-was-slightly-painful-it-was-a-relief-but-it-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I never look at myself online, and I don't read gossip Web sites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-never-look-at-myself-online-and-i-don-t-read-gossip-web-sites/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I would say 'Looking' and 'Spring Awakening' are the most important and personal projects I've ever been apart of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-would-say-looking-and-spring-awakening-are-the-most-important-and/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [The hardest I've ever laughed was with Lea Michele.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/the-hardest-i-ve-ever-laughed-was-with-lea-michele/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Dating can be painful, can be great, can be confusing, can be weird, but I don't do it online because I'm not really an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/dating-can-be-painful-can-be-great-can-be-confusing-can-be-weird-but/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I loved traditional musical comedy. That was my passion. Then 'Spring Awakening' happened, and it took that rock n' roll and pop music to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-loved-traditional-musical-comedy-that-was-my-passion-then-spring/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I feel like certainly there are people expecting 'Looking' to be representative of everyone that's gay, the entire gay community. And it's a dangerous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-feel-like-certainly-there-are-people-expecting-looking-to-be/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [It's so awesome to be a part of something that is successful not because there's a famous person in it or because it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/it-s-so-awesome-to-be-a-part-of-something-that-is-successful-not/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [When I was doing 'Spring Awakening' the first couple of years I was living in New York, I was gay, and I was living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-doing-spring-awakening-the-first-couple-of-years-i-was/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [I was definitely planning to go to college, but I deferred my admission to Carnegie Mellon to be in a non-equity tour of 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/i-was-definitely-planning-to-go-to-college-but-i-deferred-my/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) [Explore all 117 Jonathan Groff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) ## More Closet quotes > [For so long, for my whole life I didn't have to but I lived in the closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-evans/for-so-long-for-my-whole-life-i-didn-t-have-to-but-i-lived-in-the/) [Scott Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-evans/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [I'm not big on the closet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-butler/i-m-not-big-on-the-closet/) [Dan Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-butler/) > [There's a she wolf in the closet, Let it out so it can breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/there-s-a-she-wolf-in-the-closet-let-it-out-so-it-can-breathe/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [It's important for closet gay athletes everywhere, not just at the professional level, but more importantly athletes at the younger level in high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-fujita/it-s-important-for-closet-gay-athletes-everywhere-not-just-at-the/) [Scott Fujita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-fujita/) > [I feel like I've been shut in a closet, and he's on the other side, and he doesn't have the key to unlock the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-feel-like-i-ve-been-shut-in-a-closet-and-he-s-on-the-other-side-and/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [“The truth has a way of coming out of the closet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/march-lions/the-truth-has-a-way-of-coming-out-of-the-closet/) [March Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/march-lions/) > [People dance and we have a lot of music and... this might be the closet I get for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/people-dance-and-we-have-a-lot-of-music-and-this-might-be-the-closet/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [The emails and the tweets and the Facebook posts and the fan mail that we get from young people all over America that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-donovan/the-emails-and-the-tweets-and-the-facebook-posts-and-the-fan-mail/) [Trevor Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-donovan/) > [She up in the closet!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madea/she-up-in-the-closet/) [Madea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madea/) > [A lot of the stuff I was on 'All Stars,' it wasn't new, it was all stuff out of my closet and stuff that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-devayne/a-lot-of-the-stuff-i-was-on-all-stars-it-wasn-t-new-it-was-all-stuff/) [Chi Chi DeVayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-devayne/) > [Friends are readily disappointed by the size of my closet. And I thought it was big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/friends-are-readily-disappointed-by-the-size-of-my-closet-and-i/) [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/) > [“My closet’s so full of memories and fearful homosexuals that I have nowhere to hang my clothes. Well, that and I don’t know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/my-closet-s-so-full-of-memories-and-fearful-homosexuals-that-i-have/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“We’re not broken. We’re not in the wrong bodies. We’re not inadequate. We’re not lesser. We’re not unwanted. We’re not fraudulent. We’re not undesirable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnostic-zetetic/we-re-not-broken-we-re-not-in-the-wrong-bodies-we-re-not-inadequate/) [Agnostic Zetetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnostic-zetetic/) > [I've never seen so many sweater sets...are you sure this is a closet and not a portal to the 1950s? -Renee Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desperate-housewives/i-ve-never-seen-so-many-sweater-sets-are-you-sure-this-is-a-closet/) [Desperate Housewives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desperate-housewives/) [Browse all 425 Closet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The difference between being in the closet and out of the closet as a gay man is such a huge shift. 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